Guide to Biometric Time and Attendance Systems

Understand the features offered by biometric time and attendance systems

Biometric time clocks offer a wide array of advanced functionality, including payroll integration, scheduling integration, multiple employee departments (to track each group separately), and automated report generation. Know what you need ahead of time to avoid being dazzled by unnecessary bells and whistles.

I recommend: Check out Business.com’s Biometric Systems and scan through the many resources for biometric employee time clock vendors. BuyerZone lists the available systems, and after asking you questions to help pinpoint your company’s specific needs, will send you up to six quotes for biometric time clock systems, punch clocks, swipe cards, and time clock software. Buyer Zone’s Time and attendance solution pricing explains the four variables to the pricing of time and attendance software.

Types of biometric time clocks

Biometric time clocks offer many choices under the “biometric” umbrella – those that use hand scanners, retina-based biometric scanning, or fingerprint identifiers. Consider which of these would be best for your small biz before you invest. Don’t break the bank by buying the highest-tech biometric time and attendance system when a lower-tech, and much less expensive, system is what you need.

I recommend: At GHG corporation, they offer three basic choices of time clock software options: Biometric, Card, and Web. To figure out which is the best fit for your company, check out this side-by-side comparison model. I-employee’s Timesheet Solution gives you many options, one of which is a Biometric Hand Reader.

Choose best options – for your company - among biometric time clocks

Depending on your needs, number of employees, and the type of work you do, your choices for biometric time clocks will vary. A company with 10 employees will probably not want a time clock that is designed for a 500-employee business. If you run a quaint little Italian restaurant, then purchasing a time clock with cost distribution capability (the ability to bill separate clients for time spent on their projects) would be a waste of money for you. If you run a law office, that’s a must-have. Most Web sites and time clock vendors offer different options by company size and applications, so if you don’t see what you’re looking for, ask!

I recommend: Business.com’s Time and Attendance software gives you many choices of time and attendance software suppliers, applications, and specific applications. Visit TimeForce to check out their IQ600 Biometric Time Clocks, which offer secure fingerprint identification, or Qqest’s HandPunch 1000, a biometric time clock that uses hand geometry technology – perfect for an industrial workplace, where dirt and grease are a factor.

Biometric time clocks that grow with your business

Don’t confine yourself to biometric time clock offerings that you’ll be forced to replace when your company expands, and your number of employees or customers increases. Choose a system that will grow with your company, and one in which you can easily add more employees/billing accounts/customers as the need arises.

I recommend: Check out Business.com’s Biometric Time Clocks for information about biometric time clocks, vendors, and more. TimeTrak Systems offers time and attendance solutions for companies by size, particularly for small businesses that employ 50 to 5,000+ employees.