7 Things to Check When Choosing a Time and Attendance System: From Turnstile to Timesheet

What Is a Time and Attendance System For?

A time and attendance system records when employees enter and leave work, combines these records with shift, break and leave rules, and turns them into a timesheet at month-end. The purpose is not to watch anyone but to keep working-time records consistent, open to challenge and free of manual preparation.

1. Access Method: Devices Are Not the Only Option

Turnstiles, card readers, face recognition, fingerprint and mobile QR each have different advantages and costs. A busy production entrance and a ten-person office do not need the same solution. A good system collects data from different devices in one place and lets you change the method later.

2. Is Biometrics Mandatory?

Fingerprint and face data count as special-category personal data and bring stricter obligations under data-protection law. You do not have to collect biometric data; tracking can also be set up with card access or QR scanning. It is right to decide which method suits you together with your legal adviser.

3. Shift Flexibility

Three-shift production, a weekly changing shift plan, flexible hours or half-days: your system should adapt to your routine, not the other way round. Defined rules must be applied automatically to every movement.

4. Break Tracking

Break time is in most businesses the disputed part of the timesheet. Tracking break exits and returns by the minute leaves a clear record for both employee and employer.

5. Timesheet and Compliant Calculation

Automatic month-end timesheets are where HR saves the most time. Test with sample data, before buying, whether overtime and leave calculations follow the labour law.

6. Mobile App and Leave Processes

Letting employees handle shift, break and leave actions from their phones, and HR manage approvals from one screen, noticeably reduces the daily load. Ask whether the app exists on Android and iOS.

7. Installation and Support

Another point as important as the software is device mounting, network connection, first user training and whom you call afterwards. If you buy the software in one place and the devices elsewhere, responsibility is divided when something fails; single-source installation reduces that risk.

Our Pera PDKS Approach

In Pera PDKS, entry-exit, shifts, leave, breaks and timesheets come together in one panel; turnstile, card, face recognition, fingerprint and mobile QR can work together. We take on software installation, mounting the access devices and the network connection; user training is included.

For details see our PDKS and staff tracking system page.