Introducing Geo-fencing—the future of tracking and timesheets

Have you ever wanted to know where your temps are when they check in and check out, even if you're not using a client-side kiosk? What about whether or not your temps can check in at the client's location and then go somewhere else?

Zoho Workerly's geo-fencing has the answer to these questions.

What is geo-fencing?

Geo-fencing is a location-based service that typically uses GPS or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to set up a virtual boundary around a location. It's like an invisible fence that alerts whoever sets it up about the people coming and going. A geo-fence can alert businesses to a customer visiting a store, a salesperson's territory size, or when workers visit a client's site.

How is geo-fencing used today?

Geo-fencing is used across multiple industries, from farming to security. It's used to track location, equipment, or people. The main reason Zoho Workerly built this feature was to help users track their temporary employees. Geo-fencing is set up to work with our employee time tracking features to monitor when and where employees work.

A geo-fence flags whether an employee is on-site when they clock in or out, or it can allow you to require that employees clock in only at designated areas. For example, a construction employee might be given a warning if they physically check in without stepping onto the job site, which can be marked by the employer in Workerly with GPS coordinates and a radius. Companies can typically use the same app that checks employee location to monitor how they spend their time on the job and any overtime worked.

Why you should use geo-fencing  

Geo-fencing and GPS tracking can boost the efficiency and success of your workforce. Not only do they help employers keep track of their workers, but they can also improve productivity. Many workers believe tracking helps them be more efficient and motivated, and their productivity increases as a result.

Companies that use geo-fencing also know which of their workers are on site. This is an advantage not only in pinpointing when workers are attempting to clock in early or buddy-punch. It also means you can be sure who was working and can more accurately estimate the time it takes your employees to complete a project. Using time tracking data gives you the ability to staff projects adequately, helping to guarantee they'll be done on time and within budget. A geo-fence also ensures workers may only clock in on the job site and not from their homes or while en route to the site.

Concerns about geo-fencing 

Drain on mobile phone battery life. Employees may be unwilling to try geo-fencing because of fears it will drain battery life. On older phones, this used to be a problem. Newer phones, however, come with intuitive features that can turn off the radios when not in use. They will automatically cycle through the radio signals and stress the batteries only when maximum input is needed. You can pretty much keep the Wifi, Bluetooth, and GPS turned on, and they will have minimal impact on your phone's battery.

Privacy concerns. Workers may be concerned with their privacy if they are monitored by geo-fencing. To help eliminate problems, be upfront with your employees about any GPS tracking requirements before they take the job, and assure them that they will never be tracked when they are off the clock.

What employers need to know about GPS tracking

Not every company has to have geo-fencing capabilities and GPS tracking, but many employees believe both will increase and become mandatory in five years. Here's what you should know. 

Employees assume tracking is the future, so getting them on board with GPS tracking might be easier than you think. Most workers don't mind being tracked, but they only want to be tracked while on the job. People are accustomed to geo-fencing in their social and marketing experiences, but these experiences have taught them to be cautious. Workers want their employers to be transparent and honest about how their data is acquired and used. If these conditions are met, then many employees that work desk jobs view GPS tracking as a great way to eliminate the need to go into the office.

Takeaways

If you're looking to implement geo-fencing into your organization, here are three easy steps to ensure the transition is more successful with your workforce: 

  1. Ensure employees know that geo-fencing doesn't drain their mobile phone's battery 
  2. Be open about privacy and data usage
  3. Shop around for different software systems that offer geo-fencing, and choose the one that is best suited for your business

Zoho Workerly's geo-fencing feature gives you all the tools you need to track employees remotely while also acting as a comprehensive workforce management tool for your temp staffing operations. To learn more, schedule a demo.

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