Time & Attendance App vs. Desktop

Time & Attendance – better in the app or on the desktop? Or would you prefer both solutions?

In this article, we compare the options and also talk about stationary terminals.

Advantages of an app for Time & Attendance

• The employees are flexible. You can start and end your working time from anywhere.
• The app is suitable for industries whose employees do not use a computer and do not have a fixed place of work. For example, the construction industry.
• Time & Attendance apps are usually very easy to use. Because they are only used on mobile devices, the possibilities are limited. This keeps Time & Attendance from becoming too confusing.
• Apps are often cheaper than comprehensive systems. They are even available free of charge. But a free solution is never as reliable as a system backed by a company with support and quality assurance.

These were the most important advantages. Time & Attendance apps are therefore most suitable for companies whose employees are on the road a lot and where a simple app with limited functions is sufficient.

Advantages of desktop applications

For employees in the office, Time & Attendance works directly on the work device. There are two variants here. Either software is installed directly on the computer or laptop or the application works via the browser.

Desktop solutions also work in the home office – then you just need the software on your laptop.

The solutions are very comprehensive and enable not only simple Time & Attendance, but often also project-based allocation of times and many other functions. This makes desktop applications an important tool for HR professionals. The more comprehensive the tool, the better the personnel planning and evaluations. And, of course, there is usually a rights management system to ensure that only authorized employees have access to sensitive data.

App vs. desktop: Who needs what?

Let’s compare the two solutions directly. The app and desktop each have advantages and disadvantages, but what if a company needs both? There are also people in the construction industry who work in the office and it is impractical if employees in the office use a different tool than the employees on the construction site.

So our tip: look for a time recording system that enables both desktop and mobile applications.

Example of a comprehensive solution with different end devices

ZMI – Time is our solution for Time & Attendance. This is basically a desktop application. This is also necessary because the system gives HR staff a good overview and so much data cannot be evaluated and processed on the move. This includes, for example, a shift planner, vacation planner and staff scheduling. And there are direct interfaces to DATEV, payroll systems and ERP systems. The system is quite comprehensive and recruiters can use the tool extensively.

There is then a different user interface for the employees who are to use the tool. The view is slimmed down and completely self-explanatory. In most cases, you only have to record the start and end of working hours and when you take breaks.

And what about the people who are not in the office? There is a ZMI app for them. This is of course connected to the overall system and offers the simplest possible user interface. Each company can decide for itself which employees record their times on a computer or laptop and who needs a mobile application. Of course, both are also possible.

Stationary terminals

If a company only uses stationary terminals, a home office is of course no longer possible. But a terminal often makes the most sense for production companies, for example. The employees don’t have a computer and the best way for them to start and end their working time is at a permanently installed terminal.

All three variants can be used with ZMI – Time. The software is optimized for many end devices. And all the data converges in a central system.