How to Save Money on Labor Costs with Mobile Time Tracking

Mobile time tracking is a tool that allows your employees to clock in to their shifts from their phones. And it’s about more than convenience for your team. For a lot of businesses, it can save you serious cash when it comes to tracking time and running payroll.

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What is Mobile Time Tracking?

Mobile time tracking is the ability for employees to clock in and clock out of shifts on their mobile phones instead of relying on old-fashioned time cards. What’s more, the mobile time clock integrates with their phone’s GPS. That means if you have remote teams, you can track employees locations as they are clocking in for their shifts once they’ve arrived at the job site.

1. Save on Labor Costs

For a business that relies on remote employees, like landscaping or catering, it is especially useful. Allowing employees to clock in on their mobile devices will save them from taking a trip to clock in at your headquarters. The accurate timesheets save you from paying for their commute time, and will save them from a longer commute too. One Homebase customer, Pelican’s SnoBalls, uses the mobile time clock to save on some serious labor costs. Pelican’s is a seasonal business, and they’re selling shaved ice at lots of events during the summer. By enabling the mobile time clock, employees can start their shift once they’ve reached the event. It saves them the trip to the main location first.

2. Save Time Coordinating Your Team

iPhone Time Tracking App

The free iPhone time tracking and timesheets app makes it easy for your team to manage their work life, all in one place. With the Homebase app on their iPhones, your team will be able to clock in when they reach your off-site event. Then clock out when it’s over or when it’s time for a break. Your employees can also submit time-off requests, shift trades, and update their work availabilities, all from their phone.

Android Time Tracking App

The Homebase free Android time tracking app is as easy, with the same functionality as the Homebase iOS App. Your Android-toting employees can clock in and out of shifts and breaks, request time off, trade shifts, message each other, and adjust their availabilities. All from their Android phones. Your managers can choose the address from which your employees will be able to clock in or out. You can be sure they’re on location when their shift begins.

3. Save Money With a Single Solution that Works for Your On-site Employees Too

Of course, in addition to remote or mobile employees, you probably have a team of employees at a fixed location. Most likely your restaurant or commissary, or your home office. Homebase shines there too. The time clock works on any Android or iOS tablet, or any computer with a web browser. All your data gets instantly and securely stored in the cloud, no matter how your employees are clocking in or clocking out.

iPad Time Clock

The Homebase free iPad Time Clock App makes it easy for your employees to clock in and out of shifts. We’ll even take a picture when they clock in with their PIN, so you can be sure it’s the person scheduled for that shift.

Android Time Clock

Like the iPad app, the Homebase free Android Time Clock App is the easiest way for your on-site employees to clock in to their shifts. The free time clock app is lightweight. All you need is a low-cost Android tablet.

Web Time Clock

If you don’t want to use a tablet as a time clock, you can use just about any internet-connected device as a time clock. If you don’t already have a tablet, or aren’t sure yet if you’d like to invest in one, the web time clock is a great option. Mobile time tracking and the web time clock are available on the Homebase Essentials plan. When you sign up for Homebase Essentials, you’ll get a ton of other valuable features, too, like text message shift reminders.

How to Save Money on Labor Costs with Mobile Time Tracking FAQs

What Is Mobile Time Tracking?

Mobile time tracking is a method where employees' working hours are logged using a mobile application or device. This approach offers immediate data recording and can feature GPS tracking, job-specific coding, and digital approval of timesheets.

How Does Mobile Time Tracking Reduce Labor Costs?

Mobile time tracking aids in accurately recording the actual hours worked by employees, which helps in preventing inaccuracies like time theft or exaggerated working hours. It simplifies payroll procedures, reduces errors, and has the potential to boost overall workforce productivity.

Can Mobile Time Tracking Enhance Payroll Precision?

Mobile time tracking, through its automated system, diminishes the chances of human mistakes in calculating payroll. This ensures that employees receive compensation that accurately reflects their worked hours.

Is Mobile Time Tracking Applicable Across Different Industries?

This technology is highly adaptable and can be employed in a range of sectors, such as construction, landscaping, and home healthcare. It proves advantageous for businesses where employees work remotely or in various locations.

How Does Mobile Time Tracking Promote Employee Responsibility?

Features like GPS tracking allow employers to confirm the presence of employees at the right job locations when clocking in and out, fostering a culture of accountability among the workforce.

Can Mobile Time Tracking Be Integrated with Other Business Systems?

Many mobile time tracking applications are designed to be compatible with existing accounting or payroll systems, streamlining the processes of payroll management and billing.

What Advantages Do Mobile Apps Offer for Time Tracking?

The use of mobile apps for time tracking brings several benefits, including cost reductions by avoiding expensive hardware, convenience for employees to record time from any location, and seamless integration with payroll services.

How to Select an Appropriate Mobile Time Tracking App for a Business?

When choosing a mobile time tracking app, it's important to consider factors specific to the business, such as the industry, workforce size, and required features. Opt for apps that are easy to use, offer solid customer support, and can grow with the business.

What Steps Are Involved in Implementing Mobile Time Tracking in a Company?

Implementing this system involves understanding the company's specific needs, selecting a suitable app, trialing it with a select group of employees, collecting feedback, and providing necessary training. It's also crucial to monitor its usage and make adjustments as needed.

Are There Recognized Best Practices for Using Mobile Time Tracking?

Adopting best practices such as informing employees about the tracking system, selecting straightforward and easy-to-use software, conducting pilot tests, providing adequate training, and regularly analyzing the collected data for insights and improvements is advisable.

What Are Labor Costs and Why Are They Significant for My Business?

Labor costs consist of payments for employee wages, added benefits, and payroll taxes. These costs are noteworthy as they can represent a substantial portion of a business's total expenses, often reaching up to 70%.

How Can I Accurately Determine My True Labor Costs?

To get an accurate picture of your labor costs, it is essential to consider not just the hourly wages but also additional financial commitments like employee benefits and payroll taxes. A thorough understanding of these costs is fundamental for managing them effectively.

What Strategies Can I Use to Reduce Labor Costs Without Sacrificing Quality?

Reducing labor costs without compromising quality is achievable through strategies such as enhancing efficiency, cross-training employees, offering competitive yet sustainable benefits, and minimizing staff turnover. Employing temporary labor during high-demand periods and careful recruitment can also aid in cost management.

Can Automation Help in Reducing Labor Costs?

Automation can contribute to lowering labor costs by making processes more efficient and decreasing reliance on manual work. This can result in improved efficiency and higher productivity.

Is It Beneficial to Combine Vacation and Sick Leave into One Paid-Time-Off Policy?

Merging vacation and sick leave into a singular paid-time-off policy can decrease the costs related to employee absence and offer a more appealing vacation package to the workforce.

How Can Enhancing Safety Help in Reducing Labor Costs?

Improving workplace safety can lead to fewer injuries, which may result in lower insurance expenses, reduced absenteeism, and enhanced productivity.

What Role Does Employee Turnover Play in Labor Costs, and How Can I Reduce It?

High employee turnover can incur significant costs due to the resources needed for recruiting and training new employees. To mitigate these costs, fostering a positive work environment and providing competitive compensation can be effective.

Can Outsourcing Be a Viable Option for Reducing Labor Costs?

Outsourcing specific tasks or services to more cost-effective providers can be a viable strategy for reducing labor costs, particularly for specialized or infrequent tasks.

How Can I Use Technology to Manage and Reduce Labor Costs?

Employing technology in labor cost management can enhance accuracy, eliminate duplication errors, and minimize payroll inaccuracies. The implementation of time management solutions and other HR technologies can be advantageous.

What Are Some Long-Term Strategies for Labor Cost Reduction?

For long-term labor cost reduction, strategies such as investing in employee training for productivity enhancement, applying continuous improvement programs, and optimizing production processes to minimize waste and inefficiencies can be effective.