Best Employee Tracking Apps to Manage Your Field Workforce

Best Employee Tracking Apps for Field Service Teams

Clockshark

ClockShark is an all-in-one employee tracking app. ClockShark’s specialty is managing time and leveraging valuable data to boost your analytics and cash flow. Our software is designed for the needs of field service businesses and includes robust GPS location features to keep track of your mobile team, assess productivity and reduce time theft. 

With two straightforward pricing plans, all essential features are available for field service businesses anywhere and anytime. ClockShark scales with your business at every step and serves industries like construction, roofing, plumbing, landscaping and many more. 

Reviews:

• Capterra: 4.7/5
  • Featured in 4 Capterra Shortlist™ rankings in 2024 for highest-rated software:
  • Time and Expense 
  • Time Clock
  • Employee Scheduling
  • Time Tracking
• GetApp: 4.7/5
• G2: 4.6/5
  • Leader for Fall 2024
  • Mid-Market Summer 2024 Leader in:
    • Easiest-to-Use
    • Fastest Implementation
    • Best Support
    • High Performer

Hubstaff

Hubstaff offers many features, which are collected into different tiers and options. This pricing structure means a business can begin with starter features at a lower price per month and add on other packages as required, allowing for flexibility at various stages. 

Hubstaff’s Starter and Grow plans are great options for small businesses; however, the costs add up to upgrade to a feature-complete version. 

Reviews:

• Capterra: 4.6/5
• GetApp: 4.6/5
• G2: 4.4/5
  • Leader for Summer 2024

Time Doctor

This is a great option for businesses that want detailed analytics and reporting from their employees on where time is used best and where the time wasters are. 

Time Doctor’s primary focus is on employee productivity at desks and usage of devices. It offers a variety of excellent features, but some of its standout features, such as screenshots and mouse tracking, are focused on office-based teams. 

Reviews:

• Capterra: 4.5/5
• GetApp: 4.5/5
• G2: 4.4/5
  • High Performer for Enterprises in 2024

Zoho

Zoho isn’t one single employee tracking app but a platform for a variety of apps that offer a range of features and solutions for businesses. Exploring and finding the right app for your business can be overwhelming for new users, but Zoho provides options for businesses of any size. 

Zoho offers several packages based on the collection of apps a business needs, such as CRM Plus, Workplace and Zoho One. The accessibility of certain apps and features changes depending on the app used. 

Reviews:

• Capterra: 4.2/5
• GetApp: 4.2/5
• G2: 4.4/5

Bamboo HR

As the name suggests, Bamboo HR is focused on employee management, analytics and communication. This employee tracking app collects a wealth of data about your workers, projects and accounting for deep insights on your business performance.

Bamboo HR is a great choice, but it might be difficult for businesses to use it because its integrations don’t include many popular tools.

Reviews:

• Capterra: 4.6/5
• GetApp: 4.6/5
• G2: 4.4/5
  • Leader for Spring 2024

Key features to look out for in employee tracking apps

Not all employee tracking apps are built the same, and many offer their own combination of features and integrations. Some employee tracking apps are a great fit for offices, while others are tailor-made for field service businesses. So, how do you choose from all the options out there?

Some excellent features take advantage of the wealth of data your business can collect from employee tracking apps and streamline the process for workers. 

So, when you’re selecting the right employee tracking app for your business, here are some key features to watch for.

GPS Location 

With GPS functionality built into almost every mobile device, many employee tracking apps offer GPS location features, which provide accurate insights into workers' movements between jobs. 

Businesses that manage field service teams understand the unique challenges of organizing and scheduling mobile workers, let alone keeping track of them in the field. GPS tools do this tracking automatically and accurately and allow greater flexibility and efficiency in scheduling and updating calendars. 

Time and Attendance

Accurate timesheets are challenging when relying on manual processes like pen-and-paper or manual time clocks, as they open your business up to time theft risks such as buddy punching. 

Time-tracking and attendance features are essential in employee tracking apps, especially for field service businesses with mobile work teams. 

Real-Time Reporting

Employee tracking apps provide valuable insights into team movements and productivity, and a great app will utilize this data appropriately. 

Look for real-time reporting features that take advantage of centralized communication and detailed information, such as attaching in-progress photos with date and location to field service employees’ reports and documentation. 

Other insights include app/web usage during work hours, notifications about irregularities to timesheets, and time taken to finish jobs.

Geofencing 

GPS location functionality offers lots of options for businesses to automate and track jobs. Geofencing is the process of setting a virtual ‘fence’ around a job site and can track when an employee scheduled for that site enters the fence. 

This feature can automate time tracking, send notifications on worker movements and provide valuable insights into job progress and daily productivity. Geofencing combined with a GPS time clock means complete transparency of your workers’ movements, daily productivity and proof of work for your documentation and audits. 

Mobile Accessibility

Mobile accessibility is a must for the most effective employee tracking apps. When selecting a solution for your business, note the availability across apps and devices. Some employee tracking apps work best on desktops, while the best solutions have mobile apps so field service workers can utilize all features from anywhere. 

Field service teams benefit the most from mobile apps, as they reduce the need to return to base and keep workflows going. 

Data Security and Privacy Controls

Data is valuable, and we’ve seen the effects of poor cybersecurity and failed data protection time and time again. For employee tracking apps, robust security is essential for the safety of your employees and business operations. Easing worker concerns about GPS tracking and privacy will also help when implementing employee tracking apps for the whole team. 

Check what privacy controls and security an app offers during your search and how your vital data will be protected. Cloud-based software’s convenience comes with the need for solid encryption and data security. It’s important that the correct people see the information they need to see without accessing sensitive data.

Elevate Your Business with Employee Tracking 

As your field service business continues to grow, your management needs are magnified. Issues and wrinkles in your current work process can hinder your business growth and make it challenging to scale up your business. A larger workforce comes with larger management needs, and employee tracking apps are an excellent solution. 

With an all-in-one mobile employee tracking app like ClockShark, your field service business will foster a positive culture of transparency, honesty and efficiency. 

Frequently asked questions about employee tracking apps

Can employee tracking apps integrate with our existing payroll and HR systems?

It depends on the app you choose. Many employee tracking apps include integrations for popular payroll, payment and HR systems, but the software varies. Some offer their own versions that connect to other services or are required to use for their employee tracking apps.

Review the tools your business currently uses and which are essential integrations. Suppose your field service business works well with an established accounting service like QuickBooks or Xero. In that case, it’s better to pick an employee tracking app that will integrate without disruptions to your workflow.

How accurate is GPS tracking in these apps for monitoring field employees?

GPS tracking is highly accurate, and it's important to choose an app that records the necessary location data throughout the day. The app you choose depends on it, and checking reviews can provide more information about the effectiveness of different employee tracking apps.

Employee tracking apps that offer offline tracking capabilities mean that all essential information is collected about your workforce and provide proof of work. 

What are the privacy and legal considerations for using employee tracking apps?

Concerns about employee tracking apps and whether they constitute a legal risk for businesses are common. While it is illegal to track workers during personal hours, it is legal for employers to track employee activity during working hours, as long as it’s for work purposes. 

Employee tracking apps don’t access users' personal data, only tracking specifics during work hours while an employee is on the clock. 

To protect company and employee data, businesses need to implement a privacy and security policy for all employees, including access permissions and credentials, and follow cybersecurity measures to protect data.

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Liz Allen

Liz is a writer and content whiz with a love of everything language. She graduated from Swinburne University with a Bachelor of Arts, studying professional writing and editing. In her spare time Liz enjoys trying new coffee at local cafes, attending art classes and reading. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.