Your project managers, payroll department, and job costing teams rely on accurate time-tracking data to make informed decisions and maximize efficiency and profitability. This information is critical for accurate, on-time payroll and optimizing construction or real estate-based project costs and worker schedules. That’s why many businesses in these industries rely on Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate (CRE).
However, if your company uses this accounting and ERP software alone, you could be missing key insights. Integrating a time-tracking tool with Sage 300 gives you access to field information in real-time, helping prevent payroll errors, project delays, and cost overruns. Solutions like hh2 Remote Payroll, Raken, ExakTime, and WorkMax integrate with Sage 300 to streamline your payroll and project management processes. We’re comparing their key features, strengths, and drawbacks below so you can choose the best fit for your business.
By integrating a time tracking tool with Sage 300, you can see benefits such as:
hh2 Remote Payroll is designed specifically for the construction and real estate industries and offers flexible time tracking and payroll options to meet your company’s unique needs.
Key Features
Strengths
This time tracking tool is tailored to meet the specific needs of construction and real estate companies and can reduce payroll collection time by up to 70%. Remote Payroll also offers extensive support for businesses with multi-site operations and complex payroll structures.
Potential Drawbacks: hh2 Remote Payroll is a construction-focused tool, offering additional features that may not be necessary for businesses outside the construction industry.
Raken is a mobile-first time tracking solution offering flexible time tracking options for construction crews and field workers.
Key Features
This app offers multiple time entry options — individual, shared, and supervisor-led — and custom cost codes to better suit your business. Other features include daily reporting and project updates, so you can easily measure your performance and progress. Raken’s simple, user-friendly interface offers photo documentation, safety reports, and labor tracking. It integrates with Sage 300 to sync time tracking data for project management and payroll processing.
Strengths
The tool’s clean and intuitive mobile app makes for easier adoption by your field team. It’s also beneficial for project managers, as they can get real-time updates and track critical project details through reports.
Potential Drawbacks: The Raken app is primarily a field reporting tool, offering fewer payroll and job costing features than other time tracking solutions. If you need a more comprehensive solution, you will want to consider other options.
Designed for construction and other field-based industries, ExakTime offers mobile and hardware time tracking options for your job site.
Key Features
ExakTime is a top choice for companies interested in traditional, rugged hardware time tracking options like onsite time clocks or kiosks in addition to modern mobile solutions. Each option supports clocking in and out and can track labor and equipment for compliance purposes. ExakTime also offers photo ID capture and robust GPS and geo-fencing capabilities to reduce time theft and deliver real-time labor tracking. It integrates with Sage 300 for payroll, time tracking, and compliance reporting.
Strengths
The tool’s powerful location-based tracking features ensure accurate time and attendance, which is essential for compliance with labor regulations and overall cost-efficiency. It offers more versatility than other tools, with hardware and software options.
Potential Drawbacks
Since this tool includes hardware solutions, it can be more costly and complex than others. You may want to choose a different tool if you don’t require onsite time tracking hardware.
Consider WorkMax if you’re looking for functionalities beyond time tracking and payroll processing.
Key Features
This comprehensive time tracking solution offers real-time syncing between your mobile devices and Sage 300, better connecting your field and back-office teams. WorkMax provides multi-device support, including mobile, tablet, and web-based time entry methods and management. It even has offline capabilities, so your employees can track time regardless of location, automatically syncing data when they’re back online. You’ll also find safety forms, job costing, and equipment and asset tracking features.
Strengths
WorkMax has a user-friendly interface that offers strong offline functionalities. This all-in-one solution includes project management, asset tracking, and employee time tracking.
Potential Drawbacks
While this feature-rich tool is ideal for some, it can easily overwhelm those looking for a more straightforward time-tracking tool. If a simple tool is necessary for company-wide adoption, you may want to consider other solutions.
Before selecting any time-tracking tool, consider the following steps:
Evaluate your company’s specific needs for tracking time worked. Do you need mobile capabilities? Is a feature like geo-tagging essential or just nice to have? The tool you choose should offer features that meet your requirements.
Ensure the tool integrates with Sage 300 for greater efficiency and other benefits.
Consider your budget. Select a time-tracking tool your business can afford, even if that means fewer bells and whistles.
Gauge its user-friendliness. A time-tracking solution is only beneficial if your workers can properly use it. Look for tools with easy-to-use interfaces or drop-down menus with small learning curves for the best results.
Interested in trying out a time-tracking tool for yourself? Book a demo of Remote Payroll today to learn how to simplify your company’s time tracking and payroll processes.