All businesses have a requirement to record attendance to keep the track of workers. An attendance system helps recognize which workers are arriving late and how much to pay them. The traditional method of taking attendance involves old-fashioned punch clocks, attendance sheets, or some other kind of manual system that require human supervision.
However, electronic attendance systems are also known as e-attendance systems and they are completely autonomous and require no human oversight. Hardware-less attendance systems are the latest innovation in the industry that is also autonomous and doesn’t require any complicated hardware deployment at the site to mark attendance such as a mobile-based attendance system.
In this article, we are about to compare electronic attendance with hardware-less attendance systems to determine which one is best suited for your business needs.
Table of Contents
What is an electronic attendance system?
An electronic attendance system has electronic components that are managed by software to take attendance. These systems are popularly known as automated attendance systems as they require minimal human supervision to function.
Depending on their operation, time and attendance systems can be of various types.
Types of electronic time and attendance system
The most popular electronic attendance system is biometric. These systems are designed to identify unique physical traits of a person such as a fingerprint, handprint, retina, or face to record attendance.
2. Time Card
A time card attendance system is comparatively less expensive than other electronic attendance solutions. Their operation is simple, each employee receives a time card that they swipe on the machine.
Every time a card is swiped, the data is collected and automatically transferred to a timesheet, eliminating any manual paperwork. The major drawback of this electronic time attendance system is buddy punching.
3. Proximity Cards, Badges, and Key Fobs
A more proficient upgrade to the time card system, these types of attendance systems work on geofencing or GPS technology. The employees only pass the proximity card, page, or key fob in front of the reader to mark the attendance. These systems can also be customized to track employee movements throughout the facility.
4. Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
The IVR attendance system allows employees working in the field or at remote locations to clock in by calling in over a landline or cell phone.
5. Web-based Login Stations
Most IT businesses where employees work from laptops or personal computers employ Web-based login stations. These systems set up a static IP address every time an employee logs into the computer.
Advantages of electronic attendance system
1. High Accuracy
The systems designed for electronic attendance are highly accurate. As these systems are entirely automated there is no scope for human error. On top of that, an electronic attendance system can keep track of any number of employees simultaneously, making the process highly efficient.
2. Simplifies Payroll
Let’s face it, tracking employee hours, verifying and collating payroll is a laborious and time-consuming task. Thankfully, an electronic attendance machine can simplify this process by automating the entire workflow of attendance keeping and the payroll process.
3. Integration / Configuration
An electronic attendance system can be customized to suit your needs based on the nature of work and policies. Most of these systems are designed to integrate with some of the most popular payroll software and services like Tally ERP and QuickBooks Intuit.
4. Security
Most electronic attendance management systems are built for security. These systems have highly secure architecture, especially biometric systems. The organizations where security is a primary concern can trust electronic attendance systems.
5. Productivity / Efficiency
Such attendance systems can free up precious administration time that is otherwise spent on keeping track of employees and managing the payroll system. The saved time and effort when combined with data accuracy improves productivity and hence the profits.
Why pick electronic attendance systems over manual systems?
An electronic attendance system is far superior to any manual system. These systems are much more accurate, require no human oversight, easily integrate with existing payroll software, and cannot be fooled easily.
In a world where modern technologies are making it cost-effective to deploy smart business management solutions, if you are still stuck with a manual attendance system, you are losing revenue and may also be paying for the hours your employees never worked.
That being said, there are some aspects where electronic systems lack.
Drawbacks of electronic systems compared to hardware-less attendance systems
An electronic time attendance system is not always a viable option. For instance, these systems have limited scope for businesses where employees are scattered over a large geographical area.
Hardware-less systems are more reliable in such a scenario as workers can clock in using their mobile phones.
Dependency on hardware sensors limits the efficiency of electronic systems in industries with a blue-collar workforce like mining and forging companies. Fingerprint systems are not as efficient here as workers’ fingers are often covered in dirt. For such a working environment, hardware-less systems like facial recognition are more efficient.
Post pandemic work culture is shifting towards minimizing physical contact for the safety of employees, making hardware-less attendance systems more viable.
Furthermore, electronic systems have higher maintenance cost due to hardware components. They also require more space for installation.
Do you need a hardware-less attendance system?
Yes, you do.
Irrespective of what type of your business is, a hardware-less system is a worthwhile investment. It can perform all the functions an electronic attendance system can, but is far more cost-effective. Truein is one such attendance system that is designed for employees, contractual and distributed workforce.
“Get centralized and foolproof Time & Attendance for your organization”
Book a Free Demo Now
Why choose the Truein attendance system
Truein is an ideal hardware-less attendance system that is trusted by some of the biggest organizations. A touchless face recognition attendance system, Truein is designed to automate attendance policies and reports for your business.
You can view the full image here.
You can view the full image here.
A major upgrade Truein provides over other hardware-less attendance systems is the capability to recognize a face with a mask on. The AI-powered face recognition system can detect a person accurately even with a mask on or any facial attribute change such as beard or glasses.
There is a minimal cost of deploying this attendance system for your business. Employees can use their mobile or tablet to configure Truein’s app to mark their attendance.
There’s more, Truein automates payroll, leave management, shift rostering, and integration with third-party software.
Schedule a free demo and see how Truein can intelligently handle all your business’ attendance and employee management needs.
