Planning for Efficiency: The SmartBarrel Approach

Time tracking is vital for businesses such as construction. By implementing solutions such as SmartBarrel, you’re able to better control your budget, increase productivity, and ensure everything gets done on time.

With SmartBarrel’s construction time tracking solution, project managers can make informed decisions. They use software to tackle common misuse, such as buddy-buddy system, while also being able to compare efficiency between different projects.

How Does Time Tracking Help?

There are lots of reasons why you should implement time tracking software:

Increasing Productivity

Through time tracking, you are able to boost productivity across the board. With SmartBarrel, you learn how your employees are spending their work hours. Time tracking is vital for resource allocation, discovering inefficiencies, and making sure everything is done on time.

Among other things, time tracking software shows you if the staff is struggling with certain tasks. Use it to implement additional training, new equipment, and other measures that would help the staff tackle these activities in a more efficient manner.

Managing Labor Costs

Labor costs are a big element of the construction budget. People working in the construction industry earn enormous amounts of money, whether they’re project managers, electricians, or bricklayers. However, the fact they’re earning nice money doesn’t necessarily mean they’re productive.

SmartBarrel calculates each person’s input. It tracks productive hours on the site and stores this data in the central system. At the end of the month, you simply calculate total hours and pay employees according to their merits.

Optimizing Project Timeliness

With this type of software, construction companies make sure that their projects are always on time. SmartBarrel monitors completion times for each task and employees’ on-site presence. That way, you’re able to monitor bottlenecks and change your scheduling.

Time tracking is especially valuable in the long run. Basically, you can use it as an A/B testing tool to determine how much it takes for teams to perform certain activities. SmartBarrel is vital in the long run as it helps you improve your initial projections.

4 Best Time Tracking Strategies

Here are a few strategies you must implement for better time tracking:

1.    Implement Software

Using construction software is the best solution for large construction projects. Given that you can’t oversee all these workers, time tracking solutions keep everyone in check. These tools work in real time by relying on GPS technology. Use SmartBarrel to determine employees’ location at a given time and whether they’re still on the construction site.

Software is critical when calculating paychecks. Most companies use a system of hourly wages to determine how much each person has earned. So, instead of using the old paper punch-in system, you can rely on modern apps to track workers’ input.

2.    Creating Policies

Having fantastic software doesn’t mean much if you don’t have the right policies in place. Your staff should have a good understanding of the time tracking process and their responsibilities. You need to train them how to use software and explain what constitutes productive work. Make sure to assign a person responsible for timekeeping so there’s a clear hierarchy.

3.    Perform Audits

Through audits, you ensure full compliance and maximum accuracy. During the process, you must identify various data inaccuracies and discover situations when your staff went against the company policies. Audits are vital for taking corrective measures and terminating employees who aren’t willing to play by the rules.

In particular, an audit helps you discover time theft. Time tracking software will determine how much time staff spends on site and compare it to the information they’ve provided. Keep in mind that potential issues might be related to your logistical inefficiencies and the way you’re employing staff in the field.

4.    Encourage Employees

If you want to improve the efficiency of your time tracking processes, you have to think about the human factor. Basically, you must build a culture of accountability and honesty, where staff will be ashamed to steal money from the company. Teach your staff why time tracking is important for the business and connect that to their personal goals.

SmartBarrel’s Features

SmartBarrel consists of numerous tools and features that will keep your projects on track:

• Time Tracking App

Time tracking apps are ideal for construction businesses, as they allow you to monitor staff in the field through their smartphones. The app has biometric facial verification for clock-ins and clock-outs, ensuring that your employees can’t steal time. It also utilizes geo-fencing to determine your location in the field in real-time.

• Time Clock

Instead of using the traditional time clock, you can now use SmartBarrel’s modern solution. Similar to the app, the company’s time clock uses facial recognition to track when you start and finish your shift. After uploading employees’ info, it will only take a few minutes to install the device.

• Safety Tracking

During each log-in, the software is able to determine if employees are wearing all the required safety equipment. It scans a person from top to bottom and detects helms, goggles, and safety vests. The software can even track incidents and use this data to improve safety in the future.

• Cost Tracking

SmartBarrel provides 100% accurate cost tracking for your projects. Use the software to approve shifts, automate payrolls, track task progress, and auto-fill reports. The program compares your initial estimates with the actual costs in the field. It helps you determine how much you’re off from your initial projections.

• Staff Tracking

The software is able to determine each person’s position in the field in real-time. It shows you how many people have arrived at work and how many employees are working on specific tasks (concrete, painting, electric, plumbing). The system is fully automated and incredibly accurate.

Conclusion

Today, it is hard to imagine a successful construction business that doesn’t utilize time tracking software. Solutions such as SmartBarrel have become popular among companies as they help them prevent time theft while also monitoring activity in the field. By purchasing this tool, you’ll be able to increase your productivity and eliminate unnecessary expenses.