SAP SuccessFactors brings to you the future of workforce management. Automated time tracking by SAP SuccessFactors isn’t just about recording hours; it’s about transforming how businesses operate, fostering productivity, and ensuring compliance.
Dive into our blog as we delve into automated time tracking and discover the myriad benefits that extend far beyond mere timekeeping.
From punch cards to digital mastery: The evolution of time tracking
The history of time tracking is a fascinating journey of technological evolution. Initially, businesses relied on manual punch cards – a system where employees physically punched their cards in and out, creating a tangible record of their work hours. This method, while groundbreaking at the time, was fraught with errors and inefficiencies. As technology advanced, digital time clocks replaced punch cards, introducing a new era of electronic timekeeping.
Despite these improvements, traditional digital systems still face challenges. They often require significant manual input, which can lead to errors and discrepancies in payroll processing. Additionally, these systems may lack real-time data integration, making it difficult for managers to get an accurate, up-to-the-minute view of labour costs and employee attendance. The administrative burden of maintaining and troubleshooting these systems can also detract from more strategic HR tasks.
Definition: What is automated time tracking?
Automated time tracking is a technology-driven solution that eliminates the need for manual time entry and processing. It leverages advanced software to automatically record, process, and analyse employee work hours, integrating seamlessly with other HR functions. This approach ensures that time data is captured accurately and consistently, providing a reliable foundation for payroll and workforce management.
The power of automated time tracking in SAP SuccessFactors
The shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic led 14% of businesses to increase their investment in time-tracking tools.
– TrustRadius
A robust time tracking solution is crucial for managing the modern, global, and hybrid workforce. Such a system not only facilitates employee time management, simplifies HR tasks, and offers insights into labour costs, but also ensures that employees can record their work hours seamlessly across various devices. Contemporary time tracking systems provide assurance that employees are compensated correctly and in line with local labour regulations.
Employees expect their work experience to be characterised by accuracy, simplicity, flexibility, and transparency. Confidence in receiving accurate and timely pay is essential for optimal performance. Managers also require precise labour cost data, and employees need an intuitive system that recognises their identity and employment terms for entering work hours. The ability to log, review, and update work hours from any device is vital. Beyond mere payment for hours worked, employees benefit from systems with built-in rules and predefined approval workflows, ensuring that their time entries are correct and the payment process is transparent.
The SAP® SuccessFactors® Time Tracking solution addresses these modern workforce expectations effectively.
Fig 1: SAP® SuccessFactors® Time Tracking solution
Automated time tracking in SAP SuccessFactors represents a leap forward in workforce management. By integrating sophisticated time tracking capabilities within the SAP SuccessFactors suite, businesses can achieve unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. This integration not only streamlines time recording processes but also enhances the overall HR and payroll functions, making it a cornerstone of modern HR technology.
Top 6 benefits of automated time tracking in SAP SuccessFactors
Automated time tracking in SAP SuccessFactors offers numerous advantages that extend beyond mere time recording. These benefits include:
1. Enhancing the employee experience
With SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking, employees enjoy a consistent and engaging experience across multiple devices. The intuitive user interface provides role-based access to necessary information on various devices.
2. Managing labour costs and compliance
SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking helps mitigate compliance risks across different corporate and local agreements. It features dynamic break rules, on-call time recording, flexible overtime settings, and fatigue management, ensuring adherence to various regulations. The system generates alerts for compliance violations and provides insights through embedded dashboards for better decision-making.
3. Leveraging the SAP ecosystem
SAP’s comprehensive ecosystem offers industry-specific solutions via the SAP Store, integrating seamlessly with SAP S/4 HANA® for labour cost calculations and operational support. The solution supports integrations with third-party clock terminals and industry-specific scheduling applications, providing a wide range of scheduling options. Prebuilt integrations and SAP Business Technology Platform services address complex integration needs, streamlining time and payroll processes.
4. Streamlining time administration
The solution provides tools for configuring, monitoring, and updating time management processes. Automated approval rules, time alerts, and the ability to recalculate time data ensure efficient time management. Embedded reporting and analytics offer insights into time accounts and payroll, aiding in quick resolution of pay-related queries.
Fig 2: The Workbench for Time Management
Fig 3: Absence dashboard
5. Balancing work and life globally
SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking provides a unified solution with localised capabilities for global HR management. Employees can easily enter and amend their time through web browsers or mobile devices. Real-time evaluation ensures accurate payment for time worked, including overtime and premiums, fostering a culture of trust and flexibility.
Fig 4: Tracking time that spans midnight
Fig 5: Working during a public holiday
6. Boosting productivity and ensuring accurate pay
This solution, along with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, minimises administrative efforts by setting up time profiles for employee groups, managing alerts, and addressing issues promptly. Intelligent approval workflows facilitate timely decision-making, while embedded analytics provide deep insights into workforce trends and compliance risks. Automatic break scheduling ensures employees receive necessary rest periods, enhancing safety and productivity.
Fig 6: Overtime alerts
Looking ahead: Future trends in time tracking
The future of time tracking is poised to be shaped by emerging technologies and evolving workplace dynamics. Key trends include:
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-powered time tracking solutions will offer even greater precision and predictive capabilities, helping businesses anticipate workforce needs and optimise scheduling.
Blockchain Technology: Blockchain could enhance the security and transparency of time tracking data, ensuring that records are tamper-proof and easily auditable.
Wearable Technology: Wearable devices may become integral to time tracking, providing seamless and unobtrusive ways for employees to record their work hours.
Enhanced Mobile Capabilities: As remote work becomes more prevalent, mobile time tracking solutions will continue to evolve, offering more advanced features and greater flexibility.
Embrace the future with SAP SuccessFactors and Zalaris
The shift to automated time tracking is more than just a technological upgrade; it’s a strategic move towards a more efficient, accurate, and employee-friendly workplace. By integrating automated time tracking within SAP SuccessFactors, businesses can unlock a host of benefits that drive productivity and compliance while enhancing the overall employee experience.
SAP® SuccessFactors® Time Tracking, combined with time-off functionality in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, offers a comprehensive view of workforce labour costs, ensuring accurate and timely payments. The solution integrates seamlessly with SAP’s payroll solutions and supports objectives such as improving employee experience, controlling labour costs, breaking down enterprise silos, and streamlining time administration for overall productivity.
The integration of SAP SuccessFactors with the expertise of Zalaris has proven transformative for numerous organisations. For instance, Zalaris partnered with Sika, a global specialty chemical company, to modernise their HR and payroll operations in the UK. They implemented SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP), which significantly improved efficiency and control over HR processes. The integration ensured a seamless transition and provided a robust, unified solution.
Know more on the topic
Now is the time to explore how automated time tracking can revolutionise your organisation’s workforce management. Partner with Zalaris to implement SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking solution and take the first step towards a smarter, more efficient future. Get in touch with our experts to embrace transformation and let automation propel your business forward.