What To Look Out For In An Online Time Tracker
Posts by Alan TaylorFebruary 16, 2023
As businesses continue to move towards remote work, online time trackers are becoming increasingly popular.
Online time trackers help organizations monitor and track employee hours, while also providing detailed insights into employee productivity.
When selecting an online time tracker, it’s important to consider the features and capabilities that best fit the needs of your organization.
This article explains some key features you need to check out before choosing a time tracking software.
What Is A Time Tracking Software?
Online time tracking software helps you track your time and manage your activities.
It’s an invaluable tool for employers and freelancers, allowing them to monitor their progress and plan their workloads.
Whether you need to track time for billing clients, stay on top of projects or take a break, investing in good time tracking software can be invaluable.
Features Of Online Time Tracking Software
With the ever-growing number of time tracking software solutions available, it can be difficult to know which one to choose.
After all, they offer similar features and benefits, so what makes one stand out from the others?
The good news is that there are a few key features to look out for when choosing a time tracking software for your team or company. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones.
Ease of Use
First, you’ll want to ensure that the software is user-friendly. You don’t want to spend much time trying to figure out how the software works than actually tracking your time.
Many leading time tracking software solutions offer intuitive, easy-to-use interfaces with straightforward navigation.
Customizable
Another important feature is the ability to customize the software to suit your needs.
This could include setting up reports and tracking progress over time, scheduling tasks and reminders, and setting up time limits or budgets.
You should also ensure that the software is compatible with your devices or operating systems.
Multiple Features
Different time tracking software come with different features and capabilities. You’ll want to ensure that the software you choose includes the features you need.
For example, if you need to track time across multiple projects, you’ll need software that supports that.
Or, if you need to be able to access your time tracking data on the go, you’ll need mobile-friendly software.
Integration
If you already have other software you use for your business, you’ll want to ensure that you can easily integrate the time tracking software you choose.
That way, you can easily keep all of your data in one place and access it from anywhere.
Affordability
Choose an online time tracker with flexible pricing plans that match your needs and budget.
You want to make sure you are getting a tool that provides the features you need at a reasonable cost.
If the cost of the time tracker is too high, it could cancel out the benefits it provides for time management and productivity.
Look for providers with flexible pricing options, such as monthly or yearly subscriptions, and compare features and prices to determine which is the most cost-effective for your needs.
Security
When you’re dealing with sensitive data, security is a must. You’ll want to make sure that the time tracking software you choose is secure and that your data is safe.
Look for time tracking providers that have strong privacy and security policies in place. This might include using encryption to protect your data:
- providing two-factor authentication for account access
- regular data backups to prevent data loss
Additionally, look for providers that are compliant with data privacy regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, depending on your industry and location.
Before signing up for an online time tracker, be sure to read their privacy policy and terms. Understand how they collect, store, and use your data.
Customer Support
When dealing with software, you never know when you might need help. That’s why ensuring that the time tracking software you choose comes with good customer support is important.
Look for software that offers support via phone, email, live chat, and other methods to get help when needed easily.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Flexibility is key when it comes to tracking your time. Choose an online time tracker that is compatible with multiple devices like desktop computers, laptops, and mobile devices.
With an online time tracker that is compatible with multiple devices and operating systems, you can log your hours and manage your projects from wherever you are, at any time.
This ensures that you don’t miss out on any billable hours, and helps you stay on top of your work.
Data Analytics And Insight
Beyond basic time tracking features, an effective online time tracker should also provide detailed data analytics and insights.
This means going beyond simply recording hours worked, and offering advanced reporting, analysis, and visualization capabilities.
With powerful data analytics features, you can gain valuable insights into how you spend your time, identify areas for improvement, and optimize your work processes.
Collaboration And Team Management
If you’re working in a team or managing a group of people, it’s important to have a time tracker that supports collaboration and team management. Look for online time trackers that offer features such as
- Team calendars
- Shared projects
- Task sharing
In addition to team management features, look for online time trackers that offer integration with project management tools such as Trello, Asana, or Basecamp.
This can help streamline your workflows and ensure that your time tracking and project management tools work seamlessly together.
Conclusion
These are just some things to consider when choosing an online time tracking software.
As long as you keep these things in mind, you should be able to find software that works for you and helps you to manage your time better. Good luck!