Managing employee workload on a large site (or remotely) can be a tricky task. Manual systems (e.g., a sheet of paper by the door) are difficult to trust. How do you know with certainty when workers have checked in or out? Or, when a task was started or finished? This can lead to difficulties when trying to ensure that employees are able to cope with their workload, and that all the tasks assigned are able to be finished promptly. Standalone digital systems create their own problems too, the data they supply is easier to trust than sign in sheets, but the data can be difficult to analyse when informing processes and workflow. However, if you are using an integrated real time location system, you might find that your time and attendance and task tracking troubles are no longer worth worrying about.
Time and attendance
Time and attendance across sites can be managed accurately using RTLS. An employee picks up their wearable device when they arrive at work, biometric authentication clocks them in, and a task list can be supplied right away. Geofences can be set up to separate different working zones. When an employee enters their designated work area, RTLS can register the employee task as started, when they’re finished the employee marks that they’re done. Easy as that. The biometric authentication on wearable devices proves the employee is who they say they are – so no more worrying about lost clock in cards, or a misbehaving colleague signing someone in/out on their behalf. With system accuracy to the nearest 10cm, geofenced areas can be tailored to suit a variety of environments, across multiple site locations and/or building storeys. Tying time and attendance in with communications and task management provides added efficiency.
For example, your system could recognise when an employee is clocked out (on break or off-shift) and route communications or tasks to a suitable colleague, instead. Connecting this functionality comes with a wealth of benefits when managing employee tasks across larger sites.
Managing day-to-day tasks
RTLS can be used to assign day-to-day tasks in a sensible way. Functionality that doesn’t exist with manual time and attendance, or standalone system. For example, when a colleague clocks into a geofenced work area, their task list can be generated based on the location they’ve entered. This works for many different professions, such as cleaners, nurses, security guards, as well as engineers. All task management data can be viewed in the reporting tools. This allows Operations Managers and Supervisors to audit tasks completion with the person who completed it, their location data, and the number of steps taken. One example of how to use this information is with clients, to show services paid for have been completed.
Urgent & Ad-hoc tasks
Accidents, emergencies, and mistakes happen. As a result, urgent or ad-hoc tasks need to be communicated quickly to stem the flow of problems that may result. Knowing an employee’s location, as well as current task list can help to inform the most appropriate colleague to direct the task to, for convenience and haste.
Validating incomplete tasks
Occasionally circumstances prevent a task from being completed, for good reason. For example, weather conditions, it might be too hot or cold, or air quality may be unsafe in an enclosed area. This could make the task unsafe. Having environmental sensors built into wearable devices as part of your RTLS can supply an audit trail of tasks which are unsafe to complete, protecting employees and helping management understand blocks in the workflow.
Conclusion
Managing time and attendance doesn’t need to be complicated. Manual processes and standalone systems are difficult to trust, and even more difficult to interpret when informing decisions and processes. Using an RTLS can save time and money whilst improving accuracy and efficiency.
