Safeguard introduces mobile time and attendance package

Safeguard Alarms has introduced a versatile employee time and attendance system that can be used anywhere, even away from a company's base at, for instance, a road construction site.

The state-of-the-art system is an Internet Protocol (IP) system, which means it can fit anywhere on a network, making installation flexible.

It can be used as a wired or 3G system. When used as a 3G system it can be set up anywhere, enabling workers to clock in and out wherever the clocking-in device is set up, with the data being transferred to the head office via a 3G mobile network.

The clocking in and out information can be integrated with payroll software for the purpose of calculating wages and overtime.

The system, which can be used to generate an array of reports, can be either purchased or rented from Safeguard.

Safeguard Alarms managing director Reason Chitiva said the system has many advantages over older time and attendance systems.

"One of the greatest advantages is that it is portable. It can be kept at a fixed location or it can be taken to temporary work sites," Mr Chitiva said.

"The system's ability to send clocking information wirelessly over a 3G mobile network over long distances makes it easier to manage employee time and attendance for work done at remote sites such as construction sites or mines.

"There are applications for various situations, including shift work or piece work on farms.

"In these days, where most manufacturing firms are operating at below capacity, every little saving helps. With this new time and attendance system it is possible to accurately record when anyone begins or ends work, which is important where people are paid for the hours they work," he  said.

He said trials to date showed savings of about 10 percent of wages, due to improved clocking in and out, resulting in accurate payment of wages and overtime and better manpower management.

"This means that the system has, in some cases, paid for itself within less than two months," Mr Chitiva said.

"The biometric clocking-in option ensures nobody can clock in for someone else, as each person clocking in or out is identified by placing a finger on an electronic fingerprint scanning pad," he said.

"Once an employee has clocked in, the information is automatically stored on the clocking device and sent to the head office simultaneously," he said.

"The saved back-up information is important in cases where there is mobile network failure as it can be later transmitted to head office when the network is up again," he added.

He went on to point out that the system can be integrated with most payroll systems in use in Zimbabwe, enabling employers to prepare payroll information quickly and easily.

"The system can automatically  and seamlessly do basic payroll calculations as well as add up wages for basic and overtime hours, late starts and early finishes.

"This helps employers to pay employees according to the exact number of hours worked. The clocking information can also be used to identify those who work hard and those who frequently absent themselves from work or arrive late for work or leave early," Mr Chitiva added.

He said the package includes options that ensure that overtime only begins to be registered when the employee has completed the regular number of working hours.
 
"An employee who arrives at work half-an-hour late will only start to have overtime hours registered after having worked an extra half-hour beyond his usual shift. This increases labour efficiency and reduces labour costs," he said.