Time-Attendance system has evolved greatly over the years. Organizations started with manual methods of keeping attendance data of their employees. Recording attendance details in registers manually was one among the foremost common Time-Attendance keeping methods employed by organizations. However, like any manual process, such attendance records were susceptible to being erroneous. Erroneous attendance data records results in erroneous payment of salary. As a result, manual time keeping results in lot of confusions when it involves accurate and error free attendance records.
From simple methods like entering entry and exit timings into a register, the attendance system evolved to time clocks and timecards. For a short time, the time clocks and timecards served well for the workers, as these were upgraded methods; better than the manual entering of attendance data. However, inconsistencies and inaccuracies were not far behind with these methods also. Many issues faced by employers associated with employee attendance continued. Eventually, with the event of technology, came into picture biometric methods of recording attendance of employees. This method has, since its introduction, only been updated and proven highly effective and accurate method of collecting attendance data.
However, allow us to run through the explanations intimately that led to development of biometric methods for attendance marking.
Human Errors:
Manual attendance systems left the attendance data hospitable manipulation. Employees many an times tampered with their attendance records so as to hide up for his or her loss hours. Alternatively, HR people often entered false attendance data into the payroll software. Such mistakes may go unnoticed, but it indirectly affected the value to company and resulted in incorrect pay to employees. Moreover, the task of manually collecting attendance of each employee itself was a time-consuming process for the HR personnel. Hence, humane errors became one among the main reasons for the event of biometric attendance systems.
Buddy punching:
Time sheets and punch cards were easy to by-pass items. With such easy methods of marking attendance in a location where, employees often resorted to malpractices like time theft and buddy punching. As a matter of fact, buddy punching became one among the main issues faced by organizations with reference to attendance. Employees could easily mark attendance for his or her friends and colleagues using their punch cards or time sheets when marking their own attendance. Introduction of automated and biometric based attendance management software was a serious help in overcoming the difficulty of buddy punching.
Inefficient:
One of the opposite major reasons for the expansion of biometric attendance systems lies within the inefficiency of your time sheets and time clocks. As mentioned above, these methods are highly susceptible to errors which can cost the business or organization enormous amount of your time and money. Moreover, with rapid climb of business environment across the world, employee count has also increased to an excellent extent. Hence, managing attendance details of a little number of employees through manual methods was still plausible. However, managing attendance details and accurate payroll processing of an outsized number of employees became difficult. It only leads to inaccuracy.
As we will see, several reasons played a task within the development of biometric technology. Biometrics is exclusive to every individual, which is why they create an accurate method of collecting attendance data. Since every individual features a unique biometric, the matter of buddy punching gets automatically eliminated. Furthermore, implementing biometric attendance methods makes it smooth and straightforward for HR personnel while processing payroll of the workers. because the processing of attendance data and payroll processing becomes smooth, productivity of HR department increases and improves an excellent deal.
Another major advantage that modern-day biometric attendance systems provide is that the employee management software. This software allows employees to see their attendance or leave details on the online based portal available. alongside attendance and leave details, employees also can apply for leaves or tours and check the status of their application also. Hence, the software makes conducting many daily activities quite easy for the workers. Moreover, even the managerial authorities can enjoy this software. they will easily check the attendance/leave/tour details and applications of their employees over the portal. Furthermore, they will accept or reject the applications over the portal itself, making it easier for both.
To conclude, the expansion of biometric attendance systems was gradual and far appreciated. this technique was developed keeping in mind every problem that organizations faced with reference to time-attendance details of their employees. Hence, these Time-Attendance Systems have demonstrated very helpful and effective for organizations in overcoming the attendance related issues.
