How To Choose An Employee Tracking App?

Employee tracking often carries a negative connotation, but when done transparently, it’s not about spying—it’s about enhancing business efficiency. The distinction between surveillance and employee tracking can be thin. Surveillance typically involves covert monitoring, such as tapping emails or taking screenshots without the person’s knowledge. On the other hand, employee tracking is done with the full awareness of the individual being tracked.

This guide focuses on location tracking for employees, a vital tool for companies with remote workers or field teams involved in sales, service, or delivery.

Why Is Employee Location Tracking Important?

Employee location tracking isn’t meant to be a "spy tool" but a necessity, especially for remote teams or field employees. For instance, pharmaceutical representatives working in various cities often deal with attendance issues. Ideally, they should visit distributors in person, but many instead call them, which leads to missed opportunities and inefficiencies.

Tracking apps like TeamSpoor solve this problem by providing real-time data on employee locations, including route maps and geotagged visit reports. This ensures complete transparency when employees claim to be at certain locations.

What to Look for in an Employee Tracking App

With numerous vendors offering employee tracking solutions, here are some key factors to consider:

1. Credibility of the Vendor:

Ensure the company behind the app is reliable and trustworthy. You don’t want to risk losing years’ worth of data if the vendor goes out of business or fails to provide necessary support.

2. Essential Features:

Don’t overpay for features you don’t need. Choose a plan that fits your current requirements. For example, if you only need location and attendance tracking, select a plan that focuses on these features, rather than a comprehensive field force management solution.

3. App Availability:

Make sure the tracking app is available on both Android and iOS platforms. With employees using different devices, it's essential to ensure the app works across all major operating systems.

4. Costing:

Avoid paying for features you don’t currently need. Opt for monthly plans over annual ones to maintain flexibility and the ability to scale or switch vendors without hassle. Some services, like TeamSpoor, offer free trials or basic plans to help you evaluate the app before making a long-term commitment.

Why Not Use Google Maps or WhatsApp for Location Tracking?

While tools like Google Maps and WhatsApp offer basic location-sharing functions, they fall short when it comes to enterprise-level tracking needs. Here’s why:

• No Reporting: These apps don’t provide reports for past or future locations.
• Manual Attendance Management:when employees start and stop sharing their locations .
• Battery Drain:These apps are not optimized for constant location sharing .
• Lack of Accountability:Unlike dedicated employee tracking solutions, Google Maps .

How Employee Tracking Can Empower Your Field Force

Using a field force management solution like TeamSpoor can not only improve efficiency but also empower your employees. Here are some key benefits:

• Remote Attendance:Employees can mark attendance from any location .
• Real-Time Visit Reports:Receive automatic email updates with detailed visit reports .
• Job Scheduling:Streamline task management by providing employees .
• Auto Conveyance Calculation:Automatically calculate travel expenses, removing .
• Custom Forms:Collect real-time data from employees, such as order sheets .
• Expense Management:Employees can submit expenses for immediate processing.

Conclusion:

Choosing the right employee tracking app is a strategic decision that can transform your business operations. By carefully assessing your organization’s needs, you ensure that the tool you select not only monitors productivity but also respects employee privacy and complies with legal standards. As you evaluate potential solutions, focus on features that offer real value—such as real-time data insights, seamless integrations, and robust security measures—while also considering the scalability and adaptability of the app to grow with your business.

Ultimately, the goal is to strike a balance between enhancing efficiency and fostering a transparent, trust-based workplace culture.