The Ultimate Guide to Human Resources for Construction | hh2.com

CONSTRUCTION TIME TRACKING MADE EASY

Written by hh2 | Mar 29, 2024 7:26:08 PM

Construction projects are naturally complex—you’re often managing multiple construction sites over a vast area, with different trades, heavy machinery, and stages of development in progress simultaneously. On top of that, you’re tasked with keeping track of the amount and types of hours worked for both in-office and field personnel.  

Accurate time tracking is crucial, as it informs how resources are allocated for your project and helps ensure you’re completing tasks on schedule and staying within your budget. Relying on manual time tracking methods, like pen and paper time sheets, can make this more challenging. It takes longer to collect, process, and understand how time impacts all your project's moving parts. Manual time tracking is also prone to human error.  

Fortunately, there’s a more efficient way of tracking time that also improves accuracy. Construction software enables you to code and track time and attendance in a way that works best for your company. It speeds up the time-tracking process, reduces wage theft and payroll fraud, and helps you better manage your labor, equipment, and worksites. 

Construction Time Tracking Software Benefits  

Advances in technology have changed how the construction industry tracks time, runs operations, and plans projects. Construction companies can now use industry-specific software to precisely track time across your organization, implement standardized cost codes, and more easily route time sheets to supervisors or payroll managers for approval. This streamlined approach offers your construction company many advantages, including: 

Enter and track time according to your company’s needs 

Your construction business has many moving parts, and you need a time tracking platform that adapts to work with you. Our construction payroll software gives you greater flexibility in how you enter, code, route, and approve hours. On-site crew members can use mobile timesheets on tablets or smartphones or mobile-connected punch clocks with geo-tags to log their hours easily and with greater accuracy. All of this can be done while back-office workers quickly log time with mobile devices or desktops.  

You have complete control over how you track time, including whether you log time by individual personnel or teams. With our software, you can easily view daily hours for multiple employees on the same screen and submit hours weekly. You can even choose to batch-enter hours for one or more workers using our record-based entry feature.  

Getting hours approved is just as simple with our custom approval paths. Choose to automatically route time sheets using role-based methods, like supervisors and payroll managers, or by authorizing specific users. How you enter, sort, and view your time and labor data is entirely up to you so that you can use the best methods for your construction company.  

Improve operating efficiencies  

Project managers rely on accurate, up-to-date information to plan and execute construction projects and measure their performance. Our software lets you quickly view time and labor data as projects progress to understand what project line items your crews are working on and what trades are active in each location—helping to assess labor usage and better manage your sites for optimal efficiency.  

Our time tracking software also integrates seamlessly with many construction accounting and ERP systems, so your business operations' accounting and financial elements flow just as smoothly. Tracking time and labor costs while projects are active prevents overrun and helps you stay within budget.  

Reduce time tracking mistakes and payroll fraud 

Humans aren’t machines; no matter how well-intentioned they are, mistakes happen while tracking time by hand. Time tracking errors can arise from problems like miscalculating complex payroll types, workers forgetting to sign in or out, or inaccurate time measurement. Our software makes your labor tracking and payroll processing accurate and clear.  

It also cuts down on employee-based fraud. Employee payroll fraud happens when workers pad their hours by signing into work before they’re on the job site or leave early without signing out first. They may also miscode or inflate regular work hours to receive overtime or weekend pay.  

With digitized time sheets and geo-tagged punch clocks, data is more transparent, allowing site superintendents and managers to monitor for fraudulent actions more easily. Payroll administrators can quickly compare coding and time data with work history to find inconsistencies or new work patterns.  

How to Use Time Tracking to Simplify Construction Projects 

 Time tracking and payroll software remove complexity and guesswork from the construction process, making your projects more manageable. Accurate time-keeping allows for greater efficiencies throughout your business, as demonstrated below. 

Easily assess productivity 

How many hours did your crew log for a specific task last week? Where are your trades currently working? With time tracking you can gain insight beyond the number of hours worked to truly understand your team’s productivity.   

You’ll see an in-depth view of the time it takes to complete tasks for different stages of your projects. Site superintendents and project managers can use this data to identify productivity trends across teams, trades, or projects, spot inefficiencies, and make adjustments much more effectively than if using paper time sheets.  

Enhance communication 

Keep all your project stakeholders informed and on the same page with access to real-time data on the progress of each construction project. Project managers, CFOs, payroll specialists, and field supervisors can view hours worked by teams or trades and see if you’re on track to meet your deadlines.  

Optimize project performance 

Better manage how you’re allocating labor, equipment, and other construction resources across various projects by tracking worker time and productivity. It connects your back office with real-time data from the field so they can make informed decisions while a project is in progress.   

Compare time and labor data against project timelines and budgets to find and fix bottlenecks to ensure you avoid delays. Or view your historical time data to optimize how you schedule and sequence construction work, which is critical for reducing costs and overruns. 

Improve future estimates 

Getting estimates right for future projects depends on having accurate, timely information about your current construction costs and schedule. By monitoring time and labor data, you’ll have a clear picture of how long it takes to complete similar tasks and phases of a new project and their associated expenses.   

 

How can I generate instant, shareable reports for construction projects?

Streamline Your Construction Reports with Advanced Tools

When it comes to managing construction projects, efficiency in reporting is key. Luckily, modern technology offers solutions that can generate instant, shareable reports, making it easier than ever to keep abreast of every detail. Here’s how you can benefit from these advancements:

Enhance Productivity with Time-Saving Solutions

Employ tools that expedite the creation of time cards, thus significantly reducing the time spent on manual entries. Select software that is known for its precision to minimize discrepancies that can lead to payroll complaints.

Minimize Costs

Adopt systems that allow seamless integration with your existing accounting software. This connectivity aids in curbing payroll errors and avoids the need for repetitive data entry, ultimately saving money and administrative efforts.

Improve Accuracy

Choose platforms that offer real-time data tracking. This feature ensures all information is up-to-date, reducing the potential for errors, and improving the accuracy of your reports.

Insightful Production Analysis

Utilize applications that automatically organize timesheet data into comprehensive production insights. This capability allows you to easily compare estimated project timelines and costs against actual figures, enabling more informed decision-making.

Easy Integration with Accounting Tools

Incorporating software that integrates directly with your accounting programs not only streamlines workflows but also enhances financial accuracy. By syncing data across platforms, you ensure consistency and reliability in financial reporting.

With these tools, generating timely and accurate construction reports becomes a more manageable task, allowing you to focus more on the actual construction work and less on the paperwork.

 

Revolutionizing Construction Time Tracking and Payroll with Advanced Software Solutions

Discover Seamless Time Tracking for Your Construction Projects

Maximize Efficiency in Construction Management: Managing workforce and payroll efficiently can significantly reduce time and costs in construction projects. By leveraging advanced time tracking software, you can transform how daily operations are handled, ensuring efficiency and reducing error margins.

Flexible Time Entry: Empower Your Crews

Adaptable to Your Needs: Choose between various time tracking methods that best suit your project's demands and your crew's preferences. Options include:

  • Individual Time Clocks: Workers log hours independently via personal devices, enhancing accuracy and reducing time theft.

  • Kiosk Mode: Use shared devices for clock-in procedures, ideal for maintaining consistency across the crew without the need for multiple devices.

  • Supervisor Managed Time Cards: Enable supervisors to collectively log time for their teams, streamlining the process and keeping oversight centralized.

Streamlined Approvals and Integrated Systems

Quick Approvals: Simplify the approval process with a one-tap solution that allows for swift reviews directly from the field or office, regardless of the initial entry method.

Enhanced Reporting and Integration: Automatically generate detailed reports that integrate seamlessly with your existing accounting software, drastically reducing payroll discrepancies and duplications.

Harness Detailed Data for Strategic Planning

Customizable Tracking Features: Implement custom cost codes, set specific pay types, and allocate overtime automatically to maintain close control over budgeted hours and expenses.

Gain Insights: Convert timesheet data into visual production insights to compare estimated timelines and costs with actuals, enabling strategic adjustments.

Why Choose Our Time Tracking Solution?

Significant Time and Cost Savings: The practical features of our time tracking software not only save time for supervisors but also reduce administrative costs associated with traditional timekeeping methods.

Error Reduction: As testified by operations managers, the accuracy of timesheets has markedly improved, leading to fewer payroll complaints and higher satisfaction among crews.

Simplify Daily Time Tracking with hh2's Timesheet App

If you're using hh2's construction timesheet app and wondering whether you can duplicate time card data from the previous day, the answer is yes! The app is designed to enhance efficiency and save you time with a smart feature that allows you to transfer yesterday's time card data to the current day's timesheet. This functionality means:

  • No more manual entry: Avoid the hassle of inputting the same data multiple times.

  • Faster time tracking: With just a few clicks, you can populate the timesheet for today using the data from yesterday.

  • Increased accuracy: Reducing manual entries also lowers the chance of errors.

This feature is particularly useful for ongoing projects where employee tasks and hours remain consistent from one day to the next. Using hh2 to duplicate your time card data not only speeds up the process but also ensures that your records are precise and consistent.

 

What are the benefits of using hh2 for time tracking in construction projects?

The Advantages of Utilizing hh2 for Time Tracking in Construction Projects

Using hh2 for time tracking in construction projects presents numerous benefits that streamline operations, decrease costs, and enhance the precision of payroll processes. Here’s a closer look at how hh2 can transform the efficiency of construction management.

  • Time Efficiency: hh2 significantly speeds up the time card management process. This streamlined approach means that administrative tasks take less time, allowing teams to focus more on on-site responsibilities.

  • Cost Reduction: By optimizing time tracking, hh2 helps in cutting down unnecessary expenses linked to time mismanagement. Less time spent on sorting out time cards equates to reduced labor costs.

  • Enhanced Accuracy: With hh2, the accuracy of time reporting sees a dramatic improvement. The software minimizes human errors, ensuring that payroll is precise. This, in turn, reduces complaints related to payment inaccuracies, contributing to higher staff satisfaction.

Operations Manager Keith A. Notes that since implementing hh2, the speed and correctness of processing time cards have improved significantly. Consequently, pay-related issues have become rare, underscoring the effectiveness of hh2 in managing time tracking on large-scale construction sites.

Case Study 1

Check how hh2’s automation and Sage integration capabilities helped Miller Construction, a veteran commercial construction firm save on labor costs… and reduce payroll errors by over 99%!    

Case Study 2

Anchor 41, a construction company, streamlined their payroll process with the help of hh2's construction software. By eliminating paper timesheets and integrating cost codes from their ERP into hh2's mobile timesheets app, Anchor 41 was able to reduce their payroll process from three days to under three hours. The time-keeping app also allows workers to leave notes, simplifying the review process. Overall, hh2's Remote Payroll has greatly improved Anchor 41's efficiency and accuracy in their payroll process. 

 

How can hh2 help save time, reduce errors, and improve accuracy in time tracking 

Enhancing Efficiency and Accuracy with hh2 

hh2 is revolutionizing the way companies handle time tracking, significantly reducing the time required to produce timesheets while enhancing the accuracy of the data recorded. This powerful tool has notably minimized common issues such as payroll discrepancies, which are often a source of frustration in operations management. 

Key Benefits of Using hh2: 

  • Time-Saving Features: hh2 streamlines the process of filling out time cards, making it quick and effortless. This efficiency gains translate directly into cost savings and faster payroll processing. 
  • Reduced Payroll Errors: With improved accuracy in time tracking, hh2 has successfully slashed the number of payroll errors. Operations managers, report a dramatic drop in pay complaints, indicating smoother operational flow and satisfied workforce. 
  • Improved Operational Accuracy: hh2 ensures that time records are exact and reflect actual work hours, which helps in accurate project tracking and resource allocation. 

How can I create a time card in hh2 for construction projects?

Creating a time card in hh2 for your construction projects is incredibly straightforward and efficient, designed to save time for both field teams and office staff. Follow these simple steps to manage your workforce's hours seamlessly: 

  1. Open the hh2 App: Start by launching the hh2 construction time card application on your device. 
  1. Choose Workers: Either select an individual worker or opt to input hours for an entire crew at once. 
  1. Enter Hours: Input the number of hours worked. This can include differentiating between regular hours, overtime, or double-time as needed. 
  1. Assign Cost Codes: If your project management requires, assign relevant cost codes to align with budget tracking and project needs. 
  1. Submit: Once all information is accurately entered, simply submit the time card. The digital format ensures that the submission reaches the office instantaneously. 

The process is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for workers on site to update their hours in real-time and keep project management informed without delays. 

What is the difference between a work log and a time card in hh2?

In the context of using hh2 for construction project management, work logs and time cards serve distinct but complementary purposes. 

Work Logs: Work logs are primarily utilized by general contractors. This tool allows them to monitor and document the daily activities and labor force of subcontractors on a project. With work logs, general contractors can maintain a comprehensive overview of project progress and subcontractor engagement. 

Time Cards: On the other hand, time cards are used directly by subcontractors to record the specific hours worked by each individual on a project. This method ensures accurate tracking of labor, aiding in the management of payroll and personnel efficiency. Each worker’s time on the job site is tracked meticulously through these time cards. 

Understanding the specific uses of work logs and time cards in hh2 can dramatically improve project tracking and workforce management in the construction industry. 

 

Conclusion: The Benefits Are Clear

Invest in a robust construction time tracking software to not only enhance the efficiency of your payroll processing but also gain critical insights into your project management activities. This will ensure that your projects run smoothly, stay within budget, and maintain high productivity levels. With these tools, you transcend traditional hurdles, setting new standards of operational excellence in the construction industry.

Track Time and Attendance with Ease 

Simplify your construction projects by eliminating inefficient, error-prone paper time sheets and other time-tracking methods not designed for your industry. Instead, manage labor and hours through construction-specific mobile timesheets in our remote payroll software 

 With 20 years of construction industry experience, we know the tools and features needed to track time and attendance, manage payroll, and successfully run your construction projects. Our software allows you to sort, filter, and analyze labor, trades, and equipment hours to boost the efficiency of your workflows.