Time clocks provide a convenience. They help keep employees honest while allowing human resources departments to track worked hours for payroll. While the purpose of these devices hasn’t changed, the features have. Employee time clocks nowadays track average work schedules using fingerprint scanners, facial recognition and traditional time stamps. Devices come connected to a cloud for easier storage and access, while some use automated systems on local computers to keep information. So whether you’re in the market for a fancy biometric time clock or a traditional paper-based option, here are the pros and cons of each.

Paper Time Clocks

These devices provide convenience for industries with more labor-intensive jobs, e.g., construction, mining and woodworking. Paper time clocks provide a sturdy device built to withstand constant usage in hostile environments.

Pros: Biometric devices require upkeep. Paper time clocks don’t. Because most are manually operated, a simple push of a button will stamp the time and keep track of a worker’s weekly hours. Companies do not need to keep in mind added costs for fixing these devices or doling out additional fees to keep the device operational, charges like a cloud service or technical support.

Cons: These manual-operated devices can withstand some hostile environments. They hardly require any servicing. And they last for years. But they do not include the automatic tracking of time like biometric devices. Payroll managers need to add up time the old fashion way for these timeclocks, and these devices make it easy for time tampering. Employees can easily forge worked hours and companies would have little means of stopping forgers.

Biometric Devices

The beauty of biometric devices comes from the added security. Most devices uses a unique input method to track and store data. Input methods include fingerprint scanners, facial recognition and even unique keycards for managing time.

Pros: Biometric devices add security. They ensure a tamper-proof product for maximizing a company’s ROI. Even better, these devices automatically track an employee’s hours while storing the information on a company’s computer or network cloud. Managers can complete payroll in mere minutes, while eliminating any chance for error.

Cons: Biometric devices sometimes require additional services for maximum effectiveness. It’s best to consider enrolling in cloud-based solutions when you are considering biometrics. Although there is a cost for these services, they do come with several benefits that make employee record keeping more efficient. Companies need to spend a few extra dollars a month to track and store employee information, but the alternative is shoddy record keeping.

So whether you choose a simple paper-based time clock or a more expensive biometric device, these products will both help keep track of data. However, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of each before you make a purchase.

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Allied Time specializes in time and attendance systems to fit any industry, any need. Order biometric time clocks today from Allied Time.