In today’s modern world, businesses need to keep track of schedules and workloads. Luckily, an electronic calendar makes it easy to plan project deadlines, schedules, and meetings to make sure you’re on top of everything that’s going on. It’s a practical and efficient way to keep a close follow-up on different projects. In this article, you will find out how to create a digital calendar. It’s easy, so let’s get started!

What is an electronic calendar?

Electronic calendars are a great way to keep track of your schedule, organize your life with to-do lists or a budget planner, and even keep track of your sports schedule. Whether you are a business owner or manager, electronic calendars can help you manage your time more effectively.

A calendar for work is a great tool. They allow you to keep track of your schedule and appointments, as well as those of your employees. They can also be used to remind you, for example, when to call a customer back or when to send an invoice.

In addition, they are easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection. Most electronic calendar apps have features that make it easy to share entire calendars with others, such as the ability to create separate calendars that anyone can view or private ones that only you and a few others can access.

What makes a great calendar app?

The best electronic calendars are made by companies that specialize in software development. They are great for businesses, as they ensure that you keep track of different appointments, events, and meetings. But what makes a good calendar application? The following are some of the features to look for when choosing an electronic calendar:

Customizable interface

The user interface should be as intuitive as possible so that you can navigate the program with ease (such as the weekly view). It should also be customizable so that you can add or remove items from the view without having to go through too much trouble, no matter what type of calendar you use, whether it’s a digital planner, a daily planner, or an undated planner.

Import/export functions

Some electronic calendars allow you to import or export data from other programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This will make it easier for you to share information with other users who do not have access to the same program as you.

Time management functions

When using an electronic planner, it is important that it has built-in time management features so that you can easily organize tasks according to their due date or priority level. This way, you won’t forget anything important.

Easy-to-set reminders

Look for an app that allows you to set reminders easily and conveniently from within the app itself, rather than having to log in to another website or service.

It has a premium version

There are many free online calendar services out there, but if you want something that is fully functional, it’s worth paying for appointment scheduling apps.

Multiple users

If you have multiple people in your business who need access to their own calendars or appointments, consider getting an app that allows multiple users.

Synchronization between devices

Some apps only sync with iPhones or iPads (or both), while others sync across platforms like Android phones and tablets. Look for one that syncs with all your devices so that everyone has access no matter where they are or what device they are using at any given time.

Choose the right software for your needs. There are many different types of online calendars available, including web-based services, desktop software, and mobile apps. You will need to decide which type of electronic calendar best suits your needs before choosing a specific calendar service.

8 Tips for Creating an Electronic Calendar

Have a folder for your calendar on your computer

Create a folder on your computer desktop for all your digital calendar information. This will make it easy to access and share with others who may need access to your iCloud calendar.

Give access to your software to everyone

Make sure everyone in your office has access to the same electronic calendar software so they can easily see upcoming appointments, meetings, and events that pertain to them.

Create reminders

Add reminders to let clients know what time their appointment is scheduled and when to arrive at the office or meeting room.

Send email notifications

If possible, send email invitations of calendar events automatically through the electronic calendar software so clients know what time and location their appointment is scheduled without having to call or email asking for more details about the appointment in question.

Update it on a consistent basis

Update your electronic calendar regularly so that others always have up-to-date information about upcoming appointments and meetings you will be attending; this will help avoid double bookings or missed appointments due to miscommunication between the parties involved in a given meeting or appointment date, time, location, etc.

Come up with a color code

Use color coding on your digital calendar so that if someone needs to communicate with another person or group of people within your department or company, they can see who else should be included in this conversation by looking at the color code.

Remember when events change location, date, and time

If an event changes location (such as a conference), add it back to your calendar so that all relevant information is available in one place. This ensures that you don’t miss anything important just because it changed at the last minute.

Create recurring events

If you have recurring events, such as monthly meetings, put them on your monthly calendars so you can see how much time they take up in your schedule. You can also add several reminders for each event to make sure you don’t miss it.

Benefits of electronic agendas for businesses

Electronic calendars are a great way for businesses to save time, money, and resources. Here are some of the advantages you can enjoy when you use electronic agendas:

• They significantly reduce paper usage.
• They help you save money on printing costs and paper supplies.
• They allow you to share agendas with your employees or colleagues in real time, helping you to coordinate meetings more effectively and achieve better results.
• They allow you to access all the important information for each meeting in one place instead of having to review multiple documents or files every time there is a meeting scheduled in the office or workplace.
• They make it easier for attendees to follow the proceedings during meetings, as all relevant information needed for participation can be accessed through a single portal on their mobile devices (laptops, tablets, etc.).

The best electronic calendar app

If you run a business or have a lot of responsibilities, scheduling appointments can be difficult in the traditional sense. Electronic calendaring will free up your time by eliminating paper and manual planning. There’s no denying that electronic calendars are booming. They are replacing paper agendas in offices and are becoming more common. While using a paper calendar is more elegant, electronic calendars offer many advantages.

They enable companies to create strong staff development programs, balance workloads, limit costs, and promote professional growth. In conclusion, it is very important that you choose the right calendar and use it to your advantage.

Mobile Punch is more than just an electronic calendar; it is hard to deny that it is among the best options on the market. This is due to its efficient interrelationship, which allows any organization to keep track of employee schedules and project planning easier because it is accessible at all times.

The customization options are also impressive. In short, if you’re looking for the best online calendar for your company, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything better than the Mobile Punch app. It’s a feature-packed tool that’s easy to use wherever you are. Start digitizing your workplace right now. Interested? Contact us today and get a free demo!

We’ve all been there: staring at a spreadsheet, trying to make sense of numbers and formulas that don’t seem to add up. Excel is often touted as the perfect project management tool, but in reality, it can put your project at risk. In this article, we explain why relying on Microsoft Excel can cause more harm than good when it comes to managing your construction projects.

 

Why Spreadsheets Are Putting Your Construction Projects At Risk

Spreadsheets may seem like the perfect solution for managing projects and organizing related data, but in reality they can put construction projects at risk in more ways than one. To illustrate this point, below are different reasons why spreadsheets should not be used as your primary form of project management.

Spreadsheets Have No Specialized Features

If spreadsheets aren’t mastered, they can expose you to potential problems that could affect your deadlines and even make some tasks impossible. This level of risk can negatively impact all aspects of a construction project. Worse yet, it puts all parties involved in a precarious situation. The only way to mitigate these project risks is to invest in modern software solutions that will protect you from the negative risks associated with using spreadsheets exclusively throughout the life cycle of your construction project.

Excel Spreadsheets Don’t Provide A Single View Of Your Project

Spreadsheets don’t give a single view of your project, but rather a fragmented one. You need to manually switch between tabs or sheets and do tedious data entry in order to see the big picture of the project’s progress. In addition, it doesn’t provide real-time updates on at-risk events, which can delay action plans and increase additional costs.

Using excel for managing projects may seem like a cost-effective solution but it can ultimately lead to unnecessary delays due to its lack of comprehensive features. A better approach is to invest in an integrated system that provides instant visibility into every element of your project so that you can identify problems before they become costly.

Best timesheet app for construction companies

Spreadsheets Don’t Optimize Communication In Real Time

Spreadsheets are a basic tool that can be used for day-to-day tasks, but they do not optimize communication with stakeholders when managing projects. If you are dealing with multiple key stakeholders and need to quickly identify any issues or changes in your project, spreadsheets are not enough. With spreadsheets as a daily tool, there is no single, reliable place where everyone can find up-to-date information on every task involved in a project. By working this way, important details are often overlooked when communicating updates to team members.

Why use a project management tool?

Spreadsheets Waste A Lot Of Time

Spreadsheets waste lots of time and effort, which can put a project at risk. When working with Excel spreadsheets, a large amount of time is lost due to formatting the worksheet, manually entering data, using formulas, etc. There’s nothing worse than having your team stuck doing things that could be automated or done more efficiently by another tool.

Spreadsheets Yield Inaccurate Calculations

For any project, inaccurate calculations is a risk that must be considered. Spreadsheets can easily lead to errors and inaccuracies. If not monitored carefully, these errors can cause serious problems for your project in terms of cost and timeline. It’s important for companies to understand this risk so that they can develop appropriate strategies to avoid mistakes in the future.

Why should businesses invest in technology?

Spreadsheets Don’t Protect Your Data

Every company should know the importance of a risk management strategy as it is essential for project planning. Spreadsheets present many risks that can be divided into two common risk categories: financial implications and critical risks. The first problem is related to financial implications. This includes bugs or errors in formulas which lead to incorrect calculations and misinformed decisions about investments or budgeting.

A second major issue is critical risk. If data is not properly secured, hackers can gain access to confidential information such as customer details or financial records. This can lead to serious reputation damage as well as legal action against the company involved. Adopting a cloud security policy, with strict password encryption rules and regular backups can help mitigate this risk category significantly.

Spreadsheets Lead You To Make Bad Decisions

Using spreadsheets may seem like an efficient way to process and present complex data, but the more complex the data becomes, the more errors that can happen. According to a study by software company CA Technologies, 88% of spreadsheets contain errors. For example, if you enter the wrong formula or mix up cells when copying it from one place to another, your result could be drastically different from what you were expecting. This can lead to erroneous conclusions and false assumptions about the data being presented. An Excel spreadsheet is no match for a modern project management app.

 

The Best Construction Project Management Software For Your Business

Project management software is an invaluable tool for any business. It helps ensure that all the aspects of a construction project are managed correctly and efficiently, allowing the entire project team to work together in harmony. When it comes to construction projects, using the best project management app can make a huge difference in the success or failure of your projects.

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Records are accounting and financial documents that you must complete and keep in an organized manner. They are necessary to record all the activities that are useful for your tax return (sales, expenses, salaries, taxes, etc.) as well as to optimize the productivity of your business. The task seems tedious, but thanks to the development of technology, you can use powerful applications to simplify the management of accounting records and activity and payroll records.

What is record keeping?

Keeping an accounting record means updating all financial and accounting transactions made by a company during a given period. Every company must keep the following records up to date and for a minimum of 6 years.

These documents include:

• Books (payroll, inventory book, etc.)
• Accounting books;
• Financial statements;
• Goods and Services Tax Return;
• Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST);
• Sales invoices;
• Purchase receipts;
• Contracts;
• Etc.

The filing of records is mandatory in Quebec, as it is across Canada, for all businesses, trusts, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, municipal governments, hospitals and all taxpayers.

Financial authorities use record keeping to verify the tax return and whether you have collected the GST/HST in accordance with the law. In addition to keeping the records up to date, you have to keep all supporting documents for each transaction recorded in the record for a minimum of six years.

Payroll records

A payroll register is a document that collects the information contained on the employees’ pay slips. This register is mandatory for the employer and all the information required by the labour standards (CNESST) must be included.

The payroll document must contain:

• Name, address, date of birth and social insurance number;
• The date of commencement and termination of employment;
• The time schedule (part-time/full-time);
• The number of hours worked per day and per week;
• The pay rate and gross pay per pay period;
• The amount and reason for each deduction from gross pay;
• Allowances payable in respect of paid holidays and leave;
• Employee benefits (group insurance, disability insurance, drug insurance, salary advance, travel assistance, maternity benefits, etc.)
• Any other relevant information.

GST/HST records

You have to keep sufficient GST/HST information in your records in the following situations:

• You operate a business or carry on commercial activities in Canada;
• You have to report the GST/HST;
• You are applying for a GST/HST rebate.

How to make payroll easier

What is the importance of keeping records of daily activities and payroll?

Beyond the legal obligation, accounting records bring several advantages for the performance of companies.

Realize tax savings

Good records contribute to significant tax savings. They serve as a reminder of the deductible expenses and input tax credits (ITCs) you may be eligible to claim. If you don’t, you may forget one or more deductible expenses when you prepare your income tax or GST/HST return.

Determine the source of your income

The record of daily activities allows you to determine the source of your income and whether you have to collect the GST/HST. If you cannot determine the source of your income, you will not be able to prove that some of it is non-taxable.

Preventing reporting problems

Keeping records prevents most of the problems that can arise when your tax or GST/HST returns are audited. If financial auditors cannot calculate your income because your records are incomplete, they will have to use other methods to determine your taxable income and GST/HST collectible. This will take more time. Also, if your records do not include proof of claims, claims may be denied.

Find out about the company’s financial situation

Complete and organized records give you a clear picture of a company’s financial situation. They help you determine the gains, losses and value of your company. Records also allow you to track trends, compare returns from different years and prepare your budget.

Optimize the management of your business

Through record keeping, you can identify the strengths, weaknesses and problems your organization may be experiencing. You can also analyze KPIs to make forecasts and informed decisions about your company’s financial strategy.

Tracking expenses

Activity logs allow for real-time tracking and control of expenses to improve profitability.

Monitor inventory, invoicing and customer work in progress

The records of transactions in the registers allow to:

• Verify the billing of products and services sold;
• Compare stocks;
• Check the outstanding amount due from each customer.

How to keep a record of daily activities and payroll

Most businesses use accounting software to simplify the process of recording documents and accounting transactions. All you have to do is scan the supporting documents and upload them to the correct location on your software.

By using the Mobile Punch application, you can get rid of paper, save time and money. Moreover, with Mobile Punch, you have access to a timesheet report by task that is not only CCQ compliant but also mandatory on some construction projects.

Calculation of working hours

The Mobile Punch application generates online timesheets for each pay period in a quick and easy way. The application also accounts for overtime, bonuses and holidays and adjusts fees by activity category.

Your employees simply punch in and out and the application calculates the working hours for proper compensation. Thanks to the flexibility of the application, administrators can make changes or corrections to timesheets. Mobile Punch also allows you to extract payroll reports as PDF or Excel files.

Employee time management

Mobile Punch also offers a scheduling service to manage the schedules of each employee. The tool contains all the information needed for the assignment of tasks. The scheduling is optimal and takes into account holidays and special cases of your employees. An electronic calendar is available to save your employees’ schedules and plans in the cloud for access whenever you want.

10 tips for mastering time management at work

Geolocation of staff

Mobile Punch is the ideal application to track employees on the move. Through GPS signaling that works without an Internet connection, you can check the presence of staff at the workplace. In case of unexpected absence, you can intervene to replace the employee or reorganize tasks to maintain the planned productivity level.

Data processing

The application is designed to process and transfer a large size of documents useful for your business (plans, job descriptions, photos, purchase orders, etc.). Mobile Punch can be synchronized with your accounting software to ensure automatic data transfer.

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When the traditional method of keeping up to date with time and attendance of employees at work becomes second nature, it can be difficult to establish new habits, especially when you are making the move from traditional paper timesheets to digital methods of clocking in and out.

Smart clocking is a method being adopted by many companies thanks to the numerous benefits it offers both employer and employee. It is essentially a digital timesheet that has an employee time clock within an app, allowing workers to record their work hours in a simple click.

To enjoy the full benefits of these time clock systems, it is integral that once you have invested in the software, you implement a transition process that allows employees to seamlessly convert from physical paper records to digital records. 

However, it can be difficult for employees to break old habits, making this transition period more difficult than it needs to be. To ensure you do not have any problems, we have created this thorough guide on how to adopt this digital software without the need for disciplinary procedures for employees who are struggling with the change.

Why do employees have to clock in?

Employees have to clock in as it keeps a time record of the number of hours each employee has worked. By clocking in every day, employees have a way of proving to their employer that they have shown up to work when they were scheduled to, and it serves as legal proof that they showed up to work for payroll records.

Digital time tracking solution

Why is it important to clock in and out?

It is extremely important to clock in and out as it is the main form of record-keeping in regards to the time and attendance of employees. It allows management to see what hours you have worked, which in turn allows them to process payroll records and calculate what you are owed based on the time record provided.

In addition to being important to employee hours and payroll records, it is important for employers, the human resource staff, and the management team to prove that they have been abiding by all the necessary laws and regulations surrounding working hours.

There are certain rules that employers have to follow in regards to timetabling and the hours that their employees work. By asking employees to clock in and out, they have an accurate record of when everyone has worked and can prove that they have been working within the parameters of the labor laws that have been set out for them.

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Tips to prevent employees from forgetting to clock in and out

Forgetting to clock in and out can create problems for both employees and employers, so it must be avoided as much as possible. However, if you are transitioning to a digital system from your traditional paper system, it can be disruptive to employees who are resistant to change. To mitigate these difficulties, we have collated this list of tips to help prevent all non-exempt employees from forgetting to clock in and out.

Set a reminder on your phone

This is one of the easiest and quickest fixes to the problem of forgetting to clock in and out. Most people go to work and leave work at a similar time each day, so at the beginning of your employment term, simply set an alarm or a reminder on your phone 5 minutes before your regular clock in time and you will be sure to remember.

What is great about this method is that thanks to the convenience of modern digital technology, you do not need to set this reminder every day. You can simply set it once and have it as a recurring reminder and it will be sent to you every day you need it. This tactic is especially useful if you are using a digital clock-in app as it means people will be on their phones anyway, making the move from the reminder app to the clock-in app surprisingly easy.

Have a sign

You might be moving towards the digital realm for the actual clocking in and out, but trusted traditional methods of reminding employees to clock in might just be the most effective tool at your disposal.

Creating a large sign that cannot be missed is a great way to remind every employee that they need to clock in. We recommend putting this sign in a communal area or an area that everyone has to pass through. For example, if you put the sign at the main door, it ensures everyone sees it when they walk into work. Alternatively, if you know everyone goes to make a coffee before getting started, put the sign above the coffee machine.

Disciplinary policy

A disciplinary policy should always be management’s last resort as it sends a negative and distrusting message to employees. Whilst your first approach should be offering incentives to clocking in and out, if that does not appear to be working, you might want to consider some form of disciplinary action.

The disciplinary practices do not need to be drastic, but they should ensure employees know that not providing a time record is not an option regardless of their job title or position. We recommend having a strike system, so if an employee forgets to clock in or out more than once, they get a verbal warning and if they do it more than 5 times, more severe disciplinary action will be taken against them.

Teach the importance of timesheets

If you ensure your employees are aware of how integral clocking in and out is to the running of a business, you might be able to avoid the disciplinary action outlined above. If employees understand that if they do not clock in and out, management will have incomplete timesheets and therefore no record of their working hours, it will hopefully incentivize them to record their time at work.

Moreover, when informing them of the importance of timesheets and time records, take this opportunity to warn them of the disciplinary action that may be taken against them. A possible employment termination should mitigate any potential timesheet issues.

Invest in a mobile time tracking app

Mobile time tracking apps are a modern solution to clocking in and out. They are a guaranteed way to ensure your employees maintain accurate timesheets and your business can run smoothly. Below are three of the biggest benefits of investing in a time tracking software.

1. Calculate work hours

One of the key benefits of Mobile Punch is how it automatically calculates work hours for management. Once employees clock in and out, their working time record is in the app’s system and it will calculate their overall working hours, which also allows for the payroll to be instantly calculated.

This is a brilliant feature as it removes any room for error which is all too common with traditional methods of timekeeping. This ensures that workers are not underpaid, but also ensures that employers are not overpaying, hence getting rid of any unfair practices that could occur with alternative time tracking methods.

2. More efficient

As everything is done online and automatically, it means that time is saved and not wasted. Firstly, it is more efficient for employees as everything is at the touch of a button on their phones. Time tracking apps are more efficient for management teams and employers as they do not have to manually collect time records and painstakingly calculate the wages of each individual employee.

Moreover, the geolocation feature that Mobile Punch offers allows employers to know exactly when and where their employees are working. This is useful as it ensures additional work time is automatically added and things such as lunch breaks are accounted for by the app. This means that employees do not have to do the extra work of informing employers of their whereabouts and working hours as the information is automatically fed to them.

3. Better for the environment

As companies are more and more conscientious about their carbon footprint and the effect companies have on the environment is under increased scrutiny, time-tracking apps offer a perfect solution. By storing everything digitally, time tracking apps remove any need for paper, therefore ensuring you are not wasting resources and can significantly reduce your carbon footprint, a factor that is more important now than ever.

Advantages of Mobile Punch

Need help to maintain accurate timesheets?

If your business is struggling to maintain accurate timesheets, a digital time tracking solution is the solution you’re looking for. Apps like Mobile Punch ensure that all your data is instantly recorded so that you have a time record of hours worked and wages owed.

Mobile Punch will not only save you time but also money as you do not need an extensive team of people sorting through payroll records. In addition, it provides you with legal security and protection as all records are kept in a safe digital place. This is the ultimate contemporary solution to maintaining accurate timesheets as it is user-friendly, efficiently built for companies, and has the added benefit of being good for the environment.

The most popular time tracking app in Canada

 

Proper recording of work hours is just as important for employers as it is for employees. By doing it correctly, company managers can ensure employee hours at work comply with what they agreed to in their contracts. As for employees, they can avoid being unpaid for the overtime they do. However, it’s important to know that tracking employee hours only works if an effective system is implemented.

Although the configuration of such a system depends largely on the needs and characteristics of the company, there are a wide range of options, from software or hardware time clock solutions to mobile applications. 

​​Who is responsible for tracking employee hours?

Employers are responsible for tracking employee hours and keeping a record of the hours that employees work, regardless of whether any type of software or hardware is used to track them.

What is mobile time tracking?

Mobile time tracking solutions exist to provide a time registration system for employees who are present in the office, and who work remotely or are doing an external service. Employees can always carry the time tracking system with them to count working hours through a smartphone app.

Why is employee time clock software important for companies?

Employee time clock software is important for companies as it saves management time and money, to orchestrate the daily operations of a business. Additionally, employee time clock software:

• Resolves attendance problems
• Improves accountability
• Ensures accurate payroll
• Provides legal evidence

Resolves attendance problems

To ensure good work productivity, it is important to ensure that all policies related to downtime or sick days are not abused by employees.

Improve accountability

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated changes in the modality of work, and many businesses adopted remote work for their operation to save on rent. Given this new setting, employers have to take precautions to make certain that remunerated hours are not spent idly by their employees.

Employee time clock software permits employers to have an accurate time record of worked hours with a geolocation feature, while also delegating the work that must be accomplished during the day to each employee. The clarity it provides makes it possible to optimize productivity.

Ensures accurate payroll

A time control system is very useful to maintain the accuracy of the employee payroll since the hours are calculated exactly as they are entered. This avoids accidental overpayment or the lack of payment for overtime.

Provide legal evidence

Timekeeping apps collect accurate input data that is useful in the event of a lawsuit or review by state agencies. The information collected can be used as evidence if an employee or former employee attempts to sue for lost wages or if the state alleges that regulations are not being followed.

How does an employee time tracking app work?

Here is how an employee time tracking app works:

• Step 1: All employees download the app and synchronize it with the company’s account.
• Step 2: Employees start to track their time by digitally entering their hours.
• Step 3: Analyze employees’ time and see who worked where and on what job or project.
• Step 4: Download automatic management reports and optimize your business.

An employee time tracking app must be downloaded on a smartphone to function at its full potential. Employers can then have the geolocation data of their employees with the app when they record their time. It is also possible to keep track of movements and record the time required to complete a project. This information is crucial for supervisors who will know how to optimize their operations with the data collected.

Entrepreneurs can also choose between different packages and select the appropriate offer based on the size of their company. To be able to use a time tracking app, employees need a smartphone. If your company has not implemented company devices, you can also run the application on private devices.

Mobile Punch allows you to throw away your pens and paper, and watch as your employees’ time records come together automatically. Rather than manually tracking employees’ time at work, Mobile Punch makes things such as payroll and attendance monitoring much easier.

 Simplicity, Efficiency, Speed

Key benefits of mobile time tracking apps

Using an app to track your employees’ time has multiple benefits such as the following:

1. Automation
2. Reduce human error
3. Overtime management
4. Prevent absenteeism
5. Geolocation tracking
6. Signals irregularities
7. Saves time and money
8. Protection against time theft

1. Automation

No more collecting a timesheet on paper or spreadsheets, everything uploads automatically in real time.

2. Reduce human error

Lost timesheets or dubious working hours that inflate the payroll are eradicated as Mobile Punch records the activity of your operation from A to Z and nothing can be lost or made up. Things like manually converting from minutes to hours and estimating overtime is a painstaking process that is easy to miscalculate. 

Did you know that inaccurate calculations cost companies up to 5% of total payroll costs? Employee time clock software eliminates room for human error and saves money by automatically performing all necessary calculations.

3. Overtime management

Mobile-Punch lets you see who has done the most overtime and who are the employees that haven’t had the chance to work overtime, therefore you can give everyone their fair share of overtime opportunities.

4. Prevent absenteeism

Absenteeism is one of those things that causes constant interruptions in the workflow. Employee time clocks make it easier for employers to monitor workers who are often absent or late regularly. Employers can monitor these individuals to prevent and minimize future absences.

5. Geolocation tracking

See where employees are clocking in and out to prevent paying for unnecessary travel time or breaks. This method is not intrusive and permits you to know more about the behavior of your workers.

6. Signals irregularities

If an employee forgets to clock out, you can quickly check up on this, instead of them running hours into overtime. This also helps with attendance and employees coming to work late.

7. Saves time and money

Mobile time tracking apps collect data and perform calculations automatically, and because the data entered is collected and calculated by itself, HR staff spends less time checking hours and sorting timesheets.

8. Protection against time theft

Using a time tracking app is a fantastic way to keep your employees safe from overworking and ease the payroll process for management. Mobile Punch is also a great way of protecting your business against time theft. Time theft always sounds harsh and most of the time it is not malicious, but it does cost money. 

What is time theft at work?

What is the best time tracking app?

Looking for the best time tracking app? Time tracking software can be used for various  reasons in different industries. Mobile Punch’s time tracking app is the #1 time tracking application in Canada as it offers a multitude of services other than just time tracking. If you would like to learn more about our app’s features, feel free to contact us. 

Benefits of Mobile Punch

Running a small business is a big job, and regardless of an entrepreneur’s experience, individuals are always looking for new ways to improve the way that their business is run. Although the ultimate aim of any business is to generate profit, it is equally important to create a healthy and happy working environment.

One way in which you can easily achieve this and increase your profit margins is to invest in apps that are specifically designed for small businesses. There are a vast array of different types of apps that can help you improve different areas of your business. For example, you can get apps to better manage your inventory, apps to help you with employee time tracking or even apps that can streamline your payments.

As the world of small business mobile apps is so vast, we have created this guide to help you find the apps to run your business more efficiently. We have split the apps that are available on the market into different categories and ranked which we think are the best. 

Best app for accounting and finance

Being able to accurately and efficiently manage your accounting and finances will ensure the success of your business and will help you maintain and promote the profit you are generating.

QuickBooks

Quickbooks is the perfect accounting software for businesses of any size, as their features cater for individual freelancers, small businesses or medium businesses. Granted, if you are a large corporation, QuickBooks likely won’t be a perfect match for you, but will suit most business owners.

Because Quickbooks is widely considered the industry leader for accounting and finance software, it is compatible with many other kinds of apps that you might want to integrate into your business. Moreover, its popularity and great reputation ensure that accountants will be happy to work with the system. There are tiers to the QuickBook package plans, but the software can essentially help you with anything that you need help with from payroll, to cash flow, tax deductions to invoice and payments.

One of the best features that QuickBooks offers is live bookkeeping. It allows you to partner with a bookkeeper who has specific expertize in your business. They can reconcile your accounts to double-check them and make sure everything is in order. They also offer plans for any budget, starting at $12 and going up to $90 a month. You will be sure to find a plan that suits all your needs at a price point that you need.

Best app for inventory management 

Inventory management is a function of business that managers and owners often disregard as unimportant when in fact, proper inventory management can make or break your business as it dictates profit margins. We therefore cannot talk about essential apps for business without mentioning inventory management apps.

Sortly 

What is the best app for inventory management? In our opinion, the best inventory management app that proves to be universally beneficial for businesses of any size is Sortly. The variation in Sortly’s plans and packages ensure that there is an option for every business. They are one of the only options available that provide a completely free version, which is perfect for small start up businesses. Alternatively, they also offer a custom plan option that allows you to tailor the plan to your businesses’ specific needs.

Their features include the option to group items by category and allows you to customize within these categories to ensure that everything that needs to be tracked is being tracked. They also have a QR/barcode system that allows you to easily log everything in your inventory and check what you need or are running low on.

Best app for payments

Point of Sales (POS) and payments are arguably one of the most important factors of a business. Their importance means that business management teams cannot afford any mistakes in this field. That is why relying on a digital app is the best solution to ensure your payments are accurately accounted for and collated in one centralized place.

Square

Square have made quite the name for themselves in the business world. Square is an innovative company that has streamlined the payment system of countless businesses, making the entire process far easier and convenient for both businesses and customers.

The contactless payment processing options that Square offers allows you to process payments online or on the phone and have them instantly synced up on your centralized POS system.

It also keeps records of past purchases and remembers the buying habits of past customers, which in turn allows you to send out personalized ads and marketing tools. It is a software that offers far more than just a simple purchasing and payment system and therefore earns its spot as the best payment app for local businesses.

Best app for time tracking

One of the most important components of a business is the employees. Having dedicated, loyal and skilled employees will help to ensure your company makes as much profit as possible. Regardless of the business you are in, it is essential to ensure your employees are not only well looked after but also that you have the capabilities to keep on top of your employees, as their work is just as much your responsibility as business manager or owner as it is theirs.  

Mobile Punch

Mobile Punch is the best time tracking app available thanks to its breadth of features and user friendly set up. The app works on both android and ios devices, making it accessible to all workers and businesses.

Mobile Punch makes clocking in and out and keeping a track of hours employees have worked far easier than the traditional paper methods. With the app, all you need to do is have a mobile phone in hand, which everyone does these days, and with the click of the button your employees can record when they get in and leave work. The app automatically calculates the hours they have worked, making payments far easier, accurate and faster.

One of the key features of Mobile Punch that sets it apart is its geolocation feature which validates the presence of workers on the field. This offers several advantages to businesses in terms of resource allocation, task assignment, and itinerary organization. Moreover, Mobile Punch, similarly to the packages offered by Sortly, allows you to create customizable plans, hence ensuring you can find a package that suits your budget and your needs.

Advantages of Mobile Punch

Best app for communication

Communication is key to running a good business. Whether it is maintaining communication with staff and employees to keep everything running, or maintaining good lines of communication with your customers so they can know of all the great things you are offering, communication is at the heart of it.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is probably one of the most well-known forms of communication, and for good reason. The app allows you to easily communicate with your employees and manage projects in a seamless manner through video calling or group chat platforms.

Microsoft Teams helps you to easily compartmentalize your working life thanks to the fact that you can set up channels within the app. Channels are essentially different groups within which you can call, message and share documents with members.

Moreover, when you create a Teams group, a sharepoint is created. The sharepoint is a file sharing tool where Microsoft Teams stores any and all documents that are shared in the group. That way, you have all the relevant documents for each group in a safe and convenient place.

Best app for customer relationship management

Just as employees are an integral aspect to any business, so are customers. After all, without customers, there is no business. You therefore need to maintain healthy and strong customer relationships, which can be achieved through successful customer relationship management.

Belly

One of the best ways to maintain booming customer relationships is to implement a comprehensive loyalty program. Belly is a great app that will help you do that. Whilst Belly is on the pricier side, you get a whole lot of features included in the package, and with the extra revenue you will inevitably generate from customers, it is a worthy investment.

The app allows you to digitally manage loyalty programs. It also collects data from your customers to allow you to create customizable marketing campaigns that you can send out. It is geared at increasing the reach of your business to promote success.

Best app for project management

Project management is the final branch of business management that can benefit greatly from having an app organize and run it. Project management is essentially what keeps everything running in a business so it is integral to have a fully comprehensive and functioning system to ensure that everything is running smoothly.

Basecamp

In our opinion, Basecamp is the best project management software available on the market, mainly due to the categorization of projects that it allows, which makes everything far simpler and more organized.

Basecamp allows you to split all your projects up, with everything related to each project appearing only in the folder relating to that project. This helps to ensure you do not get confused when you have multiple projects going on at once. It features a message board, to-do lists and schedules to make sure everything is in check at any one point in time.

Overview

Running a small business is difficult, especially if you are a new entrepreneur with little experience. Therefore, all the help you can get will improve the overall functioning of your business.

From project management and time tracking apps to help the internal functions of your business and improving the management of employees, to payment and marketing apps that make your customers’ lives easier, apps are the 21st century digital solution to age-old issues of ineffective business management. As most of these platforms and software offer differing price points for any budget, you will be able to find options that suit the needs of your business.

Find out how to save money with mobile time tracking

 

The short answer to this question is no. However, it is possible to make one. If you have multiple employees, an Excel timesheet is not the most convenient way to keep track of worked hours. At the inception of Excel it may have been the case, but in our digital era, there are superior alternatives. Although Mobile Punch resolved the burden of time tracking for management and employees, timesheet management on Excel remains a useful skill.

Businesses are more than ever dependent on technology to operate fluidly. If the platform to track time crashes, a timesheet on Excel can be a temporary fix. Mobile Punch users are suggested to contact our technical support if this situation arises. In recent memory, Facebook’s system crash demonstrated that no string of code is unshakable. Mobile Punch offers this 360° article on timesheets, Excel, and the best practices to track employee time.

What is an employee timesheet?

A timesheet is a record of how much time an employee spends at work. This data can be kept on paper, in a spreadsheet, or in a cloud-based timesheet software system. A timesheet computes an employee’s salary according to their pay rate by keeping note of when they start and end work, as well as any breaks they take.

Timesheets are no longer solely used to compute payrolls as project-based work has grown increasingly frequent. Timesheets for projects or clients are detailed records that reflect the amount of time spent on each project or client and are used for billing and project management. HR professionals can use these timesheets to analyze the activities being performed. This helps with workforce planning and monitoring.

Does Excel have timesheet templates?

Excel does not have a pre-made timesheet template, but it is possible to make one or to download a template online. The empty spreadsheet might be intimidating at first but there are many tutorials online to help you become well versed with this program.

The first step in choosing a timesheet Excel is to figure out which categories you will need to develop to process payroll successfully. These categories include:

• The time
• The position or shift
• Their clock-in times
• Their clock-out times
• The total number of hours they have worked
• The total number of hours worked in overtime
• The total number of sick days they have accrued
• The total number of vacation hours they have accrued
• The total number of vacation hours they have

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How do you track hours worked in Excel?

Those who track hours worked in Excel can employ formulas to calculate the total hours worked. This is done by:

1. Entering your data;
2. Determining the number of worked hours;
3. Factor in the pay rate;
4. Finish;

 

1. Enter Your Data

• Fill in the days of the week in Column A.
• In Column B, write the time the task began in hh:mm format.
• In Column C, write the time the work was completed in hh:mm format.
• You can use AM/PM or military time but keep your timesheet constant.

2. Determine the number of worked hours

• In Column D, write the formula: =sum(C2-B2)*24
• Change the format of the cell to “Number” with two decimal places.

3. Factor in the pay rate

• Fill in the hourly pay rate of that employee in cell H1.
• In Column E, write =sum(D2*$H$1)
• (The $𝑥$ prevents the cell number from rolling over as you replicate the formula down the weekdays.)

4. Finish

• Drag the timesheet formula in Columns D and E through the weekdays.
• Use =sum(D2:D8) in cell D9 to calculate total hours.
• Use =sum(E2:E8) in cell D10 to calculate total pay.

There are other configurations possible that may better suit your business needs but this step-by-step method is a great exercise and demonstration of a timesheet Excel.

Excel vs. Mobile Time Tracking Apps

Excel is a versatile program for data analysis and documentation. However, since timesheet management is not its sole function it is easy to get lost. Mobile time tracking apps, on the other hand, were programmed exclusively to facilitate the process to track time.

The Pitfalls of Excel

The disadvantage of using a spreadsheet tool for timesheets is that it can’t accommodate a wider range of requirements. This is true especially if the user is unaware of formulas, formatting, and data entry. If your team has specific timesheet requirements, services like online time tracking software are more productive.

Furthermore, Excel has the disadvantage of being a relatively expensive product, whereas Google Sheets gives virtually the same capabilities for free. A simple spreadsheet template may be adequate for organizing your team’s time logging, but it will not provide you with the reporting insight that will help you improve your timesheet management techniques. It also won’t help you streamline your billing operations.

The Solution

Time tracking apps are the most valuable timesheet option. Mobile Punch can help you keep track of your time more efficiently by automating your timekeeping. The reporting insights you may acquire from our reports features will allow you to make well-informed time management decisions. Monitoring the comparative value per unit of time for various jobs or projects has never been easier.

The best time management software services support several time tracking platforms. For example, having an iPhone time tracking app linked to your office time tracking service allows you to control your time both in and out of the workplace. Not to mention that you also won’t need to be a coding expert who can deploy various complex formulas into spreadsheets. With tracking apps, ease of use and access is key!

Why should you use time tracking apps?

To have an efficient time tracking procedure, you must make time tracking simple and uncomplicated for your employees. Timekeeping can be tedious, especially if you have a lot of activities to complete. Mobile Punch is simple to use and has a short learning curve, so your team won’t be slowed down by its integration!

What are the benefits of time tracking apps?

It should become increasingly clear that timesheet Excel has numerous issues. If you truly want to reap the benefits of modern timesheets then get yourself a tracking app as the following are just some of its advantages:

• Bill Accurately. As you travel between clients and projects, automatic time tracking apps capture everything you do while working, creating a faultless record of all work actions. They eliminate manual error and guesstimation.
• Effective Project Management. Apps that measure time can aid you in collecting all of your project data, allowing you to improve estimates and control expenditures in real-time. They’re quickly becoming indispensable tools for bettering project management.
• Improved Productivity. To help you solve personal and operational inefficiencies, time monitoring tools indicate exactly how you get distracted—from the websites that steal your focus to how often you switch context and what’s slowing you down. Knowing that everything is being recorded can help you maintain a productive focus.
• Progression. Time tracking apps do more than just collect your time data; they also show it in useful reports. It is perfect for presenting managers with status updates or giving clients an itemized account of where their money went.
• Healthy Workloads. Without knowing your capacity, you won’t be able to maintain a healthy workload or assess the long-term viability of your company. Time monitoring applications can show you this in real-time, which can assist in avoiding overworking and allow managers to coordinate and balance team effort for current and future projects.
• Evaluate Profit Rates. Time monitoring tools let you set fair and lucrative rates by combining your time and expenditures across related projects. It comes in handy for determining pricing for long-term projects and discounts for returning customers.
• Legal Security. When it comes to human resources, you are legally required to follow your province’s regulations regarding working periods and hours. As a result, you will require a detailed audit trail that shows authorities how you handle employee data.

Quite simply, time tracking apps let you access a whole other level of efficiency that spreadsheets can’t offer.

Save time and money with Mobile Punch

Mobile Punch is the greatest work time tracking app in Canada when all features and benefits are considered. Because of its accessibility on Android and Apple smartphones, it is the most popular time tracking app in Canada.

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Traditional methods of time tracking are quickly becoming outdated as employers are realizing the issues that arise with the old paper methods of clocking in and out. As our working environments are becoming increasingly digital in the 21st century, more and more businesses are moving away from old punching methods and opting for digital time tracking apps.

If you are tired and frustrated with the method that you are currently using to track employee working hours, you should keep reading to discover all the benefits that mobile time clocking apps can bring to your business. To help you understand the ins and outs of a scheduling and time clock app we have created this guide to tell you what mobile punching apps are, how much they cost, as well as the many advantages they can offer your business.

What is a mobile punching app?

Mobile punching apps have time tracking features that surpass employee time clocks. Instead of physically clocking in and out with a piece of paper, employees simply need the app downloaded onto their mobile phone. With the touch of a button, they can let you know when they entered and left the workplace with accuracy.

A mobile punching app also provides users with extra features. With a mobile punching app, you are not just getting the employee time tracking service, the app also provides you with multiple other employee management features that will optimize your business. You can activate a geolocation feature that will allow you to know where your employees are, which can help you appropriately delegate workers. The app also has a built-in diary, making scheduling easier.

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How much does mobile punching cost?

Just like with any product or service, the price of the app will depend on the product you choose. While some mobile punching apps provide packages at rates that only huge corporations could afford to pay, others are virtually free but offer an extremely limited number of features. Most businesses are looking for a middle ground between the two.

You want an app that helps you manage your employees and also offers you the essential time tracking features that you need at an affordable price. Mobile Punch is the perfect medium for your business. All you need to do is contact our team and they will work with you to find a custom package that suits your needs. This way, you will be able to get the most out of what you can afford. Mobile Punch is the leading mobile time tracking app in Canada!

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What are the benefits of a punch clock app for your business?

The benefits of a punch clock for your business are:

• Increased accuracy
• Money savings
• Simplification of schedule creation and management
• Improved collaboration
• Increased legal security
• Improved efficiency

A mobile punching app can provide a multitude of benefits to your business. From providing statistical feedback to the management team in regards to running the company more efficiently, it also provides benefits to employees as it makes their day-to-day life at work easier.

Accuracy

A mobile time clock for employees provides a real solution to recording their hours. Instead of having to physically record the time they get into work and the time that they leave every day, all they need to do is log it into the app. This reduces the common issue of individuals misrepresenting their working hours by forgetting to clock in or wrongly recording their time.

Moreover, the geolocation feature further improves accuracy as it allows employers to see and know exactly where employees are and when. This is done in a completely secure way that protects the privacy and rights of the employee while also benefiting the employer.

Saves money

Although in most cases, you can trust your employees to accurately record their working hours and the duration they have been working, there is always room for human error when you are relying on traditional paper systems for time tracking. Thankfully, mobile punching apps prevent human errors and the possible misrepresentation of working hours.

This can save you money in the long term as it ensures that employees cannot exaggerate the hours they have worked. Moreover, the data created when employees clock in and out is stored directly in the cloud and can be sent to your accounting software which will take this information and calculate your payroll.

This helps you avoid any additional human error that could be caused by management who are responsible for transferring the information from one place to another. As everything is done online and is largely automated, there is no room for error, which saves you money!

Simplifies schedule creation

One of the brilliant features of Mobile Punch is the scheduling feature it offers, which makes team management far easier and streamlined. You can create schedules within the app itself and then that information gets directly passed on to your employees. Employees can therefore log into their account and automatically access their schedule.

This is a blessing for the management team as it means that they do not have to separately send out everyone’s schedule, and can easily organize everyone’s working hours within the app itself. It is also beneficial to employees who can easily access their schedule.

Work Schedule App

More collaborative

Using a mobile punching app also helps to create a more collaborative working environment as it encourages employees to communicate what works for them and what does not. Within the scheduling feature, employees can accept or decline a shift which gives them more of a say in their working hours and ensure no one gets burnt out or overworked.

Moreover, the app helps employees tailor make a working schedule that works for their needs and well being as they are given all the details of all possible work that is available to them. They can choose tasks that they think they will work well on, which ensures you get the right employees for each job.

Legal security

Most people just think about the employee time clock benefits when it comes to mobile punching apps, but it can in fact provide your business with some significant legal security, which is not necessarily guaranteed with paper methods. One of the key logistical benefits provided with the app is the legal security it offers.

Provinces have regulations about working hours that you are responsible to adhere to. However, every now and again there is the possibility that you find yourself in a dispute with an employee who believes that their working rights have been violated. Thanks to an entirely digitized system, you have real-time access to all their information, working hours and schedule. It is the perfect resource for employers to use to defend themselves in court. The same security is not guaranteed with paper records due to human error and the fact that physical records can get lost or destroyed.

Overview

Overall, a mobile punching app removes many of the additional steps involved in organizing and record keeping that are present in traditional methods of time tracking. It is the ultimate 21st century solution to an age old necessity!

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Trees, although we tend to forget it, are the lungs of our planet and they keep us all alive. The world’s forests are the backbone of millions of ecosystems and they play a key role in keeping us and all species healthy. In gratitude, certain practices must be incorporated in order to protect our forest habitats.

 

What is the health of the world’s forests?

It is estimated today that more than 1/3 of the tree species on earth are at risk of extinction with a marked decrease in the green population in all four corners of the world. Forest biodiversity is severely threatened, largely due to intrusive human practices.

We have seen for decades a palpable change on our land and the consequences of our thoughtless actions can no longer be ignored. Deforestation and forest degradation are among the alarming practices that testify to the suffering of our planet. This massive destruction has a considerable impact on biodiversity, which is decreasing at an appalling rate.

This deforestation leads to the destruction of an entire ecosystem by removing the natural habitat of various species which in turn find themselves endangered due to unfavorable conditions caused by humans. It is estimated that approximately every second, the planet loses an area equivalent to a football field of forest; annually, this amounts to approximately the area of Greece.

Most employees prefer Punch Mobile to paper timesheets

 

Why is it important to protect forests?

Forests are home to about 80% of the life on earth, not counting species that are not yet known. They are essential for the perpetuation of life as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thus helping combat global warming.

Forests provide us with the raw material to build our homes and represent a space for rest, disconnection, walking and pleasure. Deforestation causes the disappearance of ecosystems that are essential to life and threatens the sustainability of humans. It is now time to join forces to find solutions that aim at finding a balance between the sustainable use of these forests and the conservation of forest biodiversity.

Forests play a vital role in our lives by :

• Providing the fruits and plants necessary for the prosperity of animals
• Creating a barrier against erosion and landslides
• Providing the soil with the proper structure to absorb water
• Fighting against floods
• Purifying the air we breathe

 

Mobile Punch supports the world’s forests

At Mobile Punch, we are committed to the world’s forests and believe that we must act together to transform the way we consume and produce. We believe that it is our role to preserve forests and to participate in the restoration of forest biodiversity.

 

A mobile application that enables paperless time tracking

Mobile Punch provides companies with a digital application for managing timesheets and calculating working hours so that they can reduce or even eliminate their need for paper. Our digital solution allows you to avoid transcription errors, time theft or delays.

It is used by more than 28,000 users worldwide to improve their productivity and save time and money. It is both an accessible and ecological solution that reduces excessive paper consumption in order to participate in the preservation of the world’s forests.

Benefits of Mobile Punch

 

A digital solution for an ecological impact

Mobile Punch has grown to become the most popular application in Canada and works on all Android and iPhone mobile devices. The process of managing and tracking time has never been easier, and all employees can access the app through their cell phones even without an Internet connection.

Our mobile punch application is available for all businesses that want to modernize their operations and say goodbye to unnecessary paperwork. Our electronic calendars allow you to create employee schedules in minutes for a simplified and ecological management. Mobile Punch is committed to the forest by offering a solution that eliminates the need for paper for administrative tasks. 

To date, more than 10.5 million timesheets and more than 5 million health forms and work orders have been completed using Mobile-Punch. We are very proud to have helped save thousands of trees.

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Time theft is becoming increasingly common in businesses. Time stealing is a problem for many modern firms, especially for those that rely largely on remote employees who work from home without supervision. Workplace time theft is a prevalent and costly issue that occurs when an employee is paid for time they did not work.

Employee time theft is a problem that many firms face and that can go unnoticed. Many bosses are unaware that their workers have been stealing time for years. Your organization can suffer huge losses due to time theft if it does not reliably track time. Although no one enjoys disciplinary action meetings, as long as time theft occurs, your paper timesheets are not representative of your productivity.

What is workplace time theft?

Time clock fraud, time stealing, and timesheet fraud are all terms used to describe time

theft in the workplace. Time theft occurs when an employee is paid for work they did not do. Fortunately, modern time clock software exists to prevent time theft in the workplace.

Employee time theft can take numerous forms, which makes it difficult to quantify. It could happen in one of the following ways: Long breaks, early starts, late endings, on-the-job personal activities, timesheet rounding, and so forth. These types of time theft may seem inoffensive, but at the end of the business year, it can amount to a substantial amount. Plus, if one person is doing it, other employees may be inflating their hours worked as well.

Employers have had a difficult time detecting and preventing time fraud in the context of the pandemic. Remote working is often brandished as the new work paradigm, but it comes with new problems. Remote employees can take extended smoke breaks or lunch breaks on the dime of their employers if there are no strategies put in place to control clock theft.

What is time theft at work?

Types of Time Theft

Here are various ways time clock theft can take place:

• Timesheet fraud
• Buddy punching
• Unauthorized breaks
• Personal activities on company time

Timesheet Fraud

Falsification of a time card happens when one employee gives false information regarding their hours worked or causes others to do so. This is most common with manual timekeeping systems.

Buddy Punching

Buddy punching occurs when an employee clocks in or out for a coworker. Time theft buddy punching is estimated to cost over $370 million in payroll expenditures each year, according to a 2018 study (source). Committing time theft is fraudulent and should call for disciplinary action.

Unauthorized Breaks

Employees are entitled to rest periods, as they are a legal requirement. There is, however, room for abuse. Lunch breaks are frequently extended by 15 minutes here and there, while smoke breaks are taken whenever employees please. At the end of the business year, some employees could have received a week’s worth of salary in leisure time at work.

Personal Activities on Company Time

You may come across employees that have no qualms about engaging in personal activities while on the clock. They operate their side business while on the clock or tend to excessively socialize with coworkers. An employee that commits this type of time theft may run errands while on the job or play games on work computers.

On-the-clock phone calls are unavoidable, but when this occurs regularly, it is considered time stealing. Smartphones are the gadget of our century, and just as they are essential, they can be a real nuisance in the workplace. According to a study by Udemy, 62 % of those polled spend at least an hour of their workday gazing at their mobile devices (source).

6 Ways to Prevent Time Theft in the Workplace

Here are 6 ways to prevent time theft in the workplace:

1. Use a time clock software
2. Build employee morale
3. Time tracking policy in the employee handbook
4. Follow through with disciplinary actions
5. Host regular meetings
6. Be understanding

 

1. Use a Time Clock Software

Integrating a time clock software to your organization is one of the simplest and most effective ways of stopping time theft. With time monitoring software, you can track the worked hours of your employees and collect insightful data. Mobile-Punch is a time tracking app suitable for remote teams. It tracks the total time employees spend at work or on a job on the road.

Mobile Punch’s integrated timesheet calculator is a key tool for any company that wants to optimize how they keep track of hours worked. Calculating work hours has never been easier than with Mobile-Punch! Whether it’s for in-house employees, internal or external overtime, or subcontractors who need to calculate their work hours, Mobile-Punch allows thousands of companies to save time and money.

Our app is the most widely used time management solution in Canada for companies with mobile teams. The application is also very popular in several other countries since it offers personalized functions, adapted to the different types of businesses and needs of each.

2. Build Employee Morale

Investing in employee morale is the most effective approach to deter time theft. Employees are more engaged and productive when there is a high level of morale in the workplace. Something as simple as Pizza Thursday can make your place of work more convivial and create a link of proximity between management and workers.

Another thing to consider is if employees are receiving an amount that is worth their labor. Time clock theft is often the result of employees reasoning that they are taking their due given their meager wage. Business owners can reduce time theft considerably by demonstrating that they value the work of their employees.

3. Time Tracking Policy in Employee Handbook

Assumptions in the place of work are often the source of time theft. If an employee sees another coworker round their hours worked on the paper timesheet, they’ll certainly do the same for themselves. The modality of how a business tracks time must be communicated and standardized as not to create loopholes for some to exploit.

Include these regulations in your employee handbook right away, and hold workers accountable when they deviate from the rules. All hourly and salaried employees must read and sign a paper declaring that they have read and comprehended the handbook’s policies. The employee handbook will also dictate to management the disciplinary action that must be executed if someone commits time theft.

4. Follow Through with Disciplinary Action

This may not be the most joyous way to spend time at work, but disciplinary action must be taken on employees who do not abide by the employee handbook’s policies in regards to time tracking. When clear proofs report time theft, an example must be made of what happens when someone conscientiously tries to inflate their worked hours. Of course, there should be different degrees of severity depending on the scenario.

5. Host Regular Meetings

Communication is key to any business that desires to flourish. Regular meetings can create the perfect platform for team building and let employees be informed about their obligations and expectations. This means that if anyone commits time clock fraud, the whole group can be notified to reinforce the fact that it’s an act of deviance that affects employee bonuses or work relations.

Regular meetings are great to set an environment of accountability in the place of work. This is done by praising innovative ideas and discussing why certain practices are counter-productive. These regular meetings then become a place to learn from mistakes and to reward good working initiatives.

6. Be Understanding

Employers should recognize that everyone needs a break now and then. Your team will work more efficiently and successfully if they take breaks and rest without stressing about the time ticking. Time can easily be managed at work, especially with Mobile-Punch, but respect can go a long way to prevent employee time theft.

If you catch an employee inflating their worked hours, have a chat with them to see if they would like more hours or if they are facing financial difficulty. Instead of seeing you as business owners, try making your employees see you as their ally. That will deter many from doing things behind your back, and employees will prove to be more loyal.

End Time Theft Now!

Mobile-Punch is the modern way of time tracking worked hours. Since the application can be accessed on mobile devices, remote workers can be held accountable for their day of work. Additionally, when clocking in a job, it is possible to have the geolocation of the worker in question. Therefore, you will know whether they began their day of work at your client’s place or while stuck in traffic.

Determine the sources of time theft and take steps to prevent it with Mobile-Punch.

Pay Little & Save Big

Public health measures have been part of our life for the better part of 2 years now, and the situation is not likely to change anytime soon. Every time we think we see the light at the end of the tunnel, a new variant emerges (Delta, Omicron, etc.). Face coverings, hand sanitizer, remote work and social distancing are all elements of workplace control measures that businesses put in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

What is a COVID secure worksite?

Unfortunately, every workplace is at risk of COVID-19 transmission. COVID secure worksites are work settings that are as safe as possible for employees, customers, and site visitors. COVID-19 transmission risks must be identified, evaluated, and minimized.

How to make your worksite COVID-19 secure

Here are 7 tips to make your worksite COVID-19 secure:

1. Perform a COVID-19 risk assessment
2. Share the results of the risk assessment
3. Promote physical distancing
4. Establish who needs to return to the office
5. Manage visitors
6. Implement hygiene measures
7. Follow industry-specific advice

1. Perform a COVID-19 Risk Assessment

Employers must conduct a COVID-19 risk assessment of their workplaces as quickly as possible according to the government in order to develop and implement effective workplace control measures. Here are three types of control measures that can be put into action to reduce the risk of transmission in your workplace: 

 

• Engineering control measures: Physical alterations to the workplace provide a barrier between individuals and the hazard. Physical barriers between people, such as screens between desks, can be used as engineering controls.

 

 

• Administrative control measures: Cleaning the workplace and touched surfaces, modifying workplace responsibilities and activities, and restructuring the workplace to make it safer are examples of administrative control measures. Other examples include physical distancing training, distance markings, signs, and improved cleanliness procedures. You can also limit the number of employees who return to work, as well as the number of customers who are allowed on your premises.

 

 

• Personal protective equipment: Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, and visors are the least effective form of coronavirus risk mitigation measure. 

 

Workplace control measures that should be applied vary depending on the type of economic activity being performed, but this article covers some of the most common ones. It’s important to gather information from different departments and write the findings of the risk assessment so that this knowledge can be easily shared with workers after you’ve identified what must be amended to the workplace safety plan.

2. Share the Results of the Risk Assessment

Employers should inform their employees of the results of their risk assessment. Employees will feel safer at work if you share the results of your COVID risk assessment, and they will be more likely to take an active role in reducing transmission risks. While employers are primarily responsible for workplace health and safety, employees also play an important role to make sure safety measures are followed. 

Risk assessment results might be communicated via email, training, meetings, or site instructions. Employers can also display a notice in their workplace to demonstrate that they have followed government instructions on managing COVID-19 transmission risks.

3. Promote Physical Distancing

The government’s initiatives to get people back to work rely heavily on physical distancing. The risk of viral transmission through the air can be greatly minimized by keeping staff and customers at least two meters apart. Businesses may install social barriers, or limit the number of employees and customers allowed in the workplace. 

Signage can also serve as a reminder to keep a safe space between people. If certain professional tasks are impossible to do while physical distancing, you should consider whether the personal protective equipment provided to your workers mitigate the risk of exposure. It’s important to make sure all work tasks can be performed in a safe environment!  

How do you introduce new technology into the workplace?

4. Establish Who Needs to Return to the Office

Returning to work should be done in stages to ensure that health and safety measures are in place and that you provide a secure work environment for the limited number of employees that will be back in the office. Only vital employees should be encouraged to return to work at first. Anyone who has the ability to work from home should work remotely. For organizations that require employees to operate in construction sites or restricted quarters, limiting the number of employees returning to work is especially critical.

5. Manage Visitors

It’s crucial to manage employees as they return to work while also reducing the number of unnecessary visits to the office. Customers and site visitors should be informed of the social distancing measures in place and businesses can limit the number of people allowed on-site at one time. Companies should minimize close contact by implementing one-way flow routes through buildings, controlling worker arrival and departure times, and optimizing work schedules.

6. Implement Additional Hygiene Measures

Workplace hand hygiene and a solid workplace safety plan have never been more important. Surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, hand sanitizer dispensers should be available at key locations on the worksite, and face coverings should be worn by everyone on the premises. 

Waste must also be considered; if your employees use tissues or disposable PPE, these must be put into closed bins and disposed of in a sanitary manner. By using posters, meetings, and training sessions to promote hygiene in the workplace, you can persuade employees to take additional hygiene precautions.

7. Follow Industry-Specific Advice

The tips mentioned in this article are just a few of the safeguards that can help you ensure COVID-19 secure workplace. Any advice generated expressly for your industry, such as sector-specific government guidance or advice from trade organizations should be taken into account. For example, the Canadian Construction Association has developed a set of COVID-19 site operating procedures tailored for construction sites.

How Technology is Changing the Construction Industry

How Mobile Punch can help you create a COVID-19 secure worksite

As Canada’s most popular time-tracking application, Mobile Punch can help you create a safe workplace environment for employees in the office and those who work remotely. Businesses of all sizes can use Mobile Punch to better manage their workforce, schedules, and tasks. Moreover, a health form (compliant with CNESST and INSPQ requirements) is also included in the application to ensure that employees who come into work do not have symptoms.

Mobile Punch helps employers keep track of their employees’ arrival and departure times as well as track their trips to work sites using a geolocation feature. Clocking in is safer as it is contactless. 

Here is an overview of the services available in our time tracking app: 

• Timesheet calculator
• Mobile punch 
• Staff geolocation
• Project management 
• Work schedule 
• Electronic agenda
• Dynamic distribution (dispatch)
• Work order 
• Employee time tracking 

Schedule a demo

The Covid-19 pandemic crisis has acted as a development gas pedal in all sectors. Particularly in the construction sector, which has suffered a big blow and faced unprecedented situations. In 2021, digitalization and the use of new technologies have become the norm in the construction sector. With the adoption of  technology come many advantages in organization, efficiency, time, and energy saving.

The pandemic crisis has demonstrated how technology has enabled both business continuity and remote project delivery. In this article, we highlight 7 new technology trends that will transform the future of the construction industry.

7 Technology Trends in the Construction Industry in 2022

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most fascinating and promising technologies that will transform the world. The use of AI and machine learning (ML) in construction allows for remote project and construction site work by automating repetitive tasks. It creates « digital twins » of buildings that take into account more factors than a human being can.

This translates into better project design, better planning, and better safety and efficiency on the job site. This innovative solution has enabled remote worker reassignment while optimizing 24-hour machine monitoring from powerful dashboards that ensure compliance and quality.

Virtual and augmented reality

Virtual reality is an immersive technology that immerses us entirely in the digital experience, while augmented reality adds digital elements to what we see live. Using these new technologies can be very beneficial in construction because by immersing your team and the client in the digital version of the project from the beginning, you improve understanding of the project, anticipate problems that may arise, and avoid costly changes after construction has begun.

Thanks to accurate and fast simulations of the changes you want to make to the project, you benefit from real-time feedback in terms of feasibility and risk assessment, allowing you to ensure a safe and controlled environment for workers on the site. In addition, digital reality greatly enhances team collaboration, as they can work together on the project wherever they are.

Detailed 3D BIM modeling

Building Information Modeling or BIM is a process based on 3D modeling to create and manage project information. It is a key innovation in the development of the construction sector as it allows the preparation of the digitized construction project using all the information necessary for the realization of the project from planning, design, budget, human resources and scheduling.

Each aspect of this process can be linked to related information such as photos, manuals, etc. This technology has the potential to completely change the construction process as it allows professionals to create detailed plans, anticipate changes, detect problems in advance and stay on budget.

Robots and drones 

Robots are primarily used to perform repetitive and automated tasks. Today, they are especially useful in masonry, painting, vehicle loading and other areas where there is less manpower. In large-scale construction, the most widely used robots are drones.

Indeed, drones have made surveying large construction sites easy and fast. By having a wide and high view, drones can track the progress of projects, locate danger zones, but also deliver materials directly to the construction site, reducing the number of vehicles and people needed.

Intelligent Buildings

It is more of a concept than a specific technology. Indeed, intelligent buildings use a set of information technologies to stay connected to the building’s systems, the people who occupy it and its environment. These buildings use sensors, microchips and other automated devices to control the building’s air conditioning, heating, ventilation, lighting and security systems, making it nearly autonomous. This allows building owners or occupants to optimize the use of the building in terms of space and energy consumption.

Energy efficient buildings 

Sustainable development is at the heart of current concerns and a priority for all sectors. In this sense, many companies in the construction sector are adopting measures to reduce their environmental impact and build energy efficient buildings. One of the first measures is the adoption of automated processes, since this automation leads to the implementation of eco-responsible solutions that consume less energy and are environmentally friendly.

The design and construction of energy efficient buildings requires collaboration between all project stakeholders to ensure that the overall design of the building is environmentally friendly. This includes the use of energy efficient materials and technologies as well as the reduction of carbon emissions and energy consumption.

Mobile technology 

The integration of mobile technology on construction sites allows time tracking and improves team organization. Thanks to its accessibility and ease of use, Mobile-Punch, the best time tracking application in Canada, allows companies to simplify time management, gain productivity and manage their construction projects in real time.

No longer do your team members have to slow their progress to record their schedules, with the geolocation feature, your employees can punch in and punch out from the job site. With this feature, the administrator ensures that the times are associated with the right project and that the employees were on the job site at the right time. In addition, the application allows you to break down your time into tasks by project and employee. By organizing your tasks in an efficient way for the whole team, you optimize profitability.

Mobile Punch also gives you the ability to generate work orders, quotes and invoices. Here are some of the advantages of using this mobile technology: 

Employee productivity 

Your employees will no longer have to worry about manually punching in their hours. With the Mobile Punch application, they just have to click a button from their cell phone and their work hours are automatically recorded. This gives them the ability to focus on their tasks and the progress of different projects.

Reliability 

Streamlined timekeeping ensures that no mistakes are made and that all employees keep to their schedules and hours worked.

Accurate labor costs

By having an accurate and reliable record of your employees’ timesheets, you have a clear picture of your labor costs. The application communicates the information to your accounting software, which calculates the amount each employee should receive and produces your payroll.

Time saving

Automated time tracking takes away all the repetitive tasks: manually entering employee arrival and departure times, collecting timesheets, entering them into a spreadsheet and sending them to an accounting software. Mobile-Punch takes care of all these data transfers and centralizes them in a single secure location.

Legal security

One of the main benefits of time tracking applications is that they enhance legal security, as they allow you to keep a complete and accurate record of all hours worked and thus avoid litigation situations. Mobile Punch gives you a solid and reliable set of information that you can present as proof of compliance with the rules, while respecting the work provided by your employees by ensuring fair and equitable payment.

Several other benefits include:

• Monitors the profitability of your projects in real time
• Prevents over-budgeting
• Faster and more accurate billing
• Improves project management
• Speeds up the payment process
• Creation of relevant reports that guide decision-making
• Smoother process for timesheet validation, especially for employees on the move
• Improves timesheet accuracy and integrity

See a demo

All businesses want to find ways to maximize profit. One way this can be achieved is by ensuring your employees are working at peak efficiency and that working hours are accurately recorded so payroll processing is done the right way.

To be able to achieve this accuracy and continuously keep your data up to date, businesses need to start embracing technology in more innovative ways. For example, mobile employee punch apps provide a quick and easy way for employees to clock in and out directly on their phone.

What is mobile punching?

Mobile punching is essentially the same as when employees clock in and out by writing it down or using a wall clock, but this method is done on an app on your employees’ phones.

All they have to do is tap a button on their phone and the app logs their presence at work. When they are ready to leave, they do the exact same thing and with a simple tap they have clocked out from work. Some mobile punch apps also include geolocation features which increase the accuracy of working hours.

Advantages of mobile punching

Does time tracking increase productivity?

Yes, time tracking increases productivity! But how exactly? There are different ways in which a time tracking app can increase your company’s productivity but the main reason it helps is because it simplifies timesheet management, scheduling, form production, and project tracking.

You can forget about manually collecting time sheets on paper or spreadsheets as all the information you need gets uploaded in real time. As you can imagine, this reduces the risk for errors. With an employee time tracking app, all the hours are calculated for you and thanks to geolocation tracking, you avoid paying for unnecessary breaks or travel time. You can also check which employee has done the most overtime so that you can distribute work evenly between your team members.

Why do companies use time tracking?

Companies have started using time tracking and punch tool applications as they are moving with the times. The need for physical time cards is far behind us as this form of clocking wastes time and is often ineffective.

Companies prefer to use mobile apps to get real time data that tracks employee time and attendance. Since everyone has a mobile phone these days, it is extremely easy for workers to simply open an app and clock in to record their working hours as opposed to having to remember their hours and physically write down when they get to work and when they leave.

Why use the Mobile Punch time tracking app?

What is the main purpose for using mobile punching?

The main purpose of using a mobile punching app is to make life easier for both the employees and the human resources team. This system allows employees to easily record their working hours and management teams can automatically transfer this data into their accounting payroll system.

Essentially, the main purpose for using mobile punching systems is to easily track employee working hours, create schedules that work for everyone and ensure a ​​fair share of the workload.

What are the benefits of employee mobile punching?

Now you know what mobile punching is, it also helps if you understand all the possible benefits that can come out of integrating a mobile punching system for your workplace.

Accurate

The accuracy that is provided by time trackers and mobile punching apps is unparalleled. As it allows employees to clock in and out in real time, there is no confusion regarding what time they got to work and what time they left. Moreover, the geolocation feature improves accuracy even more as it lets employers know exactly where their employees are and at what time.

The accuracy provided by this digital system also helps optimize labor costs. There is always room for human error when leaving it solely up to employees to track their working hours. This means that even the best-intentioned workers can overestimate their time worked.

Mobile apps help avoid this costly problem as hours are recorded with no room for error when done in real time. The information is then stored in the cloud and sent to your accounting system to calculate payrolls. This eliminates any potential mistakes that managers could make when transferring the information over to their accounting systems. Although some employers are reluctant to integrate digital systems into their business, mobile punching apps are one of the most beneficial and simple technologies to implement.

Legal Security

When thinking about the benefits of going digital and using a mobile punching app, most people consider the time and money they can save and the overall increased efficiency. Although these are key advantages, one of the best logistical benefits is the legal security it provides your company.

You are legally obliged to adhere to your province’s laws and regulations regarding working hours, hourly payroll and wages. If you do not meet these standards, you are legally liable and it could cost you a lot of money. It is therefore important that businesses keep accurate records of their employees’ hours, schedules and pay.

Explore the features of Mobile Punch

 

What is mobile time tracking?

 

Mobile time tracking is a digital solution that helps businesses manage employee timesheets thanks to mobile devices. It replaces the traditional clock in and clock out method used by companies to keep a record of their employee’s time at work.

This new digital time clock system makes employee time tracking in real time possible. Mobile time tracking reduces the risk of mistakes and inaccuracy, which helps businesses save time and money in the long run.

 

Benefits of a time tracking app

How do you track time with a time tracking app?

 

Tracking time with a time tracking app essentially removes the middle man from the entire process. You no longer need your employees to clock in on a piece of paper and management to then manually enter all the times and dates into their human resource software.

Instead, your employees simply clock in and out through an app on their mobile devices. This information is then securely stored in the cloud and allows management to access the data whenever they need it and send it to the company’s accounting software. This new digital form of time punches is an easier and more accurate method to track employee hours.

Some apps take it a step further and have integrated geolocation features into their online time tracker to ensure the accuracy of the hours worked and validate that your workers are on the field. This feature is non-intrusive and respects your employees’ privacy.

 

Make your business more productive

Benefits of mobile time tracking for companies

Reliable

 

Many people are reluctant to transition to digital time-tracking solutions, especially if they have been using the traditional paper time punching method for a long time.

Time tracking apps make sure that not even the smallest of mistakes can be made as they make it easy for employees to clock in and greatly reduce margin errors. GPS features also ensure that all employees are telling the truth about the amount of time they have worked.

Accurate labour costs

 

As you now have an accurate and reliable record of your employees timesheets, you can precisely calculate labour costs. With the old paper method, employees usually had to wait before they could record their hours worked which meant that many often exaggerated the amount of time they had worked.

 

This means that businesses were actually overpaying employees (ever heard about time theft?). That is something you don’t have to worry about with a time tracker app. The information is sent directly to your accounting software which calculates how much every employee should receive and produces your payroll.

Time savings

 

The main time-saving element of time tracking apps comes from the fact that employees don’t have to manually enter their arrival and leaving times and management doesn’t have to manually collate all the data and hours worked, input it into a spreadsheet and then transfer it over to an accounting software.

 

Instead, the app deals with all of these transferrals of data. The information goes directly from each employee’s mobile phone to a shared database for the entire company which can then be sent to accounting to deal with the payroll. This gets rid of all the excessive and unnecessary paperwork.

Legal security

 

A key benefit to time tracking apps is the fact that it increases legal security. It is always integral that you keep a thorough and accurate record of everything that goes on in your business, which inevitably includes hours worked by employees and schedules.

 

You are legally obliged to follow the rules and regulations of your province surrounding working times and hours when it comes to human resources. You therefore need an accurate trail of information that informs authorities of how you process employee data.

 

Using an app gives you a solid and reliable train of information that you can use to prove your compliance with rules and regulations. It also means that if there were to be disputes over working hours or wages, you have an accurate record of everything that you might need.

 

How to calculate working hours 

The best time tracking app in Canada

 

When assessing all the features and benefits, the best work time tracker app in Canada is Mobile Punch. It is the most popular time tracking app in Canada thanks to its accessibility and ease of use. It is available in both english and french on android and apple devices.

 

Its geolocation feature allows employers to verify the whereabouts of their workers in a safe and secure manner as once they clock in and clock out, their location is highlighted in the app. This is a particularly useful feature if you have employees working at multiple different locations.

 

Other key features include:

 

• Timesheet calculator 
• Project management 
• Work schedule management
• Electronic agenda 
• Dynamic distribution (dispatch) 
• Personalized work orders 

 

Moreover, if for any reason something has not gone as smoothly as it should and an employee has forgotten to clock out or clock in, you receive irregularity alerts. Once the issue has been flagged, you can contact the relevant employee and get everything sorted out in a seamless and efficient manner.

 

See a demo 

What is the Shoestring project working on?

The Shoestring project brings together university experts and construction companies. The aim of these two entities  is to develop digital solutions that meet the needs of SMEs.

Unlike large companies, many SMEs in the construction sector do not have IT departments. As a result, the transition to digitalization can be difficult. The Shoestring approach provides digital tools and solutions for these small companies.

 

What are the priorities of the Shoestring project?

According to Professor Duncan McFarlane, professor of industrial computer engineering at the University of Cambridge, the Shoestring project is a real asset for small businesses embarking on the process of exploring digital solutions. This approach has several priorities:

• Construction programming
• Process tracking
• Change management and reporting of potential problems from the design phase to construction operations
• Employee digital literacy
• The development of a schedule or work plan
• Project planning in 4D (3D rendering)
• Work instructions and digital assembly procedures
• Automated quality control
• Automated completeness check
• The project management system (monitoring the progress of the schedule, costs…)

 

What are the different stages of this project?

The Shoestring project has three phases, the first of which is the organization of workshops to establish the list of the first ten beneficiary companies. The second phase includes capturing requirements for site construction, identifying demonstrators and planning the work.

In the third phase, solutions will be gathered to formalize the approach, design and creation of a prototype software. This will be useful for the semi-automatic design of digital solutions proposed to SMEs in the construction sector. To increase the productivity of your company simply click here.

The Shoestring Foundation aims to facilitate access to digital tools to support construction companies. Workshops are organized to share knowledge, experiences and resources.

 

In this pandemic era, the growing company offers low-cost solutions to ensure employee health and safety and better manage teleworking

Lévis (Quebec), February 16, 2021 – Mobile-Punch, an application intended for SMEs in all sectors of activity, particularly in the construction sector and related sectors, celebrates its 5th anniversary by offering an enhanced version that further simplifies remote employee time management and maximizes savings of all kinds. In addition to its features to calculate working hours in real time, clocking in, geolocation of employees, project and schedule management, distribution and issuance of work orders, Mobile-Punch has recently innovated by integrating a health questionnaire for employees based on the requirements of the CNESST and the INSPQ. The company has recently experienced significant growth with an increase of over 500 new customers since January 2020.

Mobile-Punch is the ideal tool for SMEs to start a digital shift at a reasonable cost. This easy-to-use application helps increase business productivity and prevent costly mistakes. Everything is managed in the cloud, without the risk of network overload during peak periods, and the application can be accessed without Wi-Fi, which can be very useful in remote areas.

To date, more than 1,200 SMBs and 26,000 users/day use Mobile-Punch across Canada, and more recently abroad. The application is also compatible with most accounting software (Acomba, Acceo, Avantage, Maestro, CTRL, SAGE) and payroll services such as EmployeurD (Desjardins payroll service), Nethris and others.

A COVID form for employees

In order to ensure compliance with the standards put in place by the CNESST with regard to occupational health and safety, Mobile-Punch has integrated a COVID questionnaire into its mobile application. This form can be completed daily by each employee from any mobile device to ensure all workers are free of any COVD related symptoms. In addition, the client dashboard allows managers to archive all these forms and organize them by date and by employee. Real-time alerts are also sent as soon as an employee reports having symptoms. Since its implementation last April, more than 950,000 forms have been completed.

“Employers are required to put in place measures to identify workers who may have symptoms of COVID-19 before they arrive at the workplace. Our form meets the requirements of the CNESST and the INSPQ with regard to the Act respecting occupational health and safety in the context of COVID-19. It aims to support small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the construction sector and related trades in the protection of employees and customers,” explains Jérôme Guay, President and co-founder of Mobile-Punch.

An efficient solution for remote work management

The pandemic has certainly accelerated the technological shift in certain companies, which must now manage the new reality of teleworking. In this context, Mobile-Punch represents a strong ally that helps entrepreneurs increase productivity, minimize errors, save time, eliminate paperwork, optimize resources and, consequently, save money.

“Since I was a construction contractor for many years, I know that administrative tasks take a lot of time and energy. To reduce the headache of managing timesheets and other office tasks, I created the Mobile-Punch application with a programmer friend in 2016, “says Jérôme Guay.

In addition to being accessible from any mobile device or computer, the Mobile-Punch app can be used without any access to cellular networks. It is updated frequently and provides its customers with a fast and efficient technical support team.

Expanding rapidly – the company has grown from 2 to 15 employees in the last 4 years.

Mobile-Punch continues to invest in technological development and wishes to conquer the North American and international market. Moreover, Mobile-Punch was recently granted financing from Desjardins Capital. This significant funding will allow it to accelerate the time to market, as well as the development of new features. The company is also actively looking for new skilled workers, particularly in the field of programming and data analysis.

About Mobile Punch

Founded in Lévis, Quebec, in 2016 by Jérôme Guay and Bryan Porter, Mobile Punch is a mobile application intended for SMEs in all sectors of activity who wish to simplify the management of timesheets, work schedules and projects. Mobile-Punch is available in French and English and works on all Android and iPhone mobile devices. It brings together more than 26,000 users worldwide every day in businesses in various fields, such as construction, security, cleaning and repair services, to name a few. Since the launch of the company, more than 10,500,000 punches have been registered without paper for the benefit of all customers.

For more information, or for an interview with the President of Mobile-Punch, please contact:

Matom Communication
Lydia Juliano
T. 514 949-1446
C. ljuliano@matom.ca

Mobile Punch
Information sheet

Founder
Jerome Guay and Bryan Porter

Creation date
2016

Website
https://mobilepunch.com/

Description
Mobile Punch is a mobile application intended for SMEs in all fields who wish to maximize the management of working hours and their projects.

Features

• Calculation of working hours
• Mobile punch
• Staff geolocation
• Management of working hours
• Electronic agenda
• Dynamic distribution (dispatch)
• Work orders
• Health questionnaire (COVID-19)

Compatibility
The application is compatible with most accounting software (Acomba, Acceo, Avantage, Maestro, CTRL, SAGE) and payroll services (EmployeurD from Desjardins), Nethris and others.

Some Key Facts About Mobile Punch

• 10,500,000 punches in 5 years
• Around 26,000 daily users and 1,200 SMEs served
• 14,000,000 saved management hours
• Over 950,000 forms completed since April 2020
• Savings of 12,750,000 sheets of paper and more than 1,500 trees saved

Benefits

• 50% reduction in the time spent managing timesheets
• Better management of project costs
• Save time and money
• Efficient management of field teams
• Reduced ecological footprint thanks to a paperless office

Despite the fact that the construction sector seemed to be one of the most reluctant to technological change, the transformation of consumer needs forced the sector to reinvent itself by introducing digital technology in construction.

Technology has made construction sites safer for workers and helped increase productivity, improve communication and tackle more complex projects. In this article we highlight the most noteworthy technological trends impacting the construction industry.

 

What is construction technology ?

Construction technologies are used during the different phases of a construction project and help the evolution and improvement of field construction methods, including automated and semi-automated construction equipment. Construction technology refers to a collection of innovative tools, modifications, machinery and software. This technology can be used in all kinds of construction projects, ranging from small residential houses to massive industrial plants.

Construction technologies are a set of engineering techniques that are applied to structural construction processes. They are also used in the design of transport systems, in industry and in energy-related projects.

What seemed futuristic and unreachable 20 years ago such as robots, drones, 3D printing, augmented and virtual reality, and connected equipment is now already being used on job sites across the world. The construction industry has long been hindered by outdated workflows, making projects inefficient in some cases. This is where technology comes in handy to increase quality and drive productivity.

 

Technological trends in the construction industry

With many parties on a job site, from contractors to project managers, communication can easily get lost. Innovative technology helps teams in the construction industry become more collaborative, productive and efficient. Here’s a list of technological trends that are revolutionizing the industry.

 

Software and Mobile technology

Mobile apps and software make it possible to manage every aspect of a construction project and reduce risk. Before this, project managers had to rely on on-site servers to use the construction software needed to plan and track the progress of a project. Thankfully, nowadays project managers have access to management software that simplify everything from scheduling to project management and reporting to managing their back office. Tools like this help increase team productivity significantly.

Most of this software is cloud-based, which allows everyone to access real time data. This way, both office and remote employees, get the same visibility into project status and can easily update tasks using a mobile device. Mobile Punch’s app helps thousands of companies in Canada improve productivity, better manage project costs, and reduce time spent managing timesheets.

Advantages of mobile technology

 

Building information modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an intelligent 3D model-based process used to create a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. BIM gives architecture, engineering and construction professionals the insights and tools needed to plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure in the most efficient way.

All the changes in the model are done in real time and constructors working on the project can easily access this information. BIM is shaping the future of the construction industry by transforming the way in which construction projects are carried out.

 

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) in construction is the next 3D modeling. It involves a detailed virtual model of the project and allows the user to fully immerse himself/herself into the virtual space. The possibility of visiting unbuilt spaces with virtual glasses allows clients to understand the vision of general contractors and fully grasp what is going to be built. It eliminates barriers and reduces conflict between construction professionals, designers and clients. It also makes it easier for team members to collaborate in real time, communicate about details and issues and immediately make decisions about changes.

 

Augmented reality

Augmented Reality (AR) in construction is used to place a 3D model of a proposed design onto an existing space using mobile devices and 3D models. Virtual Reality replaces the real world with a simulated one, whereas Augmented Reality takes the real world and adds to it the 3D model in question. AR has plenty of design and construction uses beyond visualization. It allows teams to virtually walk through the completed model and collaborate about changes that have to happen between design and construction.

 

Artificial Intelligence and machine learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning solutions can help the construction process in many ways. It can help improve safety, productivity, quality and vital measures. This technology doesn’t take humans out of the equation, it simply helps them do their jobs more efficiently. Machine learning can automate routine tasks and help with design and planning. This way humans can spend their time focusing on key strategic issues and let their creativity flow.

Construction companies are in the midst of a technological revolution that has far-reaching implications for site safety, risk management and insurance. AI and machine learning are a game changer for the construction industry as well as the insurance industry seeing as they provide high-tech ways to increase workers’ safety.

 

Robotics and Drones

The construction industry, being one of the least automated industries that features manual-intensive labour as a primary source of productivity, is in need of robots and drones for its development. Drones are already heavily used in many construction sites. They are very beneficial in that they save a lot of time and money. They can be used to survey an entire site in just a few minutes instead of taking several weeks or even months. They can also be used to deliver materials on site, especially in the case of high-rise buildings.

As for robotics, the insurance companies are already investing a lot of money in them. As they grow even more precise and accurate, increasing safety and efficacy, they are becoming a commanding force in the construction industry.

 

Wearable technologies

With the technology advancements we’re witnessing today, it should come as no surprise to see wearable technology becoming an emerging trend on job sites. We’re talking here about Fitbit, 3D glasses, Google Glass and armbands. These hands free devices allow the wearer to teleconference with remote colleagues while in the field, give them access to building plans and to even make modifications while on-site. Additionally, it can help track where contractors are if there’s an accident. Considering the help this technology can provide, it’s going to become mandatory at some point in the future.

 

3D printing

3D printing has come a long way in such a short period of time. It makes it possible to print out an entire house 3D model faster and cheaper than the traditional method. This technology pushes the boundaries beyond the designer’s table by printing a three-dimensional house model and building it up layer by layer. 3D printing reduces material waste and saves time and energy. It also allows fast delivery of materials and reduction of additional useless steps during the construction process.

 

Analytics

In the construction industry, analytics help contractors reduce the margin of error by analysing material costs, timelines and more. Data is extremely useful to improve productivity and efficiency. It provides insights into potential problems, which help contractors adjust projects to prevent them from happening. It can be used to generate more accurate orders for future projects, prevent expensive surpluses or determine optimal timing for construction phases.

Need help tracking your construction projects and managing schedules?

Recently, I was part of the Jury for the Galons APCHQ-Québec. First of all, I would like to congratulate all the companies who applied. All of those companies have in common the undertaking of the digital transformation to improve their bottom line. And above all, I’m very happy that the majority of them use Mobile-Punch 😁.

Here is what the participants told us they had gained from this digital shift:

• Increased speed of execution.
• Improved efficiency and productivity.
• … our greatest improvement has been to measure the progress of our contracts in real time, allowing us several advantages, including improved profitability and greater precision in our invoicing.
• Our employees’ timesheets finally arrive on time at the office. Before, we still had a paper timesheet system and had to re-enter the data on the computer which wasted a lot of time and the risk of errors.
• Digital tools are now very important in our daily operations.
• We have decided to become an undocumented company.
• … the lack of space in our offices to store all the papers and the inefficiency of paper vs digital was the trigger.
• The use of Mobile-Punch allowed us to generate payroll more easily and efficiently, saving time and reducing data entry errors.
• Our company saw the need to make the big leap towards the automation of processes and towards the integration of new technologies while the company is plunged into a context of labor shortage … Digital tools bring us, quite frankly, much easier when entering and leaving college.
• For the sake of efficiency and environmental awareness, we have started our digital shift and are now operating paperless.
• My productivity as well as that of our secretary-accountant has increased exponentially following the digital shift made.
• Using tablets on construction sites allows real-time information and photos to be shared, which improves reaction time and clarity of information.

It is evident that with the help of new technologies, such as Mobile-Punch, today’s businesses, which do not hesitate to change the behaviors of their employees by introducing new technological practices, increase their productivity and efficiency, reducing errors and costs. All with a greatly reduced environmental footprint. Do like them and take the advantage of the new technologie offered today.

Jérôme Guay
CEO Mobile-Punch

Nowadays, geolocation is experiencing exponential growth in the personal, social and professional spheres. Sharing geographic information with surprising ease opens up a world of possibilities for browsers (integrations, real-time data, etc.) in addition to offering many benefits for businesses.

The importance and versatility of geolocation services are such that they have now become an essential element for companies, in particular for the management of human resources in several industries such as the construction sector.

The construction site is opening, do you know if the whole team is on site?

The use of geolocation aims to monetize time and improve business efficiency. This is a particularly useful function for the construction sector where companies have multiple mobile workers scattered across different construction sites, but also in different sectors such as cleaning company, security company, service company and many others.

Geolocation allows you to locate your workers and assign tasks to workers closest to where a certain action needs to be performed. By taking advantage of this technology, you can significantly reduce the distance and travel time needed. This saves you time and improves the efficiency of your team members.

This function allows you to check the trips made by the staff, by recording the visits, the duration and the kilometers traveled. This allows you to improve worker safety and reduce the workload. It is 4:00 p.m. and your employees are supposed to have finished their shift, do you really know? Well, with geolocation you will have the peace of mind to know that they left their last client!

In addition, with this technology, companies can configure their systems to receive notifications and record the entry and exit of their employees. This greatly simplifies the calculation and accuracy of the hours worked for payroll reports.

Benefits of geolocation for companies with mobile employees

Save money and paper

A geolocation system greatly simplifies administrative work for companies. An application, such as Mobile Punch, allows your employees to digitally punch in and out of the workplace. This way, you no longer have to write this information in paper documents and store it in an office space.

This function also allows you to validate the hours worked precisely in order to prepare your payroll reports. The automatic generation of reports saves you a lot of time and money. All your information is centralized and accessible in real time from everywhere.

Improved productivity

Geolocation saves businesses time and money, and improves employee and customer satisfaction through optimal resource management. No more paperwork and endless hours of work, with geolocation and process automation, you can focus on key aspects of your business. The set of tools offered by systems such as Mobile Punch has a positive and direct impact on productivity and revenues.

Efficient management of your field teams

Geolocation allows you to follow the movements and the presence of your teams in real time on construction sites. This allows you to assign the right resources to the required locations. In addition, with Mobile Punch, you can send notifications to your employees, (such as plans, photos, work orders) routes, instructions and much more.

How to know where your employees are without heavily investing in technology?

Mobile Punch is the best application on the market to optimize time management. In addition to being an economical solution, our system allows you to save money and manage your projects in real time. Exporting hours to your accounting software or payroll is also possible. Discover all the functions and advantages of our platform here.

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Some companies are slowly returning to work with the gradual deconfinement plan in Canada. Now more than ever, employers must take into account and incorporate a series of measures and precautions to ensure the safety of their employees and prevent the spread of COVID-19

Before implementing preventive measures, the employer must carry out an assessment of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. To do this, a visit to the workplace is recommended to identify possible dangers and tasks that could increase the risk of workers being exposed to the virus.

Once the risks have been identified, if the employer is able to ensure the safety of his employees and control the risk of exposure to the virus, he will have to put in place the necessary preventive measures.

The decisions made by the employer must comply with governmental recommendations regarding public health as well as the company’s policies on health and safety at work.

What preventive measures can companies put in place for a safe return to work?

Encourage physical distance

A minimum distance of 2 meters must be established between employees in the workplace. Social distancing must be respected at all times, on arrival, during breaks as well as when leaving the office. Physical contact (handshakes, etc.) should be avoided.

Companies must put in place several adaptive measures in order to reduce the risk of transmission as much as possible if the minimum social distance cannot be respected. Here are some examples of adaptive measures:

• The incorporation of telework
• The use of transparent physical barriers
• Modifying the work organization (e.g., working in smaller teams, avoiding face-to-face meetings, etc.)
• Providing the necessary personal protective equipment for workers according to the work environment (gloves, respiratory protection, protective glasses, etc.)

Ensure the exclusion of symptomatic people from the workplace

In order to ensure safety at work in the context of COVID-19, employees with symptoms should not come to work. As an employer, you need to make sure you have measures in place to identify workers who may have COVID-19 symptoms before they start work.

To help you, Mobile Punch has created a mandatory health questionnaire to be completed each morning by your workers. This function is available in our application and allows employees to complete the questionnaire directly on their mobile devices. With this function, our company helps the CNESST to collect data on the state of the health of thousands of employees throughout the territory in real time.

If a worker begins to experience symptoms in the workplace, be sure to call 1 877 644-4545.

Establish hygiene measures for work surfaces and equipment

Since COVID-19 can survive on work surfaces and tools, the implementation of strict hygiene measures is essential. In order to ensure the health of workers and reduce the risk of the virus spreading, CNESST recommends that companies:

• Disinfect sanitary facilities daily and clean them after each shift (or more frequently if possible)
• Disinfect lunch areas daily and clean them after each meal
• Check the condition of the ventilation systems and ensure their proper maintenance
• Clean and disinfect work equipment and tools after each shift
• Clean frequently touched surfaces (tables, counters, faucets, toilets, etc.) at least after each shift
• Eliminate objects that are not necessary (newspapers, magazines, etc.)
• Use disinfectant and cleaning products recommended by the Government of Canada

For more information on these measures, please consult the CNESST guide

Ensure frequent hand-washing

You need to make sure your employees wash their hands frequently. To do this, regularly check to see if you have enough hand soap or disinfectant. It is important to make hygiene products available to your employees.

You can also put up posters in the bathroom and in the office to share essential information. Workers should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds and do it especially:

• Before touching their face
• After coughing or sneezing
• After blowing their nose
• After touching a frequently touched surface (door handle, etc.)
• Before and after eating

Reorganize work

If you are unable to telecommute, you will need to adapt and reorganize work. To do this, here are some recommendations:

• Limit or cancel nonessential trips
• Limit the number of people during meetings. It is best to encourage virtual meetings, but if this is not possible social distancing must be respected.
• Ask workers to clean their desks or work tools before and after their shift
• Regularly disinfect tools and sharing between employees

Establish appropriate policies

Companies must put in place adequate policies and practices to:

• Ensure that all employees are informed of the policies and measures related to COVID-19. They must educate workers about the risk factors associated with the virus and explain protective measures (personal protective equipment, instructions for hand-washing, instructions for cleaning surfaces, etc.)
• Minimize nonessential trips to the workplace
• Update policies and ensure compliance
• Contact their stakeholders (supplier, owner, etc.) to find out the measures they have implemented
• Respond to workers’ concerns on any topic related to workplace safety and health

Need a tool to monitor the health status of your workers?

The Mobile Punch app is an essential tool for hundreds of companies to track the health of their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it allows companies to optimize time management, calculate working hours precisely, geolocate staff in real time and much more.

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