It can be hard for managers to account for the daily whereabouts of mobile employees. To help with this issue, companies are turning to the best geofencing apps to enhance time and location tracking of mobile teams.
Geofencing technology allows businesses to create virtual perimeters around geographical areas such as job sites or warehouses, to gain greater insight into an employee’s workday, reduce the risk of payroll errors, and increase worker safety.
With so many geofencing apps on the market, sorting through available options can be extremely time consuming. To assist you in making an informed decision, we tested numerous geofencing apps and compiled a review of the five applications that we believe best streamline employee tracking.
Track employee location while they are on the clock
We evaluated the geofencing features of five tracking apps and rated them on the following criteria: ease of use, geofence automation, and accuracy.
At the top of our list is Timeero, an all-in-one GPS powered tracking solution perfect for on-the-go teams.
1. Timeero
Best For: Eliminating offsite and buddy punching
Timeero stands out as the top geofencing app on our list thanks to its intuitive interface and powerful geofence automation features. Circular geofences with a radius between 100 and 2,500 meters can easily be created to manage remote crews distributed across multiple job sites.
Note: Timeero will soon begin offering users the ability to draw a polygonal geofence around a singular warehouse, office block or other workzone to enhance tracking accuracy.
Create custom geofences with ease
Creating a geofence around a worksite can be done within minutes. When you enter an address, Timeero automatically repositions the location on the map, so you don’t have to enter directional details manually.
Encourage employee accountability and prevent time theft
To encourage employee accountability and streamline attendance, enable the setting “require user to be within geofence to clock in.” When activated, this setting requires employees to be within the designated job area to clock in or out, preventing them from starting the time clock before they arrive on site. Geofencing technology ensures timecards are accurate and prevents time theft.
Stay informed with real-time notifications
Timeero nudges employees to clock in or out when they arrive or leave the worksite through push notifications.
In the event an employee tries to clock in while outside the geofence, Timeero displays the notification: “you clocked in/out outside the job area”. If the app is configured to allow employees to clock in outside of the geofenced area, their timesheet is flagged so the manager can investigate the entry.
“Timeero is the perfect solution for our small business in many ways. The geofencing feature allows us to track progress and employee locations for safety, time management and tracking mileage. Such a great product!” Luke Loukinas - Owner, PTTI
Other Timeero features
Real-time GPS time and location tracking
Segmented tracking
Employee scheduling
Mileage tracking
Payroll and API Integrations
2. Hubstaff
Hubstaff’s geofencing features score high on the user-friendliness front. The app conveniently notifies managers through the mobile app when an employee enters or exits a geofenced area, making it a great solution for companies with mobile teams.
To create a geofence, you are required to name the job site, enter the address, and select the geofence radius (between 50 and 3,000 meters). To restrict employees from clocking in/out outside of your defined geofence, make sure to enable the “restrict timer to job sites” setting.
Hubstaff offers two geofence automation rules
Configure the app to start or stop the timer when an employee enters or exits the geofence. This is a helpful option for businesses looking to track billable hours.
Remind employees to clock in or out as they interact with the geofence. This option improves timesheet accuracy and reduces payroll errors that eat away at business profits.
Other Hubstaff features
Project management
GPS location tracking
Productivity monitoring
Attendance tracking
3. OnTheClock
To create a geofence in OnTheClock’s mobile app, enter the precise latitude and longitude coordinates of each job site to reposition the address on the map. OnTheClock’s geofence boundaries are fairly generous, which can be advantageous for businesses that cover a large area of territory.
OnTheClock offers four geofence automation options:
Record GPS coordinates: The app will still let the employee clock in/out but GPS coordinates are recorded so you know where they were located when they clocked in.
Record GPS and require GPS to punch: The app will tag employees' GPS locations and won’t let them clock in if they’re outside the designated job area.
Record GPS, warn if not at the GPS punch location: The app records GPS coordinates and sends the employee a warning that they’re outside the job site.
Record GPS, disable punch if not at GPS location: Disables the punch button, making it impossible for employees to log in outside the job area.
Other OnTheClock features
Shift Scheduling
Employee GPS tracking tools
Payroll integrations
4. AllGeo
AllGeo’s geofencing features are great for companies that want to enhance the accuracy of time and attendance tracking.
Upon entering the worksite address for your geofence, AllGeo automatically repositions the location on the map to simplify field employee monitoring. In the event the app repositions the job site incorrectly, you can enter the geographical coordinates manually.
AllGeo’s geofencing features make it easy for employees to record accurate work hours.
The app’s automatic geofencing settings can be configured in two ways:
Remind employees to clock in/out as they enter or leave the geofence
Automatically clock employees in/out as they enter or exit the geofence in the event they forget to do so
Other AllGeo features
Employee GPS tracking
Job scheduling
Route and mileage tracking
Work order management
Employee communication
5. HelloTracks
HelloTracks is an easy-to-use geofencing software solution perfect for sales managers and businesses with field teams. The app has an exciting way to help you expedite the creation of multiple geofences, by auto-suggesting the location name of any address you type in.
HelloTracks allows users to create two forms of geofences:
Places are circular geofences with a radius between 25 and 300 meters
Zones are polygonal geofences that cover a larger and more irregular area
Both places and zones can automatically check field employees in and out as they enter or exit the geofenced area, preventing instances of time theft. To easily monitor field activities and track project progress, managers receive real-time alerts anytime an employee enters or leaves a geofence zone.
Other Features of HelloTracks:
AI-powered job dispatcher
Real-time location tracking
Route optimization
Route history (breadcrumbing)
Employee work scheduling
What is geofencing?
Geofencing uses location-based technologies such as Global Positioning (GPS), Wi-Fi, and Radio Frequency ID (RFID) to create a virtual boundary around a physical location, such as a worksite, warehouse, or customer address. The virtual fence separates the location from the area around it, allowing you to detect when a field employee moves in or out of the geofence.
Geofencing apps rely on the location services of employees’ iOS and Android devices. The mobile app tracks location data and syncs it to the cloud in near-real-time, providing managers with location updates as employees move across geofences.
Understand your business needs
To find reliable geofencing software that will meet your business needs, perform an evaluation of company specifics. The criteria below will help you best determine what your business needs are and guide you toward finding the best geofencing app for your workforce.
Business Size
Your business size plays a large part in finding the right software options for your workforce. Small business owners typically prioritize ease of use and budget-friendliness, while enterprises may require scalability and advanced automation features. The best geofencing app for your business should include the features you require without offering excessive functions or eliminating the functions you need the most.
Number of employees
When narrowing down your choices of geofencing apps, keep in mind that some apps do cap the number of employees you can manage. The rule of thumb is to pick software that accommodates your workforce without incurring additional costs. There are some apps on the market that offer a user-based pricing model which will require more initial investment on your end if you employ a large workforce.
Specific Industry Needs
Your company’s ideal business goals determine which app is most ideal for your teams. For example, sales and field service businesses looking to simplify territory mapping prefer an app that can create polygonal geofences.
Budget
As you create your list of potential geofencing apps, evaluate your financial constraints and decide how much you are willing to invest in geofencing software. Compare potential apps side-by-side to determine which app offers the features you need within your budget. You should also factor in the return on investment (ROI) of the geofencing app when it comes to how effective the software is at eliminating costly instances of time theft.
What to look for in geofencing software
Geofencing is not a standalone functionality but is one of the key features offered by many GPS tracking apps. Besides evaluating an app’s geofencing capabilities, consider additional features the app provides.
Some of the key features to look for include:
1. Real-time location tracking
While geofencing technology alerts you of location-based events, such as when employees enter or leave geofenced zones, the technology does not help you monitor employee whereabouts. Select software that combines real-time location tracking with powerful geofencing capabilities to enhance accountability and transparency.
2. Time tracking and attendance
Geofencing is best used to prevent the occurrence of time theft through off-site punching. However, the technology alone will not improve timesheet accuracy and promote fair employee remuneration. To achieve these goals, the app you choose should include a powerful time clock alongside geofencing features.
An app with an easy-to-use time clock can accurately track all aspects of employee hours — regular work hours, overtime, and breaks. The best time tracking software should display the clock in/out times of employees in real-time to help you streamline attendance monitoring.
3. Mobile app availability
It’s not uncommon for some geofencing apps to be restricted to users in certain areas. If your workforce is staffed throughout multiple regions, or even located worldwide, make sure your app of choice is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store in countries where employees are based.
Another thing to confirm is the mobile app's offline capabilities. Since geofencing is used primarily by those with a mobile workforce, make sure your ideal app will continue to function without an internet connection if employees are outside cellular range.
4. Integrations
The geofencing app you choose should be compatible with other solutions in your technology stack. Many businesses opt to use software integrations to streamline business processes and eliminate manual data entry. The ideal geofencing app should integrate smoothly with your current payroll software to automatically import payroll data for accurate and expedient employee compensation.
5. Data privacy and security
Privacy concerns are among the main reasons why employees push back against tracking apps. Most employees will not agree to use a GPS tracking app with geofencing capabilities if they do not understand how and when they are being tracked.
The best geofencing apps prioritize employee privacy and data security. To help alleviate concerns associated with GPS tracking, establish a clear tracking policy that outlines how and when the app tracks employee movement as well as how you intend to use GPS data. The steps you take to educate your employees on GPS tracking procedures will enable you to adhere to tracking regulations.
How to choose the right geofencing app for your business
The following guideline will help you choose the best geofencing app for your business.
Evaluate your needs: Create your selection criteria based on your most pressing needs. What is the size of your workforce? What problems do you need to address – equipment theft, time theft, or productivity issues? How much are you willing to spend?
Compare geofencing apps side-by-side: Draw up a list of about 10 potential geofencing tools. Compare these apps based on the selection criteria and narrow the list to the top five apps. When comparing the apps, consider the type of geofence they support (circular or polygonal) and the features they offer.
Consider the pricing: To whittle down the list further, evaluate the app's pricing. Consider the initial investment and the recurring costs, and select three apps that are priced within your budget.
Test the apps: Use the free trials apps provide to test their ease of use and the effectiveness of their available features. Allow managers and employees to test the apps and solicit their feedback to make an informed decision.
Meet your business goals with the best geofencing app
Your company’s unique business needs play a large part in choosing which geofencing app is best for your workforce. Be sure to take an inventory of your company’s financial constraints, and industry specific requirements.
The best geofencing software should offer the features you need at the most affordable price.
Finding an app that combines the two aspects is rare, but Timeero strikes a delicate balance — it offers comprehensive features and is budget-friendly.
To discover the full extent of Timeero’s geofencing capabilities, start a 14-day free trial today.
Stop Offsite and Buddy Punching Now With Timeero
Try our geofencing and facial recognition features for free
Samson is a mathematician turned content marketer specializing in SaaS and Tech content. He focuses on the practical aspects of software systems while keeping abreast of the industry’s cutting-edge principles to create informative and engaging content. When he’s not writing, Samson spends time playing or watching soccer.
%202.svg)
