March 1, 2021

We’re already well into the early months of 2021, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t make predictions for what we see coming down the pipeline for the rest of the year. 2020 and 2021 have seen major changes in the ways that companies do business, with much of it needing to be remote, or altered in other ways that make traditional time clocks more difficult to use, and the immediate future of time clocks is moving into a wide variety of solutions meant to address this new work environment. Some of these predictions still focus on traditional punch-in/punch-out systems (with a twist or two) and some go down an entirely different route altogether. 

Let’s dive in and see where the predictions we’ve made for time clock systems in 2021. 

Increased Focus on Integration 

In recent years we’ve seen more time clocks getting integrated with other programs, but you can expect to see this blossom into full and robust integration in 2021. Not only will the time clocks integrate with payroll systems (which has been the case for many years) but there will also be an effort to link time clocks to extensive reporting systems that can track, monitor, and record the activities of the people it’s following. 

This means that not only will time clocks be integrated into accounting software for payroll, but they will also be connected to work and job-planning software, so employees can log into specific jobs that have been pre-programmed by the shift supervisor. 

These time clocks will also become the primary hub where employees can handle any HR work, such as being the primary place where employees will request time off, sick leave, interact with managers, and leave important notifications. 

Extensive Use of Biometrics 

Biometrics have been around for the last few years, but they’re getting better all the time, and it seems that every big-time clock service is coming out with newer and more improved biometric systems to help users clock in and out. 

While there are still advances being made in fingerprint, palm print, and iris scans, the biggest area of growth is in facial recognition. 

Biometrics has become one of the most trusted ways for employers to track time (there’s no more punching a fellow employee in or out while they’re not there) but some of the technology has been finicky, to say the least. Fingerprints are particularly troublesome, as are palm prints, if the screens get dirty or wet. Facial recognition is working very well even in pandemic times when you have wear a facemask an advanced face recognition time clock has the ability to accurately scan and identify the employee. 

Suspicion of Biometrics 

Biometrics are great for some, but there’s suspicion in others. For example, the State of Illinois recently enacted specific laws regarding the use of “Biometric Identifiers” as it relates to biometric information obtained by retina or iris scan, fingerprint, voiceprint, or scan of hand or face geometry. “Biometric information” means any information, regardless of how it is captured, converted, stored, or shared, based on an individual's biometric identifier used to identify an individual. There are many employees and employers who are resistant to moving to any biometric system, seeing it as an invasion of privacy and bodily autonomy rights. This has caused some employees to refuse to use the systems. (This is not surprising in a world of Big Data where so much of who and what we do is tracked and catalogued.) 

There is also the issue of biometrics not working nearly as well in dirty, wet, or outdoor environments. Thumb and palm prints and other biometric scanners can often not perform well when employees have dirt, oil, or grime on their hands. Consequently, there are still going to be old-fashioned time clocks that will accept regular punch cards as well as proximity badges. In fact, proximity badge reader time clocks will likely be the mainstay of the present time clock market, at least in some industries. 

Simplicity 

With all of the new devices that are on the market disrupting the time clock world, there is desire among employees and employers alike to have simple time clocks that can manage the basics of punching in and out. 

Even when a technology might have big advantages in terms of reporting, planning, and processing power, some business just need simple employee time clock machines that record dates and times. 

These systems will always stay on the market, even as new technologies emerge in 2021. 

Multipurpose Time Clocks 

Another time clock that is causing waves in the industry is the multipurpose time clock which records more information than just employee punch-in and punch-out data. These multipurpose time clocks are being used to record anything that might warrant a time signature, including incoming mail, attendance logs, legal paperwork, bills of lading, work orders, and more. 

By making a time clock multipurpose you are creating a system that will become centralized to the workplace and will be trusted by people at all levels. 

Some of these machines are old-fashioned punch clocks with a simple timestamp and no digital parts, but others are connected to computer systems which will scan and log the time-sensitive documents and digitize them for access by anyone with the correct authorization. 

Specialization by Industry 

Time clocks have long been fairly simple machines that treat all industries as relatively similar, but in 2021, we predict that there are going to be more and more time clock machines that are specialized to certain businesses. 

Already, we are seeing time clocks that are specifically geared to the construction industry, which record time but also record safety records, enforce mandatory break times to avoid heat exhaustion, and make sure that certain high-risk jobs are not being done by workers who are tired and more liable to make an error. But now we’re seeing time clocks for industries such as restaurants, which keep track of special events like catering and parties, and employees can enter their availability for such events in the system so that managers can access that information when they look to staff an event. 

In 2021, look for more niche applications of time clock software and machines. 

GPS Tracking and GeoFencing 

A time clock system that is emerging in 2021 is the use of GPS tracking and geo-fencing to locate and track workers while they are at a worksite. These systems use trackers worn on the workers themselves and enable the time clock to track whenever they are in the vicinity of the work area; a geo-fence is a GPS perimeter set up around a specific point, so you can always know where your workers are within that area (and make sure that they remain in that area). 

There are advanced tracking systems which can monitor to make sure that the workers are moving or staying still so you can monitor whether they’re taking proper breaks for safety concerns (or taking too many breaks). 

The GPS tracking features are especially adept at construction technology and are honing in on being able to identify if a worker has had an accident on the job site, particularly falls. If the system identifies a possible fall or other injury, it will immediately notify the site supervisor and give them coordinates where to find the downed worker. 

Expect more GPS tracking in 2021. 

Ease of Accessibility 

Ease of accessibility is becoming a more important factor in an employer’s decision to purchase a time clock system, as they want to be able to find out the locations and time data of their employees at a moment’s notice from wherever they are. Smartphone integration is a crucial piece of this. Providing options like allowing workers to punch in and out on their smartphones and reviewing pay period time information, on demand, through mobile apps and web portals with personal logins. 

In 2021, we predict that all of these time clock tools will become more and more accessible on the go, and on a moment’s notice. 

Smart Tracking 

Some time clocks, particularly in white collar jobs where revenue is generated by billable hours (such as law firms or accounting firms) smart tracking is a time clock tool which doesn’t record the time you come and leave, but it does follow what apps, websites, and programs you are using throughout the day. This is a handy tool in that it allows for the instantaneous changing from one client’s billable hours to another simply by opening a new window on the computer, or picking up a phone. 

This is getting more advanced all the time, and we can only expect that smart tracking is going to be a major trend in time management not only in 2021 but into the years in the future. 

Conclusion 

For every type of employer, there will be different needs, whether those needs regard the safety of employees, the biometric surety of arrival and departure, or the smart tracking for billable hours. As time clock companies expand and grow, they will find solutions that are both basic and simplified, but also reach into the corners of individual industries to fit specific needs and desires. 2021 is shaping up to be an exciting year for time clock management! Are you ready to up your time clock game? Work with us today!