Some companies struggled to transition employees to remote work arrangements when the pandemic hit. On the one hand, managers hardly believed their employees were doing actual work at home. On the other hand, it was difficult for supervisors to calculate billable hours and organize the team.
But we’ve come a long way since. Thanks to timekeeping apps, most small businesses and organizations have embraced the remote work model, and employees love it.
According to Owlabs’ 2020 State of Remote work survey, 77% of responding employees said they’d be happier if they had the option to work remotely after the pandemic. The survey’s 2021 edition reported that 48% of respondents would look for work elsewhere if their company discontinued remote work.
Time Tracking Solutions Are Helping Businesses do Better
The Global Time Tracking Software Market – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028 by Data Bridge Market Research estimates that the time tracking software market size will grow at a 20.40% CAGR and reach $31.88 billion by 2028. This forecast indicates the rapid speed of time tracking integration due to the rising transition to remote work.
Many people think of timekeeping solutions as digital systems that only keep clock in and clock out records. But they’re much more than that.
Time tracking solutions have morphed into robust employee monitoring systems that provide valuable data to boost productivity, allocate resources, and keep payrolls error-free. In addition, they have significantly reshaped the digital workspace and showed managers new ways to do things.
This article covers how timekeeping technology shapes the digital workspace in 2022 and beyond.
Work Delivery
Employers are now exploring different ways to deliver projects in less time using timekeeping data. They now use the data to manage workload and allocate resources efficiently. As a result, projects can be executed faster with little to no mistakes.
Timekeeping metrics show a company how much time it takes to execute individual tasks. Managers can use the data to optimize workflow and shorten project delivery timelines.
For example, they can identify time wasters, bloated work processes, and bureaucratic tasks that obstruct workflow. Then, they can either remove or change how workers deal with these activities.
Employee Growth
Time trackers record how fast an employee completes a task. Business owners use these records to assess each employee’s capabilities and know what they’re good at. This way, their talents can be put to good use.
For example, if an employee is great at executing analytical tasks, managers can allocate more of those jobs to them. In doing that, the company improves productivity, and the employee is set on a career path where they can excel.
On the other hand, timekeeping data also shows where workers struggle. The metrics show employers where they need to assist workers, provide training, and help them improve. So, you can discover which employee needs to brush up on their technical or soft skills and offer them opportunities to take up the suitable training courses.
Redefined Workflows
Workflow management plays a significant role in work quality, efficiency, and delivery. As a result, companies spend a lot to make sure tasks move from one process to another without disruptions.
While workflow solutions help organizations organize better workflows, timekeeping apps provide valuable data that can be used to optimize any system.
Knowing the estimated time an employee takes to complete a task allows you to redesign and improve automated processes in your workflow management system.
Also, things like geolocation data, shift information, and clock in and clock out data can help optimize the workflow process. As a result, managers are now going for workflow solutions that integrate with time trackers.
Productivity and Efficiency
In the Owls survey, employees agreed that they achieve the same productivity levels, or higher when working remotely as they did in the office. What’s more, 55% say they put in more hours and finish more tasks.
These improved productivity reports have a lot to do with time trackers. Managers use timekeeping apps to fine-tune work allocation and task management to improve output and efficiency.
Each task is assigned to the right team member since time trackers help managers know who’s good at what. This way, jobs are handled professionally.
Time trackers help employers discover time-wasting activities and get rid of them. As a result, workers spend more time on critical tasks, boosting output.
Moreover, timekeeping data allows managers to identify each employee’s peak work hours. So, they can assign challenging tasks during periods when workers are more energized and active.
Employee Welfare
Workers have suffered from overwork and burnout for a long time. According to the WHO, long work hours increase the risk of stroke and heart disease deaths.
Another survey from Indeed reported that respondents experienced more work-related exhaustion and attributed it to the pandemic. Reports also show that teleworkers often put in extra work and don’t know when to stop.
These numbers show how long working hours affect employees’ quality of life. But the trend is changing, thanks to timekeeping technology.
Managers now have access to data that allows them to organize shifts efficiently. This way, they can find out when a worker has done enough for the day or the week and stop them from working. Timekeeping apps also show overtime data, allowing employers to know when to enable workers to take much-needed breaks.
Also, with time tracking metrics, business owners can shape better workplace policies to prevent burnout and stop overwork. For example, working hours can now be defined, and employees don’t have to exceed their time limits.
Payroll
HR managers and accountants are further moving away from outdated payroll systems. Instead, they’re now integrating accounting applications into time trackers to generate accurate payrolls and minimize payment issues.
As a result, workers can focus on their jobs without sending emails back and forth to rectify paycheck inconsistencies.
Timekeeping Tech is Still Evolving
While time trackers and employee monitoring tools are changing the workplace forever, they still have more to offer. For example, we’re now seeing the rise of automatic time tracking and intelligent employee monitoring.
As companies embrace these solutions, they’ll keep optimizing business processes to improve productivity, worker welfare, and accountability.
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