Time Tracking for the Construction Industry


Time tracking for construction companies with seasonal and mobile employees working in different locations can be a daunting process. The greatest concern about mobile workers is that minimum supervision will lead to lack of accountability. Construction companies need assurance that their workforce is working diligently to complete the tasks assigned to them. 

Time tracking for this industry has proved to be challenging due to time theft, timesheet guesswork, lack of accountability, exaggerated overtime, etc. Supervisors lose valuable time when they have to clock in and out employees or manually confirm who is working where and when. Poor time tracking for construction companies may lead to low productivity, employee inefficiency, and increase in cost due to payroll spillage.

The Traditional Time Tracking Method Used by Construction Companies

Construction companies in the past relied on paper timesheets and punching cards which were far from perfect. Damaged timesheets, errors, and time theft are some of the common issues that affect manual time tracking. With manual time tracking employers have to rely on the worker’s word on when they arrived and left the construction site. Some staff members punch in or out for their co-workers (buddy punching) with this old-time tracking system. 

Paper timesheets are prone to mistake thus making the payroll process hectic and time-consuming. Punching cards tend to be time-consuming because workers have to queue to clock in or out.

Why Construction Companies Should Use a Tracking App 

Time can eat up to 60% of a company’s cost if time spent on outcomes produced is not properly tracked. Construction companies have their workers spread across different locations, and it’s vital to have a solution that is flexible for them and their employees. Thanks to the fast-growing technology, digital time tracking apps with GPS have emerged. These apps let crew members’ clock in and out from any job site using the devices they already have in their pockets. There are apps available which have GPS, time tracking and attendance features that save construction companies hours and money in payroll. They accurately track time regardless of workers being out of service or offline and automatically synchronizes when the crew is back in service.

Benefits of a GPS Time Tracking App 

Time tracking apps automatically attaches GPS location points to worker’s timesheets when they clock in, out, take lunch breaks or change job codes. With GPS time tracking you don’t have to rely on your worker’s word on their whereabouts or the time they arrived at the job site. GPS allows employers to see where their workers are and what they are working on. This will enable employers to manage and monitor crew members easily and also allocate resources. No more wasting time clocking in, supervisors can punch in multiple employees within seconds.

Construction businesses that don’t adopt this new technology, will lose hundreds of hours and thousands of hours each year. The losses will be manifest in the payroll processing time cost and employee time theft. Digital time tracking minimizes time theft and buddy punching. Compared to the traditional time tracking methods, GPS time tracking is user-friendly and cost-effective. Payroll process is made easier because time tracking apps are accurate and error free. Say goodbye to the expensive, bulky hardware and inaccurate paper time cards. 

Job Costing Made Easy

Time tracking apps offer better job-costing that provides precise information on how much was spent to complete a particular job. Businesses don’t have to be left in the dark trying to figure out if they have exceeded their project costs.

Afraid of GPS Tracking?

Some employees may not be very open to GPS tracking, while on the clock, for many reasons. However, GPS tracking is a growing trend. Published research in 2017 shows that employers in the US, Australia, Europe, and Canada are embracing GPS tracking apps. Canadian businesses have the highest rate of GPS app users, where 39 percent of employees have used the technology. This is not surprising as we live in an era of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).

Concerns about GPS tracking can be solved through communication, culture, and values. It is important as a business to communicate thoroughly and effectively about the tracking effort goals. Focus on benefits to employees such as workplace safety, accurate paychecks, and greater accountability. Focusing on these and any others will make a big difference in how your employees perceive GPS time tracking.