Clocking In / Time Tracking - Viaiel Mobile Phone

[DarrenMcCabe]

I have a client who runs a commercial cleaning company.

They have cleaners out at various and frequently changing remote sites and need some way of the cleaners "clocking in" at the sites.

Ideally this would be done on a mobile phone as the cleaners will not have computer access and may not have web access.

I have seen systems that track vehicles and can show the exact location of a vehicle and time it got there as well how long it was there.

Is there something similar for employee's?

The company themselves dont have a large IT infrastructure, so ideally it would need to be a hosted/cloud based solution

Thanks in advance.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

This sort of thing perhaps?
http://www.simplytrak.com/Simplytrak-personnel-tracking

 

[Blood Lust]

I have a client who runs a commercial cleaning company.

They have cleaners out at various and frequently changing remote sites and need some way of the cleaners "clocking in" at the sites.

Ideally this would be done on a mobile phone as the cleaners will not have computer access and may not have web access.

I have seen systems that track vehicles and can show the exact location of a vehicle and time it got there as well how long it was there.

Is there something similar for employee's?

The company themselves dont have a large IT infrastructure, so ideally it would need to be a hosted/cloud based solution

Thanks in advance.

In my experience a team without a manager is a bad idea. Not only will staff abuse their workhours (what you're trying to avoid) they'll be mucking about when they should be working.

My advice is to put someone in charge of each team instead of an expensive clocking in system. Pay them a little extra per hour but make sure you pick people that wont take no bull off workers and isnt their friend (although will treat them correctly).

You'll find their productivity will increase in addition to them turning to work on time.

BL

 

[anthony_herve]

Hi Darren,

Your client could use an online job scheduling / management software.
Please do not hesitate to call on 0203 239 0255 to arrange a demo.

Best regards,
Anthony

 

[Merchant UK]

Why don'y you get them to take a picture of the main entrance and text it to you. That way you know they are on site and have the picture details to confirm the time date etc..

 

[DarrenMcCabe]

Thanks for the advice folks. Merchant, your idea is wonderfully simple and does the job so I will definitely suggest it to the client thank you!

 

[Office Cleaning]

There are a few systems out there some specifically for cleaning companies - http://www.mitcsoftware.com/ for example, we looked into it seriously a few years back. It sounds good, the clocking in software can be hooked into your payroll so no more timesheets and the cleaners get paid for actual worked carried out rather than what they're supposed to be doing. Also it covers the remote worker H&S as well.

They have various systems, ones where the cleaners phone a freephone no from a client's site, ones where they install a swipe system etc

However the big flaw is the users, all the cleaners do is phone in for their mates. Some of the companies say they have voice recognition software to prevent this, however in our experience it was pants and chewbacca could phone in and pass for Mrs Mop.

It might work for single cleaner sites ok, but you would know pretty quickly if you have a cleaner not turning up for a site anyhow.

The photo idea seems prone to same flaw, what's to stop the cleaners sending the same photo from the pub?

Best to stick with managers and supervision was our conclusion. If you do find a solid system please post back as I would be interested to check it out.

 

[Clip]

If those sites have alarm systems, on most brands the cleaners can have codes/tags that would act as clocking in/out. It would have to be in conjunction with the client, but if there is monitoring on site, some alarms systems can send texts on arrival/departure.

Otherwise, you could look at a simple guard tour system. Each cleaner would have a "wand" which they would use to scan a barcode on site as they arrive and leave. On the simple systems, they return the wand to base, and the times/dates/attendance are downloaded.

Not real-time, but a much cheaper option than using mobile technology.

Installed both systems a few times for cleaning firms.

 

[Merchant UK]

Another Cheap and very good idea would be to print out a QR code, get one done here http://www.qrstuff.com/

Use the send SMS option and then what you need to do is to print and Laminate a QR code, Fix it to the site somewhere and get the employees to scan it, when they do you'll get a text message with a date and time stamp.

You can choose a secret message to send yourself as a SMS then the employees will not be able to just send you a sms on their own back.

Then just get them to scan when they start and scan when they finish.

All you need then is to ensure your workers have a phone with the Scan reader app which is free to download

This has to be by far the cheapest way ever

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Another Cheap and very good idea would be to print out a QR code, get one done here http://www.qrstuff.com/

Use the send SMS option and then what you need to do is to print and Laminate a QR code, Fix it to the site somewhere and get the employees to scan it, when they do you'll get a text message with a date and time stamp.

You can choose a secret message to send yourself as a SMS then the employees will not be able to just send you a sms on their own back.

Then just get them to scan when they start and scan when they finish.

All you need then is to ensure your workers have a phone with the Scan reader app which is free to download

This has to be by far the cheapest way ever

I may have found a flaw in that...

What is to stop them from taking a picture, popping home - sending to their own email address via their phone then simply bringing it up on their PC and scanning later on?

 

[Merchant UK]

I may have found a flaw in that...

What is to stop them from taking a picture, popping home - sending to their own email address via their phone then simply bringing it up on their PC and scanning later on?

Well then i would assume the cleaning don't get done, The customer complains and the employee gets the sack for gross misconduct, and Clocking in fraud.

There has to be an element of trust, as with any system. The object is to create a record of starting and stopping times, for use with reputable employees.

 

[wispafish]

Using the qr code would be a great idea. Couldnt you log all the info from when they use the qr code into a computer and the look for patterns. If things go a miss then turn up and do spot checks.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Who says the cleaning doesn't get done? - Lets say for instance the company states a two hour work load on a business for instance, the cleaner being as good as they are manages it within an hour... Cleaning is still complete, customer is still happy... the only person that loses out is the cleaner really for being good at their job.

Fact of the matter is the QR code isn't really a good idea, it's on the right track but it's flawed as I've stated previously.

 

[crystalballltd]

Hi Darren,

Not sure if you have found a solution now or not?
Features in our Mobile Track Pro solution include:


GPS Tracking

Mobile Monitoring (realtime call and sms text management)

NFC Check-in
(This is where you place NFC stickers on sites and swipe your NFC enabled phones across the sticker to check in, other functionality on swiping is possible, such as placing the cleaner into a remotely managed lone worker welfare session, should you also have our lone worker app.)

GeoTagging
Photos, Digital signatures and notes can be taken and tagged with location, time and date stamps.

Happy to give you a live demo.