| It is no secret that payroll is the largest expense | | | | wallet, purse or proximity badge at home? As |
| for most businesses and that trying to manually | | | | with any automated attendance solution, the |
| manage a workforce can be incredibly time | | | | make or break feature of any system is in its |
| consuming. With the economy still trying to climb | | | | programming and software. While some proximity |
| out of the slump its been in over the last couple | | | | units allow employees to clock in using a PIN, |
| years, effectively managing your organization's | | | | other systems only allow an employee to be |
| employee time and attendance has never been | | | | clocked in with manager approval at a computer. |
| more important to your bottom line. Enter | | | | If your software does not support PC clock in, |
| automated time and attendance management | | | | then you're stuck and the employee won't be able |
| and, more specifically, proximity attendance | | | | to log in. Not exactly handy. |
| systems. | | | | What if your company runs out of badges? Again, |
| Proximity systems have rapidly been replacing | | | | looking at the features, programming and |
| magnetic stripe and barcode badge systems | | | | software capability of an attendance system are |
| because they are, well, better. Magnetic and | | | | key here. Selecting a system that allows a |
| barcode badges have a tendency to wear out, | | | | manager to assign a unique ID code prior to |
| are less secure as they can be duplication and | | | | receiving a card is important for minimizing this |
| require exposed electronics to be read | | | | pitfall. |
| successfully. With the exposed electronics, | | | | Finally, how does the proximity system stack up |
| vandalism, dirt and grime are just a few of the | | | | against the biometric attendance alternatives on |
| things these units are vulnerable to. | | | | the market? They each have their own place and |
| How are proximity attendance systems different? | | | | you need to evaluate the needs of your business |
| Badges do not wear out and are not able to be | | | | before opting for one or the other. Proximity |
| duplicated. Moreover, proximity systems use | | | | readers are excellent multi-taskers (access |
| internal (unexposed) electronics to read employee | | | | control, ID cards, etc) while there isn't a system |
| badges with some systems not even requiring | | | | out there (yet) that beats the security features |
| employees to take their card out of their wallet | | | | of the biometric attendance system. To best |
| or purse to clock in (resulting in fewer lost | | | | identify the right attendance solution for your |
| badges). | | | | company, contact a time and attendance expert. |
| Before we get too carried away singing praises of | | | | They'll have the knowledge and expertise to |
| proximity badge reader systems, there are | | | | accurately diagnose the needs of your business |
| definitely some drawbacks. | | | | and provide your company with the right |
| For starters, what if an employee leaves their | | | | attendance solution. |