The Best Time & Attendance Systems Providers in the UK – Reviews
Time and attendance software is an effective way to guarantee your employees arrive on time for work. It also shields your business from issues like time theft and employee time dispute lawsuits, which are especially pertinent in today’s challenging economy when businesses seek ways to cut costs and boost productivity.
UK Time & Attendance System Providers:
Our Top 3 Time & Attendance Systems in April 2024:
Bodet – 4.8 out of 5 stars for the best all-round solution
Act I n Time – 4.6 stars for an exceptional range of features
Nextrasoft – 4.6 stars for their impressive reporting tools and customer service
How have we selected these providers?
Finding the perfect clocking-in solution for your business is crucial. To help you make an informed decision, we assess and assign scores (out of five) based on the most critical features impacting businesses:
Features & Functionality: This is core to your needs. We evaluate the range of tracking features, including real-time location tracking, historical route playback, geofencing capabilities, fuel consumption monitoring, and additional features relevant to your industry.
Ease of Use & Implementation: We assess the software’s user-friendliness for both employees and administrators, evaluate cloud-based or on-premise deployment options, and assess the software’s ability to scale with your business needs.
Pricing & Contracts: We review the transparency of pricing models, including subscription fees per user, additional feature costs, and hidden charges.
Support Channels: Here, we assess the availability of multiple support channels (phone, email, online chat) and their operating hour, as well as considering independent customer satisfaction ratings or reviews to gauge overall support quality.
Reporting & Data Analytics: We assess the quality and functionality of reporting tools and the level of detail available.
Why listen to our reviews?
Our team has been dedicated to optimising workforce management solutions for over a decade. Our CEO’s leadership in streamlining time-tracking processes and our team’s extensive experience in attendance software empower us to guide you towards the perfect fit for your organisation.
We are passionate about providing comprehensive analyses and unbiased time tracking and attendance software reviews. This lets you make informed decisions that optimise your operations and improve efficiency.
The UK market for time tracking and attendance software is vast, with each provider offering unique features and functionalities. While we strive to provide the most comprehensive recommendations, the ideal choice depends on your specific workforce needs and budget. Let us help you navigate the options and find the perfect fit!
Topics covered in this article include:
What is a Time & Attendance Clocking in System?
As the name suggests, a clocking-in system is simply a machine that tracks the time you enter or leave the establishment. In the same way, when you work in a remote company, it tracks when you log in and when you log out of the system. Clocking-in systems come in various shapes and sizes, some more traditional, while others include advanced features and security.
The most basic form is a written timesheet where employees can quickly write their names and when they enter. However, this is a poor system for many reasons. Firstly, there is no guarantee the information written is correct. Secondly, many workers may forget to sign out or ask others to sign in. This is why modern clocking-in systems are the ideal solution for developing companies: they are accurate, easy to use and efficient
Benefits of Clocking in Systems
Once you recognise the types of systems and understand how their features help simplify admin tasks, you can begin to identify their advantages.
The main advantage of clocking in systems is accuracy . Whether you use a primary time card or an advanced scanning system, the times you punch in will always be correct.
Clocking in systems are also reliable , especially biometrics and remote systems. This is because they are individual to each person and challenging to interchange between colleagues. Therefore, you know the staff members they are allocated to are using them. Remote systems are beneficial for online businesses that otherwise cannot monitor when their employees are active with other time management hardware.
It is also worth noting the benefits of clocking-in systems for employees . Staff who work more than their contract states and have hours in unacknowledged overtime can feel overworked and underpaid. By having a system to verify the extra hours they work, employees feel more valued within the business, which creates a better atmosphere and improves the trust staff have for the company.
Clocking-in systems do not require constant maintenance or new updates . Manual systems such as timecards are easy to use and effective for small businesses with fewer employees.
Additionally, they are less likely to have glitches like the digital systems. In the same way, digital systems are usually managed by the company that sells them, and therefore, businesses themselves do not have to handle the technology aspect of them. Overall, they are easy solutions for time attendance.
The upfront price of a system can seem inflated when initially searching for one. However, when considering which machine to choose, making the right choice can save your company money .
Time attendance systems come with many valuable integrations . This includes scheduling, analytics, and accurate payrolls. Often, these tasks take many staff members and lots of time to complete, which can otherwise be spent on more important jobs within the company.
Disadvantages of Clocking in Systems
The main disadvantage of clocking-in systems is that employees often feel pressure to perform and lack trust from the company heads. This can lower morale within the company and decrease productivity because workers do not feel valued. However, it is essential to explain these systems’ advantages to colleagues , too.
Although we mentioned that clocking-in systems are cost-efficient, they can become expensive if not chosen correctly. This is why researching the variety of machines available plays a significant role in saving money. Small businesses should consider classic scanning cards or fobs, as these are just as effective and inexpensive . On the other hand, large businesses would benefit more from looking for bundle deals, as they usually require more hardware and advanced systems.
Features of Clocking-in Systems
Clocking systems have evolved from being used solely to track employee working hours. Digital attendance systems allow for the extraction of more data, simplifying administrative tasks and allowing for more effective time management.
One of the main ways we can use time attendance systems is to calculate payroll. Although companies usually state how many hours an employee should work in their contract, this is often subject to change depending on the job role and the season.
Another feature of clocking-in systems is scheduling abilities.
In the same way as scheduling, staff can view the rota and the dates on which they can request holiday leave. The system stores all-time attendance data, including the dates of their previous holidays and how long they were for. The platform then deduces how much holiday leave is left. When combined with the scheduling features, managers can decide whether or not to approve the holiday requests . This is because they can see when other colleagues will be absent and avoid setting up shifts where the business will be understaffed.
Security is an important aspect in operating a company . Clocking-in systems not only helps to manage the times when employees enter and leave but also who enters the building.
How to Choose a Clocking-In System
Numerous solutions are available, so do your due diligence before purchasing. We suggest that you find a product that meets your business requirements and can assist with all HR processes.
Your ATS should be able to handle all hiring-related tasks, such as sending job postings, managing the interview process and monitoring applicants’ progress throughout the hiring cycle. Furthermore, it should have an intuitive user interface for employees and be integrated with your existing HRIS system.
Free trials are an excellent way to assess the capabilities of a new ATS. Generally, they last 10-15 days, allowing you to try them out without committing to anything long-term.
Cost of a Clocking-in System
Prices range from £250 for a basic system to over £1,500. If you are a small company with fewer employees, it is worth investing as they prove advantageous in time management, and do not need to be expensive to work effectively.
Types of Time & Attendance Clocking in Systems
Clocking-in systems are not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are various types, ranging from basic to advanced. It is important to acknowledge both the benefits and drawbacks of all machines to make the most effective choice.
System
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Ideal for
Timecards
Physical cards stamped by a machine
Accurate, inexpensive
Easy to forget, can be altered
Small businesses with trusted employees
Spreadsheets
Digital version of timecards
Paperless, easy to search and manage
Buddies can clock in/out for each other, prone to errors
Small businesses with limited budgets
Scanning Cards/Fobs
Cards or fobs scanned on monitors
Affordable, accurate, secure
Buddies can clock in/out for each other, cards can be lost/stolen
Businesses of all sizes
Clocking in System Providers
Planday
Our performance rating of Planday out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
4.4 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
4.5 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
4 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
3.5 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
5 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Users particularly like Plandays features and functionality, reporting and data analytics, and strong support channels. While ease of use was rated slightly lower at 4 out of 5 stars, pricing and contracts received a mixed rating from their users.
Positive customer reviews:
Negative customer reviews:
Planday : Video from a user’s perspective:
Planday : Visual from a user’s perspective:
Planday : The design & how it affects users:
Planday is a comprehensive workforce management platform designed to serve shift-based businesses of various sizes and industries, all within a single web-based system.
Planday : What sets it apart from its competitors?
Planday allows its users to oversee employee schedules, working hours, shift swaps, vacation requests, and payroll in one convenient location. Additionally, Planday features a fully integrated employee communication function, enabling managers to message or email their employees quickly.
Features of Planday
Considering availability, skills, and costs, you can use the Planday Shift Planner to schedule your team in minutes.
You can also use their Mobile App to manage employees’ daily tasks anywhere.
You can use time tracking with their Punch Clock, a reliable location-specific (GPS) time-tracking feature on mobile, desktop, or kiosk apps.
Their reporting tools make it easy to monitor revenue and costs to make informed business decisions.
Their communication features help keep your staff informed and engaged in one central place. Additionally, you can organise all your staff, manage their skills, and store all employee records efficiently.
In addition, you can integrate seamlessly with your payroll, POS, and HR software through their integration features.
Pros and Cons of Planday
Planday Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
· Very easy to use
24/7 assistance
Reduces manual processes
Handy app
Our own experience with the pros & cons of Planday:
We love that Planday offers users a free 30-day trial, which means users can explore the platform, features, and integrations without locking into any contracts. Their products can save management time, as shifts can be allocated and managed in as little as two minutes. Their app is well-received by users and helps optimise communication between team members.
The evolution of Planday over the years:
Improvements:
We think the Planday support staff are knowledgeable, professional and friendly, and as they offer 24/7 support, there is minimal downtime if things go awry. They also offer video tutorials online showing how to use their products, and while we think they are pretty straightforward, this is a nice feature.
Issues:
Some users complain that the site can be slow to load when loading entire weeks. Some users have complained that the system is not suitable for businesses under 20 employees as they offer a smaller feature set (i.e. no open API)
How can I purchase?
Direct:
Our concluding thoughts on Planday:
There are several advantages to using Planday, from its straightforward setup, even for complex businesses, to the support provided by the Planday support team. What we appreciate most is how the platform allows users to plan efficiently across different areas of business, reducing manual processes by up to 75%. As with any new software, there can be a learning curve and reluctance from staff, but with proper communication and onboarding, we think Planday is a suitable solution for businesses with 20 or more employees (to allow for full access to their feature and integration suite).
OneAdvanced
Our performance rating of OneAdvanced out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
3.5 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
4 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
4 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
4 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
2.1 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
4.1 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews of OneAdvanced:
Summary:
Advanced payroll software received a mixed overall rating but is generally a middle-of-the-road solution. While users rate features, pricing, and reporting quite highly, ease of use and customer support score relatively low in our review.
Positive customer reviews:
Negative customer reviews:
OneAdvanced : Video from a user’s perspective:
OneAdvanced : Visual from a user’s perspective:
OneAdvanced : The design & how it affects users:
The OneAdvanced product suite allows users to solve critical business problems and benefit from data-driven insights.
OneAdvanced : What sets it apart from its competitors?
Their flexible solutions enable customers to gain a competitive advantage through strategic workforce management, optimizing their people’s potential, enhancing cost efficiency, and providing valuable insights into organisational health.
Features of OneAdvanced
Employees can easily manage their absence requests, log sickness, and check holiday entitlement using a computer or mobile device. They also have complete visibility of their shifts and can update or amend any exceptions.
Accurate recording of reasons for absence provides precise data for analysing and predicting workforce trends.
When integrated with OneAdvanced payroll software, working hours, overtime, and pay rates are securely stored and effectively managed.
Reporting features allow you to analyse workforce trends and use actionable data to make decisions, all while reducing the risk of human error by manually generating reports.
Pros and Cons of OneAdvanced
OneAdvanced Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Support team is helpful during the implementation
Easy to adapt to remote working
Poor customer reviews
There are better reporting systems
Our own experience with the pros & cons of OneAdvanced:
OneAdvanced doesn’t boast many positive reviews on Trustpilot, and we think they would benefit greatly from encouraging happy users to write testimonies of their great service to build confidence in potential new customers.
The evolution of OneAdvanced over the years:
Improvements:
The team at OneAdvanced are knowledgable and professional, providing their customers with useful support as and when needed.
Issues:
While OneAdvanced is by no means a bad solution, it does not stand out to us for any particular features.
How can I purchase OneAdvanced?
Our concluding thoughts of OneAdvanced:
We think the OneAdvanced software is fine as a middle-of-the-road solution. Despite some negative feedback about ease of use and customer support, users appreciate the platform’s adaptability to remote working and its helpful support team during implementation. We think OneAdvanced standout feature is its ability to provide flexible solutions that enable customers to gain a competitive edge through strategic workforce management. We also like that the platform allows employees to manage absence requests, log sickness, and check holiday entitlement quickly, with full visibility of their shifts and the ability to update or amend exceptions. Despite the software’s strengths, there is room for improvement in customer support and reporting systems.
Bodet
Our performance rating of Bodet out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
4.8 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
4.7 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
5 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
4.8 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
4.7 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
4.5 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Bodet payroll software impressed users overall, scoring one of our highest ratings. It excelled in ease of use and received very high marks for its features, pricing, contracts, and support channels. Users even rate their reporting and data highly.
Positive customer reviews:
Bodet : Video from a user’s perspective:
Bodet : Visual from a user’s perspective:
Bodet: The design & how it affects users:
Bodet Software is a dependable and effective HR management and access control solution designed to offer convenient entry to your office premises. It provides a variety of features, including tracking employee clock-in and clock-out times, monitoring time and attendance, and delivering valuable HR analytics.
Bodet: What sets it apart from its competitors?
We think this software is an ideal solution for efficiently managing your workforce while ensuring secure access to your property.
Features of Bodet
With Bodet, you can conveniently view and export staff absence data to identify potential cases of employee absenteeism, make informed labour decisions, and effectively manage project finances.
With their staff planning features, you can simplify your task and employee scheduling processes, and their reporting suite allows for advanced HR decision-making.
You can also empower your staff and reduce your workload with a self-service portal for employees.
Bodet’s tailored technology has been embraced by various sectors. They offer a range of flexible and tailored solutions for any industry, from bars and pubs to call centres and care homes.
The Kelio Paylink is also compatible with more than 150 payroll software applications and offers a useful mobile app.
Pros and Cons of Bodet
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Modular plans allow you to pay only for the features you need
Over 150 years of experience
Flexible deployment options such as cloud or an on-premise solution
Suits a wide range of industries
Excellent mobile app
Not many reviews online
No clear pricing structure available online
Our own experience with the pros & cons of Bodet :
We think the advantages of using the Bodet system far outweigh the downsides of their lack of transparency in pricing. Their flexible clocking options allow employees to record working hours via a clocking terminal, computer, or smartphone, whether on-site or working remotely. We also love that their systems also enable versatile tracking of fixed daily rates and attendance through the Kelio Visio clocking terminal or the HR portal, accessible on various devices through their app.
The evolution of Bodet over the years:
Improvements:
Bodet provides customisable recording options for attendance time, efficient leave and absence management, the ability to manage rest and break times, and comprehensive analytical monitoring of working time. We also love that they promise to keep companies compliant with GDPR and safeguard any personal data.
Issues:
How can I purchase?
We find the lack of pricing on the Bodet website to be a deterrent for companies with strict budgets, as they may be more likely to engage with a solution that is upfront and transparent with their pricing.
Direct:
Our concluding thoughts of Bodet :
We love that Bodet enables the management of various schedule types, from weekly or annualised working time to variable and fixed day rates. It also accommodates various contracts, including permanent, fixed-term, part-time, and temporary agreements. In addition, we think that their software is versatile, and caters to different types of organisations, from SMEs to large corporations, across various sectors and corporate agreements, including collective agreements. Bodet also allows real-time monitoring of completed and estimated work and efficiently manages working time and attendance in organisations with multiple companies, sites, and agreements.
Act I n Time
Our performance rating of Act I n Time out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
4.6 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
4.4 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
4 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
4.5 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews:
Summary:
While Actin Time scores highly across the board in our review, they really stand out with their range of features and functionality. They also offer excellent reporting and data analytic features, are easy to use, and have highly rated support channels. The only notable improvement that could be achieved is better transparency of their pricing.
Positive customer reviews:
ActIn Time : Video from a user’s perspective:
ActIn Time : Visual from a user’s perspective:
ActIn Time : The design & how it affects users:
The software comes with a complimentary Microsoft SQL Server database engine, but it can also be installed on an existing SQL Server database if needed. You don’t need any prior SQL knowledge, as their skilled team of technicians is dedicated to handling your installation efficiently and economically.
ActIn Time : What sets it apart from its competitors?
ActIn Time is the UK’s premier Time & Attendance workforce management solution tailored for medium to large organisations (although they have solutions for small companies too). Its product suite offers secure and proactive integrated solutions to meet evolving business needs, enabling users to effectively manage and maintain precise staff records within a user-friendly software package.
Features of ActIn Time
Actin Time offers over 50+ clocking hardware options and over 250 reports, exports, and scripts.
They also simplify employee attendance monitoring with customised shift configurations tailored to your company’s needs. In addition, with ActIn Time, you can transfer your employees’ hours directly to your Payroll system at the click of a button which can calculate and transfer up to 20 timepots/pay elements.
Most packages come with a free Sage Link, and all include useful GDPR tools.
Streamline your HR processes by integrating all your HR needs into ActIn Time. This includes adding employees’ personal, bank, pension, union, and next of kin details, along with DBS & Right to Work records, appraisals, document uploads, and working time regulations.
They also facilitate effective health and safety management by displaying on-site First Aiders and Fire Marshals and providing detailed accident records. In the event of a fire, an automated fire roll call report is sent to multiple email addresses and/or printers within seconds of the alarm being raised.
Pros and Cons of ActIn Time
Act I n Time Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
User-friendly and easy to understand
Great selection of features
Affordable
Personalised account manager
Reviews are all quite dated
Our own experience with the pros & cons of Actin Time:
The evolution of Actin Time over the years:
We like that Actin Time offers straightforward solutions that are suitable for any sized business. They offer four packages to suit a range of needs, all backed by their 30+ years of software development experience and 24/7 support team.
Improvements:
ActIn Time offers a range of clocking terminals, from proximity to fingerprint and facial recognition, catering to various requirements and budgets. In addition, utilising ActIn Time can save your company money by simplifying managerial tasks, improving efficiency, increasing staff productivity, and reducing costs associated with employee lateness.
Issues:
All of ActIn Time’s reviews are quite dated, and they would benefit greatly from having more recent and varied positive testimonials for their services.
How can I purchase?
Our concluding thoughts of Actin Time:
Actin offers a quick and easy online solution without the hassle of setting up or needing to install hardware. We love that their time and attendance software allows businesses to monitor their staff, manage payrolls, and stay abreast of employee time off requests. It also assists employers in staying compliant with the law while guaranteeing accurate payroll calculations.
Actin Time is suitable for any size business that prefers a complete solution with on-site setup and face-to-face training. Their time and attendance platforms can also be integrated with other systems like HR, scheduling, or payroll to give you greater control over managing employees’ time off, which is especially helpful for small businesses or those on a tight budget.
Our performance rating of Nextrasoft out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
4.6 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
4.7 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
5 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
4.4 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
4.5 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Nextrasoft is a strong payroll software option, receiving a very positive overall rating in our review. Users were particularly impressed with its ease of use, scoring a perfect score. Additionally, it boasts high marks from both our and customers’ reviews for its reporting, features and functionality, and support offered by its staff. Even their pricing and contracts is rated highly!
Nextrasoft: Video from a user’s perspective:
Nextrasoft: Visual from a user’s perspective:
Nextrasoft : The design & how it affects users:
Nextrasoft is a human resources software solution designed to help businesses manage staff data, contracts, documents, appraisal records, and more.
Nextrasoft : What sets it apart from its competitors?
Nextrasoft is tailored for businesses across various sectors including banking, healthcare, construction, retail, wholesale, and more, they assists in storing staff data and monitoring employees’ work progress.
Features of Nextrasoft
Users can utilise clocking and non-clocking of shifts
In addition, they can review the recording of worked hours, overtime, sickness, holidays, and other absences.
They allow the implementation of business rules, pay rules, and shift patterns, including fixed, flexible, and rotating shifts. Managers can also monitor of absenteeism and lateness.
Additionally, the Time and Attendance module provides detailed reporting capabilities to help you oversee attendance, absence, and overtime. Supported clocking methods include mobile devices with swipe or Biometric Units and PC Clocking.
Ther HR module of their software enables you to store employee information in one central database.
Pros and Cons of Nextrasoft
Nextrasoft Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Their platform can manage all aspects of WFM including time and attendance, rostering, HR, payroll and more
Extensive reporting suite
Geolocation available
Useful self-service feature for employees to manage their schedule and workload
Skills management option
No customer reviews online
Our own experience with the pros & cons of Nextrasoft:
Nextrasoft’s in-house teams include Platform Developers, Sales, Project Implementation Specialists, and Support Engineers dedicated to managing the ever-changing demands across all industries. Thus they can offer users an unparalleled software package designed to meet and exceed expectations.
The evolution over the years:
Improvements:
Nextra is a cloud-based (SaaS) solution, accessible from any connected device, including tablets, PCs, and mobiles, wherever and whenever you need it. Nextrasoft’s software packages are tailored to suit every industry, thanks to their unique capability to provide both standard and customised solutions.
Issues:
Perhaps the most common issue with these providers (and Nextrasoft is no exception!) is that they do not have much of an online presence, meaning minimal reviews from current or previous customers. We could only find one single review on Glassdoor!
How can I purchase?
Our concluding thoughts of Nextrasoft :
We think that the Nextrasoft time and attendance module is well-suited for companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporations, as it has a proven track record in enhancing productivity and reducing labour costs for businesses. They standout for their HR capabilities, time & attendance software, rostering and absence management features, however their portfolio is quite impressive and can be tailored to any type of business and a wide range of needs. They have a professional and friendly team that can offer dedicated care for any rage of unique demands.
ADP
Our performance rating of out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
4.2 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
4.4 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
4.3 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
3.8 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
4 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
4.1 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews:
Summary:
ADP payroll software earned a positive overall rating from users and our review. While it impressed users with its features and functionality, reporting and data analytics and support channels, ease of use and pricing and contracts received slightly lower marks. This suggests ADP is certainly a capable solution with a good range of features, but it might is a little more complex to use and costlier than some other providers from our list.
Positive customer reviews:
Negative customer reviews:
ADP : Video from a user’s perspective:
ADP : Visual from a user’s perspective:
ADP : The design & how it affects users:
With ADP you can analyse data across countries, regions, and business sites, as well as share reports with colleagues worldwide, which can give a global perspective on true workforce costs.
ADP : What sets it apart from its competitors?
ADP is a leading global provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions, integrating HR, payroll, talent management, time tracking, tax and benefits administration, as well as business outsourcing services, analytics, and compliance expertise, and with ADP’s wealth of experience, profound insights, and advanced technology, human resources can be transformed from a mere back-office administrative task into a strategic business asset.
Features of ADP
ADP serves a range of businesses, from 1 to 1000+ employees, and even offers multi-country (global payroll) services.
They offer customers a range of time and attendance, talent, and HCM (Human Capital Management) solutions.
Their products can give users valuable HR insights and have many partner integrations.
Their Workforce Management time & attendance solution adds optimised scheduling and allows you to manage labour forecasting/budgeting, attendance policy, leave case management and more.
Their products allow you to combine your workforce data like payroll and time tracking to help inform performance evaluations, as well as compensation decisions, and recruiting.
Pros and Cons of ADP
ADP Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Lots of processes able to be consolidated in one simple area
Great support team available through live chat feature
Easy to use
Some users report a complicated registration process
Higher costs than some competitors
Our own experience with the pros & cons of ADP:
ADP offer a comprehensive range of processes and solutions for small businesses to large sized enterprises. We like their ability to project a comprehensive dashboard and that all the essential features are readily available in one simple application. However, it is not suitable for freelancers or businesses with just one or two people.
The evolution of ADP over the years:
Improvements:
We like that ADP offers solutions for talent acquisition and hiring managers, to enable businesses to grow and scale their business using their talent management.
Issues:
ADP does not currently offer on-premise solutions.
How can I purchase?
Direct:
Our concluding thoughts on ADP:
We think that ADP offers a great range of features to manage payroll and provides complete package for managing time and attendance. While they mainly have glowing reviews, their Trustpilot scores are quite low which could make potential users quite wary, in addition, some users report that the constant updates of their software mean that they have a high learning curve, and users are constantly having to retrain on the software. Overall, we think it is a great solution for larger or enterprise sized businesses who need a wide range of reporting tools and functions.
Clockrite
Our performance rating of Clockrite out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
4 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
4 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
4.2 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
3.5 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
4 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
4.1 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Clockrite users rate it favourably overall, with strengths in ease of use and user-friendliness. In addition, their reporting and data analytics are also well-regarded. While they don’t have too many reviews, the ones they have are generally positive. While features are plentiful, pricing information isn’t as transparent compared to some competitors.
Positive customer reviews:
Clockrite : Video from a user’s perspective:
Clockrite : Visual from a user’s perspective:
Clockrite : The design & how it affects users:
Clockrite time and attendance software help you manage your employees’ time effectively, so they can stay productive and focused on their tasks. The system automatically records hours worked and creates schedules for them to follow along with notifications to send. Furthermore, it can calculate employee vacations or PTO days as well.
Most of these programs utilise biometric time clocks, which use fingerprint or facial scan technology to capture and verify employees’ attendance. This method works best if your employees frequently move between locations, such as service providers or remote offices.
Clockrite : What sets it apart from its competitors?
Clockrite is a proven time and attendance solution used by thousands of companies across the UK. They offer two software sets as standard, UK-based support, and next-day delivery.
Other time and attendance software systems offer employee scheduling, which saves managers time and facilitates employee communication. This feature automatically creates a schedule based on each employee’s availability, enabling them to request time off or shift swap with colleagues.
Features of Clockrite
Clockrite systems come with geolocation and geofencing features, enabling you to monitor remote employees. They keep track of shift swaps and time off requests and alert managers when employees arrive late or miss their scheduled meetings.
These systems come in both on-premise and cloud versions, with the former typically more costly than their cloud counterparts. Most on-premise options cater to large companies with multiple locations and complex labour reporting needs.
Costs vary based on your required features, the data you need to track, and your preferred integration method. Many programs offer free demos so that you can evaluate them before committing to a subscription.
You can opt for a system that assigns specific clients, projects, or work hours. This helps guarantee your employees work as efficiently as possible and reduces the overtime they must work.
Pros and Cons of Clockrite
Clockrite Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Trustworthy company
Suitable for a wide range of budgets
Knowledgeable staff
Can tailor bespoke systems for any sized business
Our own experience with the pros & cons of Clockrite:
Clockrite is a UK-based team with a range of products and services suitable for many industries. We like the fact that they offer free demonstrations and have an excellent team of staff who can help with any enquiries. They seem to have a loyal customer base, which is evidence of their stellar customer service.
The evolution of Clockrite over the years:
Improvements:
While Clockrite does not have too many reviews, those they have boast about their excellent customer service and knowledgeable team, who can tailor bespoke solutions to any sized business.
Issues:
We think Clockrite could benefit from encouraging more customers to leave reviews, as they only have one Trustpilot review, which can deter some customers who are researching for a reliable system.
How can I purchase?
Our concluding thoughts on Clockrite:
Clockrite is a comprehensive time and attendance software designed to effectively manage employees’ time, enhancing productivity and focus on tasks. We like that their systems automatically records hours worked, creates schedules, and sends notifications, and it can also calculate employee vacations or PTO days. Utilising biometric time clocks, Clockrite captures and verifies attendance using fingerprint or facial scan technology, making it ideal for businesses with employees frequently moving between locations, such as service providers or remote offices.
What sets Clockrite apart from competitors is its proven track record as a trusted time and attendance solution used by thousands of UK companies. The system includes features like geolocation and geofencing to monitor remote employees, tracking of shift swaps and time-off requests, and alerts for late arrivals or missed scheduled meetings. Clockrite is available in both on-premise and cloud versions, with the on-premise option typically catering to large companies with complex labour reporting needs.
Factorial
Our performance rating of Factorial out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
3.5 out of 5 stars
Features & Functionality
3.5 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use
3.2 out of 5 stars
Pricing & Contracts
3.5 out of 5 stars
Support Channels
3 out of 5 stars
Reporting & Data Analytics
3.7 out of 5 stars
What other people think:
Real Customer Reviews:
Summary:
Factorial received mixed reviews across various categories from its past and current users. While features, reporting & data analytics, and pricing received decent scores, ease of use and support channels scored slightly lower and often mixed reviews. This suggests that Factorial offers a good range of functionality and insightful reporting, but some users find the system less user-friendly and support could be improved.
Positive customer reviews:
Negative customer reviews:
Factorial : Video from a user’s perspective:
Factorial : Visual from a user’s perspective:
Factorial: The design & how it affects users:
Factorial is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline time management, talent acquisition, and document handling in a single, easy-to-use and centralised system.
Factorial: What sets it apart from its competitors?
By utilising Factorial’s cloud-based HR software, tailored for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), you can wave goodbye to spreadsheets. With Factorial, you can solve issues effortlessly with its straightforward and intuitive interface, optimising and digitising all your manual processes.
Features of Factorial
Factorial assists HR departments and managers in overseeing employees’ annual leave, absences, and sick leave. Users can approve or decline employee requests directly within the platform. Additionally, users can track employee compensation and create bespoke compensation plans for individual employees.
The employee portal provided by Factorial allows employees to access their accounts to request annual leave, report sick leave, and view their pay checks. The portal also facilitates communication between managers and team members, allowing for resource sharing.
Services are available as a comprehensive, integrated suite, or users can opt for individual modules. Phone and email support are included in the package.
Pros and Cons of Factorial
Factorial Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Very easy to use
Intuitive dashboard
Easy implementation and minimal learning curve
Not many integrations
Limited customisation options
Mixed reviews about customer support
Our own experience with the pros & cons of Factorial :
Our favourite feature of factorial is its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Learning how to navigate and perform all HR tasks efficiently is easy. We think it’s a great touch how you can simplify each stage of the employee life cycle. This tool covers everything from recruiting and onboarding to time tracking and free time management. However, we think the integration options to introduce additional tools and systems could be improved. While it does offer some integrations with third-party software, there is an opportunity for growth here.
The evolution of Factorial over the years:
Improvements:
Factorial has a great dashboard that can give insights to senior staff regarding holidays, events, pending tasks, etc. You can add certain features, such as goals, surveys, training and reviews. They offer a free trial, an excellent way for businesses to explore their system and see if it is the right fit.
Issues:
A few customers complain that the company has high turnover, which means multiple different ‘success managers’ in a short period, which ultimately results in poor customer service and slow issue resolution.
How can I purchase Factorial ?
Our concluding thoughts on Factorial :
This all-encompassing HR solution automates, simplifies, and enhances administrative tasks, offering valuable information and insights to assist companies in improving their management and cutting costs. We think that there are options out there with more integrations, but for businesses who do not have a large team or complex needs, this could be a perfectly suitable and affordable option.
Clocking-In System FAQS
What is Biometric Attendance?
Biometric clocking-in systems use biological data to manage time attendance. This includes fingerprints and facial recognition. Workers can clock in by pressing their thumb to the monitor or looking at the screen so the system can recognise them individually and electronically sign them into the computer.
An obvious advantage of biometric systems is that they are the most secure attendance system. With other systems, employees may ask their colleagues to sign them in with their cards in order to avoid the system showing they were late. They may also exchange or borrow other colleagues’ identity cards or fobs when they have misplaced their own. However, because biometric systems need physical features for the system to work, they are more accurate. This is incredibly useful for large companies as it is the most reliable way to manage time attendance. Additionally, less money is required for equipment like cards. Companies which use facial recognition or fingerprint identification often work with sensitive data and value managing their security above all else. This is the ideal way to combine both time attendance and security.
On the other hand, biometric systems are the most expensive. This is because they require the most advanced software and are incredibly secure. Small businesses may not find them cost-efficient as they can cost upwards of £2,000.
Utilising biometrics , such as a thumbprint scanner to clock in is an efficient way to protect your business from buddy punching and other staff scams. Furthermore, installing such a device is simple; anyone within the business – visitors, contractors or seasonal employees included – can utilise it.
James Ward is CEO and founder of CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, a website that won the Prestigious ‘Website of the Year’ only in its second year of operations in 2015. The website has grown organically since then offering comparisons on over 20 different products including insurance, energy, telecoms, card machines, coffee machines and much more. James has a range of interests including horse racing, skiing, rugby and boxing. He splits his time between home family life, friends, exercise and socialising.
Co Authors : Hi, I’m Ally Cox, one of the leading Copywriter/Bloggers at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, a platform renowned for its in-depth analysis and comprehensive comparisons of business services. With over a decade of experience in the industry, I bring a wealth of expertise in areas such as leased lines, VoIP, business energy and office solutions, HR solutions, accounting, and payroll services, among others.
My journey in the industry began over 10 years ago, and my extensive knowledge enables me to provide invaluable insights to our users and customers. Prior to joining CompareYourBusinessCosts, I’ve been involved in various business ventures, gaining hands-on experience in HR and copywriting across a multitude of different sectors, gaining valuable knowledge about everything from clocking in systems to card machines, EPOS systems, payroll services, and so much more.
My mission is to simplify the often-complex buying process for businesses, helping them streamline their product and service comparisons effectively. By leveraging the expertise I’ve acquired over the years, I aim to assist businesses in making informed decisions that enhance their efficiency and bottom line.