Automated Attendance System vs Manual (Pros and cons 2022) – truMe

 

An automated attendance system has now become a necessity. When you’re a business owner, you’re juggling many tasks throughout the day. Thus, measuring your employee’s time and attendance is the last thing that should be on your mind. In order to avoid this, companies or business owners have implemented attendance systems. In addition to allowing the employer to monitor the working hours of their employees, such a program can also be used to determine the employees’ salaries and improve payroll processes.

A company can choose between two kinds of attendance systems, namely manual or automated. In traditional attendance tracking, punch locks or some other type of manual system is used. This system, however, requires constant human supervision. Fortunately, thanks to the advent of technology, we now have automated attendance systems that can provide significantly better results.

It is possible to use either of these systems to keep track of the attendance of the employees; however, just like every coin, each has its own good and bad sides. As a result, most companies are confused and unable to decide whether to use an automated attendance system or a manual attendance system.

Thankfully, we’re here to help. In this blog, let’s learn more about each of these systems, along with their pros and cons, to know which one is better than the other. Let’s get into it.

 

Manual attendance system: Pros and cons

When comes to manual attendance systems, these are traditional systems in which employees fill out their attendance sheets manually. Generally, small businesses with a small number of employees use this. It is, however, important that such systems are executed fairly. Furthermore, HR managers are under a great deal of pressure when collecting data on employees’ working hours through these systems. Take a closer look at the pros and cons of such a system to gain a better understanding.

Pros:

1. Cost-effective:

Manual attendance doesn’t require any expensive systems or software. Small businesses and start-up slack the funds to invest in an automated system. However, a small business can manage payroll manually without spending a lot of money. Due to the fact that the data is manually recorded, it can be corrupted quite easily. Workers may enter incorrect information in order to gain extra wages. Therefore, it may end up costing you more in the long run.

 

2. Simple to use:

Employers are often familiar with the manual ledger sheet that maintains and tracks data. In this sense, this system is quite beneficial to them. There is no need for an expert to implement it.

 

3. Resistant to power cuts:

A manual attendance system has the upper hand in the event of a power outage. However, if you use an automated attendance system that is connected to the cloud, the daily backups will solve this problem.

 

Cons:

1. Prone to buddy-punching:

Manual attendance systems are plagued by buddy-punching and time-theft. Since the data is entered manually, it can easily be manipulated. The employee may provide inaccurate information for extra income, resulting in less productivity and increased costs.

 

2. Human error possibility:

It is necessary to compile the attendance of employees while considering their remuneration, compliance, etc. When such tasks are performed manually, however, the chances of human error increase.

 

3. Time-consuming:

Manually recording attendance is very time-consuming. As a consequence, performance and productivity can be affected. The manual process of collecting attendance data for all your employees will also take time. You might also end up spending a lot of time maintaining scorecards, rectifying errors in time entry, and so on.

Although manual time and attendance systems do have some positive points, they are not without faults. They may appear attractive in the short run, but they don’t benefit your business in the long run.

 

Now that we’ve looked at the slim pros and serious cons of a manual attendance system, let’s discuss an automated attendance system.

 

 

Automated attendance system: Pros and cons

 

There has been constant advancement in software solutions for human resource management, which are now considered far more reliable than manual timekeeping. They make the check-in process much easier, and allow easy access to data that can be statistically analyzed for payroll purposes. Today’s HR software is cloud-based, which streamlines workforce management, and allows mobile access to timesheets.

By introducing this system, you will receive significant pros but will have to deal with a few cons as well that have been listed below.

 

Pros:

1. Records data automatically:

It frees you from the burden of having to keep an eye on attendance by automating the task. The system collects and stores the attendance data of all the employees for you. Using the stored data, you can track employee attendance and determine how many hours they have worked eventually saving time and increasing productivity.

 

2. Real-time reporting:

With real-time tracking, you can monitor the actual location of your employees through GPS and geo-tagging. When you have a distributed workforce, you can keep detailed records of client meetings and track employees’ locations in real-time. Attendance apps are quite helpful in tracking real-time attendance.

 

3. Accuracy

You may receive false attendance data from your employees when you track attendance manually. The attendance sheet may be tampered with to add more hours and earn overtime pay. An automated attendance tool relieves you of the stress of such errors and miscalculations.

 

4. Cloud-based storage:

With an automated attendance app, you just store everything in a cloud behind a firewall. So, whenever you need to check something, you can simply go to the cloud and search for it. Employees can also check their schedules, hours worked, time-off requests, and payment details via automated time and attendance monitoring systems.

 

5. User-friendly:

Automated attendance systems are easy to install and use. They don’t require any special training or knowledge. Just a few clicks, and you’ll have access to all the details of attendance management. You can also choose an attendance management app, which allows employees to mark their attendance using their mobile.

 

6. Easy Integration

You can easily integrate an attendance management software with other payroll software like HRMS/HRIS so that you can calculate the exact payment to give to the employees. Attendance management software is also easy to upgrade as per industry specifications.

 

Cons:

1. Requires maintenance:

Because the system is an electronic device that runs on attendance management software, it must be maintained appropriately. You will need to call an expert immediately if any technical issue arises. Further, this will increase your expenses.

 

2. Needs power supply to work:

For the automated system to work, a continuous power supply is required. As a result, if there is a power outage for three or four days, your employees cannot be recorded.

 

Conclusion:

With the proliferation of automated attendance systems, companies now have a one-stop-shop for all their time and attendance, payroll, and HR requirements. Businesses of any size can benefit from this. Bio-metrics have also made automated time and attendance solutions more secure, preventing employee theft of time.

Nevertheless, all companies must consider using automated systems now when considering the numerous benefits, they offer. Although it requires more investment, it will end up being beneficial to your company in the long run. truMe’s touchless and cloud-based attendance system is considered among the best Attendance Management systems to meet the current industry needs.