5 Common Time Tracking Challenges Solved With Segmented Tracking
Emily Maina
Last update on:
January 6, 2025 5:12 AM
Published on:
Even though technology has advanced significantly, many companies continue to track time manually by using punch cards, paper, or Excel sheets.
Despite being relatively simple, these traditional time tracking methods fall short of meeting the needs of today’s complex workforce. Manual timekeeping systems are not the most reliable in terms of accuracy and efficiency. And when it comes to complying with federal and state labor laws, traditional time tracking methods just can’t keep up.
Timeero’s Segmented Tracking technology helps you deal with these challenges effectively by breaking down employees’ workdays into smaller chunks and then displaying them in the form of a visual timeline. This revolutionary GPS technology can help you better track employee time, location, and mileage without needing to lift a finger.
Ready to overcome your time tracking challenges?
Try Timeero's Segmented Tracking today and experience the difference!
Understanding the limitations of traditional time tracking
Traditional time tracking requires employees to manually keep track of their work hours. Manual time keeping methods are often inefficient and prone to error. Below are several examples of traditional time tracking systems.
Punch cards: Employees physically punch a card in and out of a time clock to record arrival and departure times.
Paper records: Employees manually fill out paper timesheets, recording their start and end times, breaks, as well as the tasks they worked on.
Swipe card systems: Employees swipe a card through a reader to record their entry and exit times.
Excel sheets: Employees manually key their start and stop times into an Excel spreadsheet, along with project names, and other relevant information.
Companies that use these systems struggle with maintaining labor law compliance, managing mobile or remote employees, and keeping accurate records. These outdated time tracking methods lack the adaptability required to meet the diverse needs of modern workplaces, compounding their limitations and inefficiencies.
Common time tracking challenges and how segmented tracking solves them
The most common time tracking issue most employers face is inaccurate time entries.
Employees may forget to clock in or out which means their timecards do not reflect their actual hours worked. Inaccurate time entries can lead to underpayment or overcompensation, both of which significantly affect your organization's bottom line.
Aside from missed punches and inaccurate time entries, two of the biggest forms of time theft include "rounding up" work hours and buddy punching (i.e. employees clocking in for each other). A 2017 study found that buddy punching costs employers up to $373 million annually, which shows just how much fraudulent time entries can impact your company’s profit.
How does Timeero’s Segmented Tracking solve this issue?
Timeero’s Segmented Tracking displays a visual timeline that shows your employees’ daily whereabouts. The real-time data captured through Segmented Tracking allows you to quickly identify, address, and correct any discrepancies and/or inconsistencies in the recorded time.
Timeero’s Segmented Tracking takes transparency to a whole new level, as you can see exactly where an individual employee was at the time of clock in, as well as their movements throughout the workday.
Timeero provides a detailed timeline of employee movements during their workday.
2. Manual data entry and errors
Traditional time methods require employees to manually record their work hours and job activities. Manual data entry is one of the most error-prone methods of time tracking due to the tendency humans have to carelessly transpose numbers and misplace records. Together, these factors tend to result in inaccurate reporting and payroll calculations.
Correcting errors not only wastes valuable company time, but often warrants using additional resources to identify and rectify discrepancies – which translates to additional company expenses.
How does Timeero’s Segmented Tracking solve this issue?
Timeero’s Segmented Tracking automates the recordkeeping process. Instead of relying on manual entries, Timeero leverages advanced GPS tracking technologies to precisely calculate the time employees spent at each visited location, down to the minute.
With Segmented Tracking, your employees only need to clock in at the beginning of their shift, and out at the end of the day. There is no need to make multiple time entries or enter driving details manually, which minimizes errors and ensures accurate timekeeping.
With Segmented Tracking, employees no longer need to record multiple time entries.
3. Difficulty tracking mobile workers
Traditional timekeeping systems are not able to accommodate employees working away from the centralized workplace. It is harder for employers to keep track of their remote and field workers when they choose to rely on a stationary time tracking system.
For sales representatives, field technicians, and other traveling employees, manually recording work hours can be complicated. Since traditional time tracking methods do not allow for real-time tracking, it is possible for workers to under- or over-report work hours. The inconsistencies found in time entries decrease productivity and are often the cause of disputes between employers and employees. These challenges showcase the inability of manual systems to manage a mobile workforce effectively.
How does Timeero’s Segmented Tracking solve this issue?
Timeero simplifies time tracking for field employees, as Segmented Tracking ensures uninterrupted time tracking even with limited or no internet connectivity. If a field employee begins their workday connected to Wi-Fi and subsequently loses internet access while traveling, the time entries captured prior to internet disconnection are seamlessly uploaded to the cloud.
While offline, Timeero stores an employee’s time tracking data locally on their device. Upon re-establishing an internet connection, the stored data is automatically synchronized with the cloud, ensuring a complete and accurate record of the employee's work activities throughout the day.
Timeero’s Segmented Tracking is the best solution for employers needing multi-stop location tracking. Your employees’ entire daily whereabouts can be seen via the Segmented Tracking timeline and accompanying virtual map with route replay.
4. Lack of project-specific insights
Traditional systems often fail to capture detailed information about how employees spend their time on specific projects or tasks. Employers do not receive insights regarding project progress, resource allocation, and employee productivity without thorough tracking information.
It is difficult for managers to make informed decisions and even tougher for them to spot bottlenecks and areas for improvement without data and insights. On top of that, tracking project-specific hours is quite complex, especially when it comes to billing and cost management of projects. The lack of accurate insights hinders effective planning and impacts overall project outcomes.
How does Timeero’s Segmented Tracking solve these issues?
Segmented Tracking empowers businesses to establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and track employee progress effectively. For example, sales managers can use Segmented Tracking reports to analyze average sales cycle times. If for every five potential client visits made, a sales rep closes two deals, managers can set realistic targets and monitor team performance.
Additionally, Segmented Tracking provides valuable insights into employee workflow patterns. By analyzing the time your workers spent on various activities, such as travel time versus face-to-face interactions, you can identify areas for improvement. If your employees are spending the majority of their time driving, Timeero’s suggested mileage feature can be used to optimize routes and minimize travel time, allowing employees to spend more time with clients.
5. Compliance with labor laws
Companies that rely solely on traditional time tracking methods often find it more challenging to comply with federal and state labor laws, especially since labor laws are ever-evolving.
Manual timekeeping systems fail terribly in matters of recording work hours, break times, overtime, and documentation. Without a way to show compliance during audits and disputes, your company would be exposed to legal consequences such as fines, penalties and lawsuits.
How does Timeero’s Segmented Tracking solve these issues?
By providing accurate, reliable, and tamper-proof data, Segmented Tracking can help your company demonstrate compliance with various regulations and industry standards, reducing the risk of legal and financial penalties. If there is a legal dispute, the data collected through Segmented Tracking can be used as evidence, reducing risks for your business.
Segmented Tracking records can be used to prove compliance with labor laws.
Use Timeero to tackle time tracking challenges
Traditional time tracking methods present a host of challenges. From inaccurate time entries to lack of project-based insights, manual time tracking methods make things more difficult for everyone involved. Thankfully, with Timeero’s Segmented Tracking technology and additional GPS time and location tracking features, you can handle these shortcomings successfully.
Instead of manually calculating your employees’ work hours or recording how long employees spend with each client by hand, automate the process by using Timeero’s Segmented Tracking technology. Sign up for a free trial today.
Tired of inaccurate time tracking and the headaches it causes?
Timeero's Segmented Tracking provides the solution you need.
Emily Maina is a tech-savvy writer with a passion for creating content. With years of experience in the industry, she is well-versed in the latest trends and developments in the tech industry. When she’s not working, Emily enjoys exploring the great outdoors or watching her favorite shows.
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