Geofencing Attendance System: Benefits and Tracking Features

Track and verify your field force’s location with a geofencing attendance system. It records accurate working hours and attendance.

Do you rely on manual attendance marking for your field staff?

If yes, you are your business’s worst enemy.

Your competitors have switched to more advanced and beneficial methods. Heard of a GPS-based attendance system?

It’s time to upgrade and opt for a geofencing attendance system!

Combined with field force management software, it’s a win-win situation. You record error-free working hours and real-time attendance. It also verifies employee location making no-shows a thing of the past.

This blog explores all the benefits of geofencing attendance tracking. Know how can it boost efficiency for your business and employees? Keep reading to find out!

Current Challenges of Manual Attendance Tracking

Companies using sign-in sheets or punch cards will face limitations.  Such as…

• Human Errors

The foremost challenge is human errors. Such as employees forgetting to sign in or sign out. This results in incomplete records.

• Proxy Attendance

Traditional attendance marking is susceptible to proxy. This is where one employee signs in on behalf of another.

• Time Theft and Buddy Punching

The lack of a geofencing attendance tracking system allows employees to manipulate records. For example, clocking in for their absent colleague or extending working hours.

• Time-consuming Data Management

Manual record compilation, organization, and analysis demand significant time and effort.

• Data Retrieval and Reporting Difficulties

Retrieving historical attendance data/generating reports based on the data is a headache.

What is the Geofencing Attendance System?

The GPS-based geofenced attendance system works on location-based monitoring.

Geo-coded attendance system is ideal for remote workforces and field employees. It tracks employees across different sites in detail.

These are set in locations like offices or client sites.

When an employee enters these boundaries, their presence is auto-marked(if the permission is already granted).

Managers receive alerts when employees leave or enter the zone. This helps with the shift scheduling For field employees.

Geofences also automate employee shift time tracking within the designated area. Thus ensuring accurate shift logs and preventing unauthorized clock-ins.

You can set many geofences and restrict their time and location as well.

A geofencing attendance system comes in handy for calculating exact work hours. It even calculates the exact distance travelled.

What is Geofencing? Geo-fencing means creating virtual boundaries around a location using GPS or Wi-Fi signals. It requires establishing longitude, latitude, and radius to encircle a specific point. Softwares use cellular data, Wi-Fi, GPS, or RFID Identification)  to create or access it.

What are the Types of Geofencing Attendance System?

Geofencing-based attendance system comes in different types. Each has unique features and a purpose. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. GPS-based Geofencing System

This geofencing attendance app uses GPS technology to track employee presence. It utilizes employees’ mobile phones to check in/out.

Whenever they enter and exit the geofence. This geofencing attendance system is best for employees working on-site.

2. RFID Employee Attendance Tracking System

An attendance tracking system uses RFID tags or cards to track employee markin/out.

Employees must carry RFID cards or tags linked to their identity. When exiting/entering the geofence, employees must scan their RFID cards.

3. Wi-Fi-Based Geofencing System

This system uses Wi-Fi to track employee mark in/out.

It implements geofences around specific areas. And uses Wi-Fi signals from field employees’ phones to determine their real-time location.

The geo-coded attendance system only marks their presence when they enter the geofence.

4. Hybrid Geofencing System

This system comprises two or more geofencing technologies. Such as GPS and RFID, to provide accurate attendance tracking information.

How Does Geofence Attendance Tracking Work?

Geofencing attendance tracking system depend on mobile or wearable GPS devices. And sometimes even on RFID tags.

Here is how it works:

Step 1: Establishment of Geofences

Field Managers will mark geofencing around specific work locations using employees’ coordinates. These virtual boundaries are set up through an attendance management system.

Step 2: Employee Registration

The geofencing attendance app registers each employee’s mobile/GPS device first. Further, these devices connect with the geofence boundaries.

Step 3: Geofence Detection

Whenever the employees enter/exit the geofencing, the GPS communicates with the system. Thus, triggering an attendance event.

Step 4: Notifications and Alerts

Managers or supervisors receive notifications or alerts of the employees’ movement through geofenced attendance system. This enables real-time tracking & monitoring and recording of working hours into timesheets.

Step 5: Real-time Data Recording

The GPS based attendance system records employees’ entry and exit. Right from the client site’s date, time, and location in real-time. This information is further analyzed to calculate the distance exactly travelled. This is important for reimbursement, on-road hours vs. on-duty, etc.

Key Features of a Geofenced Attendance System

Here are the must-have features of the geofenced attendance system. These will ensure that you –

1. Real-time location Tracking and Verification

With a click, the system will show you where all your employees are. Also, the jobs they are working at. Supervisors over their dashboard track real-time location and relevant updates.

Choose efficient geofencing system to get uninterrupted tracking even in offline mode. Plus, you get access to 6 months of historical data on your agent’s routes & journey.

2. Geofencing Important Locations

This is the main feature of geofencing attendance. An efficient geofencing-based attendance system sets geofences for tasks or schedule assignments.

Managers can limit their staff to check in/out from specific locations and times only. This intelligent system identifies and prevents location spoofing by fraudulent location applications.

3. Auto Mark In/Out

Employees can only mark their geofencing attendance once they reach their first task location. No more faulty mark in/out or traveling to the office daily to mark their presence. Also, managers can enable the auto-log feature once the shift ends. Very helpful in case when employees forget to mark out.

4. Facial Recognition to End Buddy Punching

Within the geofencing attendance system, managers can ask for facial resignation. This is an enhanced form of verification. The employees can click a picture stamped with real-time location coordinates. There is also the address and time of the snap clicked through the app.

5. Smart Alerts and Notification for Updates

Managers get alerts when employee enter or exit the geofencing. This helps with communication as well. Furthermore, you can stop your staff from entering hazardous or unidentified zones through geofencing.

Also, you don’t have to worry about reimbursing extra miles. The geofencing attendance software tracks exact travelled miles, even across complex routes.

6. Insightful Reports for Timesheets and Attendance Trends

The geofencing attendance app generates accurate timesheets to calculate payroll hours for employees. It even helps forecast productivity by monitoring attendance trends. It could be for the entire team or for an individual staff.

7. Executive App for Successful Attendance Marking

The executive app offers all the above features. Users can mark their presence and apply for leave through the geofencing attendance app. Employees get an overview of their tasks and upcoming schedules. Additionally, in the app, they can upload their claims for reimbursement. Also, communicate with in-office staff and more.

9 Benefits of Geofence Attendance Tracking

Here is a list of some of the benefits your company can reap only if you switch to a geofencing attendance system.

1. Improved Accuracy of Timesheet Data

With geofencing attendance tracking, automate mark in/out recording with correct data. Say bye-bye to manual errors and inaccuracies.

Did you know 80% of employee timesheets need correction.

• The geofencing attendance app captures data without gaps or omissions, verifying it for higher data integrity.
• Improved accuracy provides better insights into workforce management.

2. Real-time Monitoring and Notifications

With geofencing attendance tracking, managers can monitor employees’ activities on the field in real-time.

• Live tracking provides visibility into employee movements and tasks.
• Geofence-triggered alerts offer updates on employee activities.

3. Reduction in Time Theft and Buddy Punching

Geofencing attendance system eliminates chances of time theft and buddy punching. As it automates attendance marking and facial recognition features.

Interesting Fact The study also showed that such time-theft costs businesses about $11 billion/year.

• Attendance is verified
• Ensures employees are at the correct location.

4. Enhanced Accountability and Transparency

A geofencing attendance system cultivates accountability and transparency. Both of these are necessary within the organization’s working culture.

• Employees can view their attendance records, promoting openness.
• Businesses benefit from accurate, real-time data that cannot be manipulated

5. Reduce Costly Errors

The geofence attendance system allows businesses to reduce expenses without sacrificing efficiency.

• It reduces administrative burdens by automating schedules and resource allocation.
• Businesses save money by avoiding payment errors and poor calculations

6. Seamless Calculations of Payroll and Timesheets

Accurate geofencing attendance data leads to error-free payroll and timesheet calculations.

• The geofencing attendance system provides mileage reports for precise travel expense tracking.
• This ensures efficient payroll management and timely calculations.
  

7. Gain Geolocation Data | Analytics and Insights

The geofencing attendance system generates geolocation data that supports advanced analytics, enabling better workforce management. Highlights of a good geofencing attendance tracking system!

• It identifies attendance patterns, preventing misleading practices.
• Managers can optimize schedules using the data for improved operations.

8. Enhanced Employee Satisfaction and Engagement

Automated geofencing attendance system foster a more productive and motivated workforce.

• Transparent processes build a responsible work environment.
• Employees feel supported, leading to better performance and customer satisfaction.

9. Stay Ahead of the Competition

Adopting geofence attendance systems boosts technological efficiency and workforce management.

• Businesses can secure more contracts through timely service delivery.
• This gives them a competitive edge in their industry.

All Geared Up!

Businesses can boost accuracy, efficiency, and workflow by adopting a geofencing attendance system. With automation-driven features, this software synchronizes data across platforms. Thus streamlining shift planning, payroll calculations, and more.

TrackoField is employee tracking software that offers geofencing. Optimizing field employee management and tracking is becoming a need. With error-free data, you can plan shifts and ensure site visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can geofencing help with attendance?

  Geofencing simplifies attendance by marking employee locations within set boundaries. Ensuring accurate clock-ins and clock-outs. Geofencing attendance system eliminates manual tracking, reduces time theft, and boosts accountability. Thus making attendance management more reliable and efficient for businesses.

• Who can use a geofence or RFID employee attendance tracking system?

  RFID or geofencing attendance tracking helps businesses with better accountability. Because it enhances accuracy, accountability, and efficiency in managing employee attendance.

• Is there a free geofencing attendance system?

  TrackoField offers a free trial of its field force management software. You can sign up for it and experience accurate attendance marking and tracking. Also, it generates reports that are beneficial for employee monitoring.