What is construction time tracking software?
Construction time tracking software is a digital tool used on construction sites to monitor and record when workers start and stop their shifts, how much time they spend on specific tasks or projects, and where that work takes place. It replaces manual timesheets or punch cards with a more accurate, automated system that helps contractors, project managers, and owners keep better control over labor costs and workforce productivity.
Key Features Typically Include:
- Clock-in/out via mobile apps, tablets, kiosks, or badges
- Geofencing to ensure workers are on-site
- Real-time labor data by crew, company, or task
- Integration with payroll and project management software
- Compliance tracking for hours worked, breaks, and overtime
Why It’s Important:
- Ensures accurate timekeeping and reduces time theft or buddy punching
- Saves time for supervisors and admins by automating reports
- Helps manage labor budgets and track project performance
- Improves transparency and accountability across the jobsite
Example:
Eyrus offers time tracking as part of its broader workforce management platform, using badges and turnstiles or mobile check-ins to automatically record time, integrate with payroll systems, and give real-time insights into workforce productivity.
Benefits of Construction Time Tracking Software to a General Contractor
Construction time tracking software provides general contractors with a clear, real-time view of workforce activity and labor costs across their projects. By automating the process of tracking hours and tasks, it improves efficiency, accuracy, and overall project control. Here are the key benefits:
1. Accurate Labor Cost Tracking
- Eliminates errors from manual timesheets, ensuring contractors pay only for actual hours worked.
- Provides detailed breakdowns of labor costs by project, crew, or subcontractor for better budgeting.
2. Improved Productivity and Workforce Management
- Identifies where labor resources are being used and highlights inefficiencies.
- Enables proactive scheduling and workforce allocation to avoid downtime.
3. Real-Time Visibility on the Jobsite
- Allows contractors to see who is on-site at any moment, improving workforce accountability and jobsite security.
- Geofencing and badge-based systems prevent time fraud (e.g., buddy punching).
4. Faster Payroll and Compliance
- Automates time data collection for seamless payroll processing.
- Ensures compliance with labor laws, union rules, and overtime regulations by tracking hours accurately.
5. Data for Better Project Forecasting
- Tracks actual hours vs. estimates, helping contractors improve future bids and project planning.
- Creates data-driven insights on labor trends across multiple sites.
6. Integration with Other Tools
- Syncs with workforce management platforms, project management systems, and accounting software.
- Reduces administrative workload for project managers and HR teams.
Benefits of Construction Time Tracking Software to a Trade or Specialty Contractor
For trade and specialty contractors—such as electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers, and concrete crews—construction time tracking software offers a powerful way to manage labor, reduce waste, and improve profitability. Key benefits include:
1. Precise Labor Costing by Task or Phase
- Tracks hours worked per task or project phase, helping specialty contractors understand true labor costs for specific scopes of work.
- Enables more accurate job costing and billing, especially for time-and-materials contracts.
2. Streamlined Crew Management
- Helps foremen monitor crew attendance, productivity, and jobsite hours in real time.
- Simplifies scheduling across multiple jobs and adjusts resources based on live data.
3. Easier Payroll and Union Compliance
- Reduces payroll errors and simplifies reporting, especially for union jobs or prevailing wage projects.
- Automatically calculates overtime, travel time, and break compliance.
4. Faster, More Accurate Invoicing
- Provides detailed time logs that can be used to justify invoices or defend against disputes.
- Speeds up billing cycles by reducing time spent reconciling manual timecards.
5. Reduced Time Theft and Buddy Punching
- Geofencing and badge-based systems ensure workers are actually on the jobsite when clocking in.
- Increases accountability and reduces inflated labor hours.
6. Supports Growth and Scalability
- Standardizes time tracking across crews and job sites, making it easier to manage a growing business.
- Helps owners make informed decisions based on real labor performance data.
Benefits of Construction Time Tracking Software to a Project Owner
For project owners—such as developers, institutions, or public agencies—construction time tracking software enhances visibility, accountability, and overall project performance. By giving owners access to real-time labor data, it helps ensure that the project stays on schedule, on budget, and compliant.
1. Increased Transparency and Accountability
- Provides visibility into which subcontractors and crews are on site and when.
- Helps verify that billed hours reflect actual time worked, reducing the risk of overbilling or fraud.
2. Better Schedule Oversight
- Tracks labor deployment against the project timeline to flag potential delays early.
- Ensures that the right trades are present at the right time, improving coordination.
3. Improved Risk and Compliance Management
- Supports safety compliance by showing who was present during incidents or inspections.
- Helps ensure adherence to workforce requirements such as prevailing wage, minority hiring goals, or union agreements.
4. Enhanced Reporting and Documentation
- Creates a detailed, auditable record of labor activity across the jobsite.
- Useful for dispute resolution, audits, and project closeout documentation.
5. Optimized Budget Control
- Provides real-time labor cost data, helping owners track how labor spend aligns with project budgets.
- Enables proactive decision-making to avoid budget overruns due to labor inefficiencies.
6. Supports Project Delivery Methods like IPD or CMAR
- In collaborative delivery models, shared access to time tracking data strengthens transparency and trust among stakeholders.
Step-by-Step Guide: Choosing and Implementing Construction Time Tracking Software
Step 1: Identify Your Goals and Pain Points
- Clarify what you need the software to solve (e.g., reducing time theft, improving payroll accuracy, tracking labor by cost code).
- Consider who will use the system: field crews, supervisors, admins, and payroll.
Step 2: Define Key Features and Requirements
Make a checklist of must-have capabilities, such as:
- Mobile clock-in/clock-out
- Geofencing or badge reader integration
- Labor reporting by crew, task, or subcontractor
- Payroll system integration
- Compliance support (e.g., union, OSHA, prevailing wage)
- Real-time dashboards and alerts
Step 3: Evaluate Software Providers
Research and compare leading construction time tracking platforms. Consider:
- Industry experience (do they specialize in construction?)
- Case studies or references
- Integration capabilities (e.g., with Procore, Sage, Eyrus)
- Support and onboarding process
Step 4: Involve Key Stakeholders
- Engage field supervisors, HR/payroll, and IT early in the process.
- Gather input on workflows, hardware compatibility (tablets, turnstiles, etc.), and reporting needs.
Step 5: Pilot the Software on One Project
- Choose a representative jobsite and a crew to test the system.
- Monitor ease of use, data accuracy, and time savings.
- Collect feedback from the field and office teams.
Step 6: Train Your Teams
- Schedule onboarding sessions for field users, supervisors, and admin staff.
- Provide training materials and a point of contact for ongoing support.
Step 7: Roll Out Company-Wide
- Create a rollout plan by phase, trade, or region.
- Standardize time tracking policies across all projects.
- Monitor adoption and make adjustments based on user feedback.
Step 8: Integrate with Payroll and Project Management Tools
- Sync your time tracking software with payroll, accounting, and project management systems to eliminate manual entry.
- Automate timesheet approval workflows and reporting.
Step 9: Monitor Performance and Optimize
- Review reports regularly to analyze labor efficiency and identify trends.
- Use data to adjust crew sizes, improve scheduling, and sharpen bids on future projects.
Step 10: Stay Updated
- Stay in touch with your software provider for updates, new features, and support.
- Periodically reassess your needs as your projects and company grow.
🛠️ Top 5 Construction Time Tracking Software Vendors (2025)
Time tracking on construction sites is no longer just about clocking in and out — it’s about capturing real-time labor data, ensuring compliance, and maximizing workforce productivity. The following software solutions stand out for their construction-specific features, field usability, and data integrations.
1. Eyrus
Best for: General contractors, trade partners, and project owners seeking full worksite visibility
Eyrus provides time tracking as part of a comprehensive workforce and worksite intelligence platform. Workers check in via turnstiles, mobile devices, or badges, with automated time logs tied directly to access control. Eyrus goes beyond time tracking by combining labor data with video surveillance, workforce monitoring, subcontractor tracking, and environmental sensors, giving stakeholders real-time insights into site operations, compliance, and productivity.
✅ Integrated with payroll, Procore, and scheduling tools
📊 Real-time dashboards for owners, GCs, and subs
🛠️ Ideal for data-driven jobsite optimization
2. Connecteam
Best for: All-in-one time tracking and crew communication
Connecteam offers a user-friendly mobile app that lets construction crews clock in/out, track job-specific time, and communicate in the field. It’s popular with small to mid-size contractors for its simplicity, GPS tracking, and free plan for small teams.
✅ Mobile-first, easy to deploy
💬 Built-in chat, scheduling, and task management
📈 Good for growing field teams
3. QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets)
Best for: Companies using QuickBooks for payroll and accounting
QuickBooks Time integrates seamlessly into the QuickBooks ecosystem, making it a go-to for contractors who want accurate labor data tied directly to payroll and job costing. It includes mobile tracking, geofencing, and scheduling.
✅ Great for small business accounting integration
📍 Geofencing to verify location-based work
💸 Efficient payroll processing
4. ClockShark
Best for: Field service contractors needing job costing and dispatching
ClockShark combines time tracking with crew scheduling, dispatching, and job costing. It’s especially helpful for contractors managing multiple jobsites and service crews.
✅ GPS “breadcrumb” tracking
📆 Drag-and-drop crew scheduling
💰 Cost code and task-based tracking
5. BusyBusy
Best for: Subcontractors and self-perform crews
BusyBusy is built specifically for construction workers and foremen. It provides jobsite-friendly mobile tracking, offline capability, and integrates with equipment tracking and photo documentation features.
✅ Offline mode for remote jobsites
🧾 Automatic daily reports and timesheets
🛠️ Job costing by task, crew, or project
🧠 Why Eyrus Stands Out
While many tools focus solely on timekeeping, Eyrus delivers a full worksite intelligence solution — combining time tracking with access control, subcontractor performance tracking, safety monitoring, and environmental data. This makes it ideal for complex jobsites, multi-tiered teams, and owners who want transparency across the entire lifecycle of a project.
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