Find the Best Time Tracking Software for Your Industry

From healthcare to hospitality, every industry has unique time tracking needs. But with so many options out there, do you know how to find the best time tracking software for your business type?

First, let’s define time tracking software.

Time tracking software allows businesses to accurately track employee hours, manage projects, and streamline invoicing and payroll processes. 

So, time tracking by industry is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different industries have different requirements and challenges. By understanding the features and benefits of various time tracking software options, you can find a solution that will help you optimize your business processes, save time, and increase your profitability.

In this article, we will explore the best time tracking solutions for each industry and business type. We’ll provide detailed overviews of different software to give you a better understanding of all your options. We’ll also share tips on how to choose and implement a time tracking solution, so you can make an informed decision that best suits your business’s needs.

Time Tracking By Industry

Not all time tracking software solutions are the same. Depending on your industry and business needs, you’ll probably require specific features and methods of tracking time.

A construction company might need time tracking software that can track employee hours by job site or project, while a marketing agency might need software that tracks time spent on each client or task. 

With so many different options, you need to find a solution that fits your business’s needs to ensure accurate payroll, client billing, and project management. 

From here, we’ll take a look at our favorite time tracking software for each industry. 

Best Construction Time Tracking Software

Our Choice: Workyard

Workyard is a mobile time tracking app that allows construction workers to clock in and out, track time on specific jobs, and view schedules and job information all from their mobile devices. It also provides real-time GPS tracking, which is a crucial feature in the construction industry, as it allows managers to track employee locations on job sites.

Workyard’s GPS tracking, job costing, and scheduling features make it the ideal time tracking software solution for contractors and field services companies. 

Key Features

1. Mobile time tracking

Employees can clock in and out, track time on specific jobs, and view schedules and job information all from their mobile devices.

2. GPS tracking

Managers can track employee locations on job sites, ensuring accurate job costing and employee safety.

3. Job costing

Workyard allows managers to track labor costs per project and job site, helping to ensure profitability.

4. Scheduling

With Workyard, managers can schedule employees to specific jobs and job sites, ensuring accurate staffing and project management.

Reviews 

At the time of writing, Workyard has 4.9 out of 5 stars and 24 reviews on Capterra. Below is one of many reviews that speaks to Workyard’s versatility and ease of use. 

Overall: We are now on one page with all of our notes, details, and pics. The ability to capture all items and communicate as a team is invaluable. Workyard makes it all possible.

Pros: Implementation was easy, our team adapted to the system very quickly. They actually prefer it to what we had been using, much easier and data is all in one place. Notes and updates are a breeze.

Cons: Would like to have the ability to not double book an associate.

Click here to read the full review. 

Toggl: Best for Education

Our Choice: Toggl Track

Toggl Track is a time tracking app that is popular across multiple industries, but it has features specifically designed for the education industry. With Toggl Track, educators can track time spent on specific tasks, such as lesson planning, grading, and other administrative tasks.

Toggl Track enables educators to see how they’re spending their time in detail. It’s a great choice for educators at all levels, from K-12 to higher education.

Key Features

1. Simple time tracking

With Toggl Track, educators can easily track time spent on specific tasks with just a few clicks.

2. Detailed reporting

Toggl Track offers detailed reports on time spent on each task, allowing educators to see where their time is being spent.

3. Project and task management

Toggl Track allows educators to organize their work by project and task, helping to manage time more efficiently.

4. Integrations

Toggl Track integrates with a variety of other software tools, such as Google Calendar and Trello, making it a versatile time tracking solution.

Reviews

At the time of writing, Toggl Track has 4.7 out of 5 stars and 2,164 reviews on Capterra. Below is a review from a user in the education space.

Overall: Overall I have had an extremely positive experience with Toggl, as it is simple to use, and the online version allows me to access it anywhere.

Pros: I have it linked with other tools we use at work, such as Asana, and it is very helpful when I’m planning my weeks to see how much time I need to allot for different daily tasks.

Cons: I guess the limitation of features on the free version, but overall it still helps me have a better idea of the time spent on different activities throughout my day.

Click here to read the full review.

TimeClock Plus: Best for Healthcare

Our Choice: TimeClock Plus

TimeClock Plus is the best time tracking software for the healthcare industry because of its time and attendance tracking, scheduling, compliance tracking, and reporting features.

TimeClock Plus provides healthcare organizations with the data to make informed decisions about scheduling and payroll. The app is a popular choice for healthcare organizations of all sizes.

Key Features

1. Time and attendance tracking

With TimeClock Plus, healthcare professionals can easily clock in and out, track time off requests, and monitor overtime.

2. Scheduling

TimeClock Plus offers an easy-to-use scheduling tool that allows managers to schedule employees for different shifts and departments.

3. Compliance tracking

TimeClock Plus helps healthcare organizations stay compliant with labor laws and regulations.

4. Reporting

TimeClock Plus offers detailed reports on employee hours worked, overtime, and time off requests.

Reviews

At the time of writing, TimeClock Plus has 4.4 out of 5 stars and 191 reviews on Capterra. Below is a review from a user in the healthcare industry. 

Overall: Overall, this is one of the best software I have used so far

Pros: I love this software it’s accuracy using its automated time tracking which eliminates the need for manual timekeeping, reducing errors and improving accuracy.

Cons: I haven’t experienced any negativity using this software.

Click here to read the full review. 

JobBOSS: Best for Manufacturing

Our Choice: JobBOSS

JobBOSS is a comprehensive manufacturing time tracking software that offers a range of features specifically designed for the manufacturing industry. 

JobBOSS’s job cost management, time and attendance tracking, scheduling, and production tracking features make it an excellent choice for those in the manufacturing space.

Key Features

1. Job costing

JobBOSS allows manufacturers to track labor costs per job, helping to ensure profitability.

2. Time and attendance tracking

With JobBOSS, manufacturers can easily clock in and out, track hours by production line, and monitor employee productivity.

3. Scheduling

JobBOSS offers an easy-to-use scheduling tool that allows managers to schedule employees for different production lines and machines.

4. Production tracking

JobBOSS helps manufacturers track production schedules and monitor machine utilization.

Reviews

At the time of writing, JobBOSS has 4.2 out of 5 stars and 864 reviews on Capterra. Below is a review from a user in the manufacturing industry. 

Overall: It is intuitive and user-friendly, with a wide range of features to help businesses succeed. The customer support team is also helpful and always available when needed. 

Pros: It offers a wide range of features such as collaboration tools, scheduling, accounting, and analytics. The user interface is intuitive, making it easy to learn and use. The customer support team is also excellent and always available to help when needed.

Cons: Although JobBOSS² is a great tool overall, there are some minor issues with the software that can be frustrating. 

Click here to read the full review. 

7Shifts: Best for Hospitality

Our Choice: 7shifts

7shifts is a popular employee time tracking app that offers a range of features specifically designed for the hospitality industry. With 7shifts, hospitality professionals can easily track employee hours and manage scheduling and shift changes. 7shifts enables hospitality management to project staffing needs and labor costs. 

Key Features

1. Employee scheduling

7shifts offers an easy-to-use scheduling tool that allows managers to schedule employees for different shifts and locations.

2. Time and attendance tracking

With 7shifts, hospitality professionals can easily clock in and out, track hours by location, and monitor employee productivity.

3. Labor cost management

7shifts helps hospitality organizations manage labor costs by tracking hours worked and alerting managers when labor costs exceed the budget.

4. Integrations

7shifts integrates with popular point of sale (POS) systems, making it easy to track labor costs and manage employee schedules.

Reviews

At the time of writing, 7shifts has 4.7 out of 5 stars and 1121 reviews on Capterra. Below is a review from a user in the hospitality industry. 

Overall: Overall, 7shifts has been a useful tool in streamlining our scheduling process and improving communication with our staff. 

Pros: The interface of 7shifts is intuitive and easy to navigate. The drag-and-drop scheduling feature is simple to use and saves time in the scheduling process. 

Cons: 7shifts does not have a built-in payroll system, so users must integrate with a third-party payroll provider.

Click here to read the full review. 

Harvest: Best for Services

Our Choice: Harvest

Harvest is a comprehensive time tracking software that offers a range of features specifically designed for the professional services industry. With Harvest, professional service providers can easily track billable hours, manage project budgets, and invoice clients. 

Key Features

1. Time and expense tracking

With Harvest, professional service providers can easily track billable hours, expenses, and project budgets.

2. Client invoicing

Harvest allows professionals to create and send invoices directly to clients, making it easy to get paid for services rendered.

3. Team management

Harvest offers an easy-to-use scheduling tool that allows managers to schedule employees for different projects and tasks.

4. Integration

Harvest integrates with popular project management and accounting tools, making it easy to track time and expenses across platforms.

Reviews

At the time of writing, Harvest has 4.6 out of 5 stars and 545 reviews on Capterra. Below is a review from a user in the professional services industry. 

Overall: Great. The software does exactly what it needs to, we have ZERO problems with it, and it is affordably priced… what’s not to like?

Pros: Harvest is just really really really easy to use. Setting it up is fast and painless, administering jobs is easy, filling out timesheets is easy. 

Cons: It isn’t really a “con” but Harvest is built to serve agencies who have multiple clients and bill them for work performed. 

Click here to read the full review. 

QuickBooks Time: Best for Retail

Our Choice: QuickBooks Time

QuickBooks Time is a popular time tracking app that offers a range of features specifically designed for the retail industry. With QuickBooks Time, retailers can easily track employee hours, manage scheduling and shift changes, and monitor labor costs. 

Key Features

1. Employee scheduling

QuickBooks Time offers an easy-to-use scheduling tool that allows managers to schedule employees for different shifts and locations.

2. Time and attendance tracking

With QuickBooks Time, retail professionals can easily clock in and out, track hours by location, and monitor employee productivity.

3. GPS tracking

QuickBooks Time offers GPS tracking for employees who work in the field or who need to travel to different locations.

4. Labor cost management

QuickBooks Time helps retail organizations manage labor costs by tracking hours worked and alerting managers when labor costs exceed the budget.

Reviews

At the time of writing, QuickBooks Time has 4.7 out of 5 stars and 6339 reviews on Capterra. Below is a review from a user in the retail industry. 

Overall: It is the first and best choice for you to organize the company smoothly and simply, and review everything through it.

Pros: Easy access to it through any phone or PC, and it gives you comprehensive reports on data in the company.

Cons: Somewhat expensive. Other than that, it’s great and I highly recommend it.

Click here to read the full review.

Toggl: Best for Tech

Our Choice: Toggl Track

Toggl Track is a popular time tracking app that offers a range of features ideal for the technology industry. With Toggl Track, technology professionals can easily track time spent on projects, manage client billing, and measure employee productivity.

Key Features

1. Project time tracking

Toggl Track allows technology professionals to track time spent on different projects and tasks.

2. Client billing

Toggl Track offers an easy-to-use invoicing tool that allows professionals to bill clients directly for services rendered.

3. Employee productivity monitoring

Toggl Track offers real-time data and reporting, allowing managers to monitor employee productivity and make informed decisions about project management.

4. Integration

Toggl Track integrates with popular project management tools, making it easy to track time across platforms.

Reviews 

As of this post’s writing date, Toggl Track has 4.7 out of 5 stars and 2,164 reviews on Capterra. Below is a review from a user in the technology industry. 

Overall: So far, my experience has been great! The interface is really easy to use and I can quickly start and stop timers for different activities throughout the day. 

Pros: Easy-to-use interface makes it simple to start and stop timers for different tasks. Detailed reporting allows for in-depth analysis of time spent on various projects and activities

Cons: Limited functionality in the free version, with some features only available in paid plans”

Click here to read the full review. 

Time Tracking by Business Type

Time tracking is an essential tool for businesses of all types, but the methods and solutions used to track time will differ depending on the type of business. 

The type of business you run will determine the specific time tracking needs you have, and it’s important to find a solution that works best for your unique situation. By understanding the specific requirements of your business type, you can choose a time tracking solution that is tailored to your needs and will help you better manage your time and improve productivity.

In the next section, we’ll explore some of the specific time tracking needs of different business types and the best time tracking solutions available for each type. 

Workyard: Best for Field-Based Businesses

Our Choice: Workyard’s GPS Time Clock App

Overview

Workyard’s GPS Time Clock App is a mobile time tracking solution designed specifically for field-based businesses. 

Workyard’s GPS Time Clock App is the best mobile time-tracking solution for field-based businesses due to its, GPS tracking, real-time data and reporting, and integration features. 

The app’s GPS tracking feature ensures accurate time tracking even on remote job sites, eliminating the need for manual time tracking methods. 

Key Features

1. Mobile time tracking

Workyard’s GPS Time Clock App allows employees to clock in and out of job sites using their mobile devices, even in remote locations.

2. GPS tracking

The app uses GPS tracking to verify the employee’s location when they clock in and out of a job site, ensuring accurate time tracking.

3. Real-time data and reporting

Managers can access real-time data and reporting to monitor employee hours and job site activity.

4. Integration

The app integrates with popular payroll and accounting software, streamlining the payroll process for field-based businesses.

Toggl: Best for Remote Businesses

Our Choice: Toggl Track

Toggl Track is the best time tracking solution for remote businesses because it provides a comprehensive suite of time tracking features that are easy to use and manage. The software is cloud-based, which means it can be accessed from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. This is particularly useful for remote teams who need to track time across different time zones and locations.

In addition, Toggl Track’s detailed reporting features provide managers with valuable insights into employee productivity and project timelines. This can help remote businesses to identify areas where they can improve time management and increase efficiency.

Key Features

1. Time tracking

Toggl Track allows employees to track their time spent on specific tasks or projects.

2. Billable hours tracking

The software can be used to track billable hours for client billing purposes.

3. Reporting

Managers can access detailed reports on employee productivity, billable hours, and project timelines.

4. Integration

Toggl Track integrates with a variety of project management and collaboration tools, including Trello, Asana, and Slack.

Homebase: Best for One Location 

Our Choice: Homebase

Homebase is the best time tracking solution for single-location businesses because it provides a comprehensive set of time tracking and scheduling features that are easy to use and manage. 

In addition, Homebase’s communication tools make it easy for managers and employees to stay in touch, which is particularly useful for single-location businesses that rely on effective communication to operate efficiently.

Key Features

1. Time tracking

Homebase allows employees to clock in and out using their mobile devices or a web-based time clock.

2. Scheduling

Managers can use the software to create schedules and manage employee time off requests.

Communication

Homebase has built-in communication tools that allow managers and employees to stay in touch.

3. Payroll

The software can be used to manage payroll, including calculating overtime and exporting timesheets to payroll software.

How to Choose Time Tracking Software

With so many options out there, choosing the right time tracking software can be difficult. But, we’ve outlined three simple steps that can make the process easier. Here are some things to consider when choosing employee time tracking software. 

1. Identify Your Needs

Before you start evaluating options, identify your business’s specific time tracking needs. This includes a number of factors, like:

• the number of employees you have
• the type of work they do
• any specific features you require

2. Evaluate Your Options

There are many different software solutions available. So, do your research! Visit websites, compare options, and read reviews to find the one that best fits your business’s needs.

Review Features

When you’re doing research, carefully review the features of each option. Use the following checklist to help narrow down your options. 

1. Does the software offer a simple and easy way for employees to clock in and out and track their hours?
2. Does the software allow you to create and manage schedules for your employees?
3. Does the software offer reports that can help you better understand your business’s time tracking data?
4. Does the software integrate with your existing payroll system to make processing payroll easier?

Consider Scalability and Flexibility

When reviewing options, consider scalability and flexibility. You’ll want a solution that can grow and adapt as your business expands. Think about the number of employees you will have in the future and any new features or integrations you might need as your business evolves.

3. Start a Trial

Try before you buy! Many of the most popular time tracking software providers offer a free trial. Always test the software before making a final decision.

How to Implement Time Tracking Software

Implementing a time tracking software is an important step towards improving your business’s productivity and efficiency. Here are some best practices to follow when implementing a time tracking solution.

1. Secure Buy-In

Before implementing a time tracking solution, you need to secure buy-in from key stakeholders within your organization. 

2. Communicate Value

In order for employees to fully embrace a time tracking solution, you need to clearly communicate the value of the solution to them. 

Explain how the solution can help them better manage their time, improve productivity, and simplify administrative tasks.

3. Appoint Influencers

Identify key influencers within your organization who can help drive adoption and promote the benefits of the solution. This could be managers, team leaders, or any other influential employees.

4. Host Regular Training

Provide regular training sessions to make sure that your employees get the hang of the new software.

5. Offer Rewards/Incentives

To encourage the adoption of the time tracking solution, offer rewards or incentives for employees who consistently use the software. 

This could include bonuses, time off, or other rewards that incentivize employees to use the solution and track their time accurately.

6. Monitor Progress

Once the time tracking solution has been implemented, you’ll want to closely monitor progress and track key metrics to ensure that the solution is working effectively. 

This includes monitoring employee adoption rates, tracking time savings, and reviewing reports to identify areas for improvement.

The Bottom Line on Time Tracking by Industry 

Time tracking by industry is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different industries have different requirements and challenges. By understanding the features and benefits of various time tracking software options, you can find a solution that will help you optimize your business processes, save time, and increase your profitability.

In this article, we’ve discussed the best time tracking solutions for various industries and business types. We have also shared tips for choosing and implementing time tracking software in your business.

If you are looking for reliable time tracking software, we highly recommend Workyard. Workyard’s GPS time clock app is perfect for field-based businesses, especially contractors and field services companies.  

Sign up for a free trial of Workyard’s time tracking software today and experience the benefits for yourself.