Field Service GPS Time Tracking: Why Your Construction Company Needs It

Construction and field services businesses operate on the go, requiring workforce management solutions that are as mobile as they are. GPS time tracking apps are designed for businesses that don’t work within the same four walls every day. These apps allow employees to clock in and out on their mobile devices, with some offering GPS functionality. Here’s why every mobile business needs a GPS time tracking app.

What is a Mobile Time Clock App?

A mobile time clock with GPS location tracking uses a mobile phone’s native functionality to track employees. GPS (Global Positioning System) provides users with positioning, navigation, and timing services. For example, ExakTime Mobile’s GPS feature utilizes global satellites to provide exact locations of employees when they clock in or out.

Some GPS time tracking apps use geofences as well. A geofence is a virtual barrier set up to enforce certain restrictions or create opportunities. For example, an employer might set a geofence around a worksite, requiring employees to clock in inside the fence, not from their vehicles or a nearby coffee shop. When employees clock in or out, their timestamp is flagged as either on-site or off-site.

Why is Remote Time Tracking Using GPS Important?

GPS Keeps an Eye on Employee Time Tracking

Time theft is a real issue for construction and field services companies. Workers are often spread out and unsupervised, making it difficult to monitor them. Using paper time cards can make time theft easier. Time theft can take several forms:

• ​Buddy punching: When one employee clocks in for another.
• ​Hour-rounding: Employees round up their time worked.
• ​Late starts or early stops: Employees start late or leave early, which adds up over time.
• ​Misremembering: Workers forget about time off or early departures.

Time theft can significantly impact a company’s bottom line, especially since service-based industries can spend up to 50% of their budget on payroll. Mobile employee GPS time tracking eliminates time theft by digitizing time tracking. Once the app records the time, only an administrator can adjust it. Built-in biometrics, like photo ID capture, ensure only the employee can log their hours.

Dispatches Crews to Sites

Construction and field services work is dynamic, with jobs and needs changing frequently. Mobile employee time tracking with GPS allows companies to quickly determine where crews are working. If one location needs more workers, managers can check nearby job sites and dispatch employees as needed, saving time compared to traditional methods.

Adding a scheduling component to a GPS time clock app increases efficiency. Crews receive updates on their work locations before leaving home, and managers can send alerts, monitor schedules, and track hours. Cost codes can be applied to shifts, and recurring shifts or quick adjustments can be made easily.

Helps Quickly Deliver Supplies

Job sites often need supplies unexpectedly. GPS time tracking apps help deliver supplies more efficiently by providing real-time location data. When crews request materials, managers know exactly where to send them, reducing downtime and increasing productivity.

ExakTime Mobile's GPS Features

ExakTime Mobile enhances time tracking with robust GPS capabilities tailored to construction and field service teams. The mobile app syncs with web-based software, providing real-time insight into distributed worksites and mobile employees. Features include geofencing, mapping tools, and integration with over 100 payroll systems.

Verify Onsite Clock-Ins/Clock-Outs with Geofences

Administrators can establish customized geofences around job sites. Employees must be inside the geofence to clock in, ensuring they start their shift onsite. The software flags all clock-ins as inside or outside the geofence, creating an audit trail.

Map All Clocked-In Employees

The map view offers real-time insight into crew locations during shifts. As employees clock in, their locations appear as pinpoints on the map, allowing managers to make informed staffing decisions and dispatch workers efficiently.

Optimize Staffing Needs

Real-time visibility into workforce locations helps administrators assess resourcing needs across all jobsites. Staffing positions can be quickly balanced based on live data, maximizing productivity and eliminating the need for time-consuming communication.

Deter Time Theft

GPS validation of shift start locations curbs time theft. Features like Geotrakker provide GPS breadcrumbs during shifts, creating a detailed audit trail. Only administrators can edit time records, and photo capture ensures only the correct employee logs hours. Supervisors receive alerts for inconsistencies, such as extended breaks or detours, and can monitor metrics like rate of travel.

Integrate Field Data with Back-Office Software

ExakTime consolidates operational data from the field, syncing all clock events, GPS trails, and geofence entries to the cloud. Integrations with payroll systems allow verified hours to flow directly from worksites to payroll. User-friendly reports provide management with complete transparency, and self-service tools minimize administrative tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I track my employees' time in the field?

You can use GPS-enabled time tracking apps like ExakTime, which employees access from their smartphones or tablets. These apps allow remote clock-ins and outs, offer geofencing, scheduling, task assignment, and payroll integration to streamline time tracking.

Is there an app for tracking staff hours?

Yes, ExakTime is a field service time tracking software designed to help employers keep precise records of employee work times. It includes features such as project codes, overtime tracking, and instant reporting tools.