Top 10 Time and Attendance Systems of 2024

Administrative tasks are already taxing, yes? More so if you manually deal with employees' schedules and attendances. You constantly juggle your time and effort, which is very energy-draining.

Thanks to the innovation of time and attendance systems, managing your staff's work schedules is simple. Time management apps are available, yet time and attendance software streamline your management with shift patterns and certain time-offs, like holidays.

Just like other business applications these days, time and attendance systems are cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions. SaaS means you can directly access the platform through a browser, regardless of the operating system. SaaS solutions are also often built to be mobile-friendly for easy iOS or Android access.

Check out our top time and attendance software systems this 2024. We've rounded up the best there is in the market.

Core Features of an Effective Time and Attendance Software

When choosing a time and attendance system, ensure it's packed with all these key features. Having a combination of these functionalities will significantly boost your business processes.

• Analysis and reporting

A great time and attendance software should include impeccable analysis and data collection features. It is used for future staff forecasting and to assist in staffing issues that may arise.

The tool should also be capable of keeping managing different pay types, like ordinary hours, weekend work, overtime, and different leave types, as well as fair work compliance information.

• Clocking in and out

Clocking times is one of the essential features of any time and attendance software. There should be different ways for employees to record attendance, particularly for remote workers. Having several options for them to clock in and out ensures there will be no errors that may occur during attendance recording.

Incorrect errors in payroll can cause problems with your management chain. Hence, emphasising having quality clocking in and out software is a must.

• Integration functionalities

Another feature that a complete time and attendance software must have is integration with other tools used by your organisation, like payroll systems.

This way, you can save time and money related to the new systems, extra training, and other effects that your existing app may have. Software capable of integrating payroll is best for your business.

• Leave management

Leave management should be a standard feature of your time and attendance system. Managing time-off requests should be a fundamental function to allow easy planning and carrying out of your staff.

• Accessible dashboard

Your chosen time and attendance system should have readily accessible timesheets or dashboards for employees to see updates, shift changes, leave requests, and so on. This functionality helps boost the work-life balance of your employees and aids in recording payroll.

Photo by: Henry Credit | Burst

• Alerts messaging (notifications)

Regarding time-off requests, absences, and shift swaps, having an alert notification feature is highly beneficial for your entire organisation. It automatically sends notifications via communication channels and helps reduce time-off confusion or understaffing/overstaffing.

• Automated scheduling

Advanced scheduling is a core feature of a good time and attendance management system. The automatic recording of time and attendance starts when your employee is registered and assigned a working schedule.

This feature is vital in many industries with complex work schedules, such as health care, retail, hospitality, and other industries.

• Payroll integration

Ensure your payroll system integrates with your preferred time and attendance software so your business can retain accurate reports and data on employee working hours, holiday pay, overtime, etc. In addition, an integration ensures payroll is accurately and timely distributed.

Minimising human intervention means saving on costs and yielding accurate payroll for your employees.

• Seamless communication

A communication channel is essential for any time and attendance software, allowing employees to request time-off and other updates, allowing your employees to review and request updates to their timetable in a secure and safe portal.

That said, effective communication is vital in any business. That's why having the most suitable software is a must for notifications to be accurate and easy to manage, and employees will have more freedom and flexibility.

• Cloud-based structure

Today, most time and attendance systems are cloud-based, which is highly important. Cloud-based systems allow your management and employees to access data anywhere with accurate security keys.

Not to mention, cloud-based software solutions are fast, efficient, and secure in terms of accessing and sharing information.

The following are the top time and attendance systems to check out for 2024.

1. RosterElf

RosterElf is perfect for business owners and made by business owners. It is one of the market's best time and attendance management apps.

Chasing staff for available hours, making weekly rosters, and keeping up on payroll challenge most businesses. RosterElf does all that smoothly, so you can save time creating a comprehensive employee roster to stick to all while making more time for employee engagement and customer satisfaction.

You can save 4% on labour, set financial business targets, view labour costs in real-time, and approve staff schedules by minimising time theft via electronic clock in and out. In addition, using RosterElf's management software, your employees can keep their availability up to date.

Staff remain informed of new rostered shifts through easy-to-manage staff communication features. Integrations to helpful payroll apps, such as Xero, Sage, and MYOB, are also available.

Core Features:

• Rostering

• Time and attendance management

• Payroll integration

• Award interpretation

• Mobile friendly feature

• Labour budgeting

• Scheduling

• Shift swapping

• Workforce management

• Clock-in-out

Pros and Cons:

• Great local customer support

• Full-featured free trial

• Simple to set up and use

• Fair pricing

• No. 1 rated Rostering app

Pricing:

• From $3.60 per employee every month

• With a 15-day free trial

2. TimeTracker

TimeTracker is a cloud-based tracking solution for payroll, billing, and time management. You can access the software through an app for iOS or Android and the web. It can also create automatic backups to prevent losing your data during network connection issues.

The system aims to automate the time management process—seamless clocking in and out through digital time cards that you can use from different locations. It can even schedule breaks and provide easy editing access to timesheets.

This way, you can make necessary changes before submitting the payroll. With the help of GPS tracking, you can also check employee locations. Analytics, of course, is included for you to run reports and gauge effectiveness accordingly. TimeTracker also supports legal document services.

Core Features:

• Time and attendance management

• Reporting

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Team management

Pros and Cons:

• Low cost

• Integrations available

• Free trial

Pricing:

• The basic plan starts at $7.20/user a month.

• With a free 14-day trial

3. When I Work

Another cloud-based time and attendance system is When I Work. The app is accessible via an app for Android and iOS and comes with great features.

When I Work manages shifts, approves time-off requests, organises overtime, and manages overall business expenses. It also has a built-in communication platform so that employees can chat privately with their managers about staff availability and shift swapping.

Core Features:

• Time and attendance management

• Reporting

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Team management

Pros and Cons:

• Geofenced clock in

• Clock out reminders

Pricing:

• Between $4-10p/user ( depending on the time and attendance tracking version)

4. Deputy

Deputy is another workforce management software with a time and attendance feature, thus improving employee engagement and shift organisation. You can also limit how many hours employees can work each day or week or perhaps roster employees by skillset and availability, preventing employees from overwork and fatigue.

In addition, you can set schedules for both field and remote workers, as well as new shift notifications sent to mobile phones. As a result, you can quickly identify high-performance employees eligible for promotions and more work.

Core Features:

• Reporting

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Team management

• Time and attendance

Pros and Cons:

• User-friendly

• Easy break timer for employees

• The user interface needs a bit of enhancement

Pricing:

• The basic plan starts at $5 per user/month (scheduling feature only)

5. Replicon

Replicon is a business productivity platform with time and attendance software. It targets organisations with a rationed workforce that can be difficult to manage with a single system.

You can attain workforce management through a web interface, and employees can make time-off requests or shift changes quickly via a mobile app. In addition, the communication platform has a chatbot to talk to employees about entitlements and staff availability, together with answers to FAQs. Replicon also comes with integrations to other payroll systems.

Core Features:

• Reporting

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Team management

• Time and attendance

Pros and Cons:

• Distributed workforce

• Covers employees and contractors

• Chatbot for easy queries

Pricing:

• A 14 day free trial is available

• 6$ to 12$ per user per month

6. StratusTime

When logging accurate hours for payroll and small business time-keeping, StratusTime does the job well. Like the previously mentioned apps, it is a cloud-based time and attendance system that offers different ways for employees to clock in and out.

StratusTime is a cloud-based time and attendance management platform aiming to deliver accurate hours for wages and time-keeping. You can track employees' hours, and payroll in case issues need addressing fast.

The software also integrates with payroll systems, so it's simple and smooth to collect and transfer data securely.

Core Features:

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Team management

• Time and attendance

Pros and Cons:

• Ideal for small businesses

• A wide array of system integrations

• No minimum contract

Pricing:

• You need to contact a sales rep to know the pricing information

7. Homebase

Homebase is a cloud-based software for time tracking and scheduling management with time clock apps that work on various devices. It also includes an automated timesheet that helps you calculate your employees' total worked hours and the designated wage rates.

These features make Homebase an ideal time and attendance software for small businesses, especially restaurants and retail shops and includes an intuitive interface with solid features.

Core Features:

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Time and attendance

Pros and Cons:

• Ideal for small businesses

• User-friendly

• 24/7 customer support

• Issues on third-party integrations

Pricing:

• Standalone packages and Premium plans require a minimum monthly spend of $20

8. QuickBooks

QuickBooks, formerly known as TSheets, is a cloud-based time and attendance management application that streamlines employee scheduling and tracking. As for payroll processing, you need to integrate QuickBooks to QuickBooks Time, which makes it more efficient than using non-native software.

This time and attendance software also provides time clock apps that you can access via a desktop, tablet, laptop, and Android or iOS smartphone. In addition, you also get intuitive controls that allow you to monitor employee attendance and track actual worked hours.

Core Features:

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Time and attendance

Pros and Cons:

• Cloud-based

• For all businesses, regardless of size

• Limited third-party system integrations

• No custom reporting

Pricing:

• The basic plan starts at $12/user per month

• Free 30-day trial

9. Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch is a time tracking software that simplifies employee time and attendance monitoring. In addition, its built-in scheduling system allows you to specify positions, job codes, and locations for employee shifts. Hence, this makes it an ideal option if your business has multiple departments.

The software also has an online time clock app that works on mobile devices and web browsers. Unfortunately, buddy Punch does not have a free plan, although the paid plans are affordable.

Core Features:

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Time and attendance

• Time tracking

Pros and Cons:

• Cloud-based

• Many integrations

• For all businesses, regardless of size

• Lacks customer support for technical concerns

• No custom reporting

Pricing:

• The basic plan starts at $29.99 per month for four active users

• Free 30-day trial

10. ZoomShift

ZoomShift is a time tracking and scheduling software that suits small businesses with seasonal highs and lows—tourist industries, construction, and agriculture. This software allows you to plan months ahead to ensure everything is covered, especially during low or peak seasons. If you need to close during slow periods or for a season, ZoomShift allows you to put your plan on hold.

Moreover, it is easy to implement with time and attendance and scheduling functionalities. With a mobile time clock application and tools for shift scheduling, ZoomShift is another worthy application on the list.

Core Features:

• Payroll integration

• Scheduling

• Time and attendance

• Time tracking

Pros and Cons:

• Cloud-based

• Easy to implement scheduling

• Many system integrations

• No minimum contract

Pricing:

• The basic plan starts at $8.00/month for four active users

• Offers 14 day free trial period

Key Takeaway

With the best time and attendance system, you can track and schedule employees' work shifts seamlessly and fast. Not only will it make your scheduling process hassle-free, but it'll also help mitigate unnecessary business and labour costs and make the payroll process more manageable. More so, your chosen software must be capable of calculating wage rates, deductions (due to absences), and overtime.

We spare you the hassle of checking time and attendance apps online. We've collated the best ones available in the market. Make sure that whatever you choose covers everything your organisation needs—from a time, attendance, and schedule standpoint.

RosterElf: Rostering Made Easy

That said, RosterElf's cloud-based scheduling app is a game-changer. No more chasing employees for their availability to work. No more roster conflicts. Our smartphone app lets employees submit and update their availability to work information 24/7.

Staff set the times and days they can work, and RosterElf does the rest. Our software then automatically suggests available employees to fill shifts.

What are you waiting for? Time to take your scheduling game to the next level and boost your business' performance. Call us now at 1300 353 000, and our team will be more than happy to assist you.

To get a clearer view of how our app works, enjoy 15-day access to our tool for free!

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