The professionals and cons of Microsoft Groups time monitoring

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June 3, 2024

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Microsoft Groups is a superb instrument for workspace communication and undertaking planning. It gives a number of options like Microsoft Groups channel, video conferences, activity lists, Microsoft planner, and assembly whiteboards.

You can too use numerous Microsoft Groups integration instruments for an all-in-one answer.

So it undoubtedly does make worker collaboration tremendous straightforward however is it actually the suitable instrument for time monitoring and worker administration options?

Furthermore, how does Microsoft Groups time monitoring work?

On this article, we’ll perceive how we will observe time with MS Groups. We’ll additionally cowl a number of the main drawbacks of the app’s time monitoring options and have a look at 5 different time monitoring instruments for your online business.

Desk of Contents

Let’s get began!

How you can use Microsoft Groups time monitoring?

Microsoft Groups is a superb instrument for undertaking planning and worker collaboration. It integrates seamlessly with Workplace 365 and can be utilized with different instruments, together with:

Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Workplace
Microsoft Undertaking
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Energy Bi
Sharepoint
And extra!

What’s extra, the app gives primary time monitoring options throughout the Microsoft Groups app. So let’s take a better have a look at the 2 methods you’ll be able to observe time with MS Groups.

Earlier than that, take a look at use Microsoft Groups with this detailed information!

1. Utilizing time clock

MS Groups’ time clock characteristic lets workers clock out and in from their cell units. Whereas it doesn’t actually observe worker hours in real-time, managers can monitor worker shifts and know when somebody is late or overworking themselves.

To make use of the time clock characteristic:

In ‘Shifts’, click on on the clock icon and choose the related shift you wish to clock in for.
Press and maintain the ▶ button below ‘Break’ to clock out for a break.
Click on on the ‘Cease’ button below ‘Break’ to clock again in after your break.
To clock out, click on on the ‘Cease’ button below ‘Shifts’.

Be aware: With a purpose to entry this characteristic, be certain your supervisor has enabled the ‘Shifts’ perform for you.

2. Utilizing timesheet

Microsoft Groups additionally gives handbook timesheets for retaining observe of worker hours. Staff can view earlier time clock exercise or edit present timesheet info.

To take action, merely choose ‘Time clock’ from ‘Shifts’ and click on on the menu within the higher proper nook to pick the timesheet.

Subsequent, let’s perceive some drawbacks of MS Groups time monitoring.

How to track your salaried employees’ hours

4 main drawbacks of monitoring time with Microsoft Groups

Even though Microsoft Groups is an efficient undertaking administration instrument, it will not be the very best match for everybody. As an example, managers on the lookout for a proficient time monitoring instrument could wish to think about different choices.

Listed here are a number of explanation why Microsoft Groups will not be the perfect answer for monitoring undertaking time:

1. No real-time time monitoring

Microsoft Groups depends on handbook timesheets to report worker time. So workers must enter their tracked hours every day on the finish of their shift.

This may end up in a number of issues. For one, handbook time monitoring takes up lots of effort and time. Managers must approve particular person timesheets and make sure that everybody submits theirs on time. There’s additionally the next threat of handbook error when workers must fill of their time entries day-after-day.

2. Elevated threat of time theft and human error

Any attendance or time monitoring instrument that depends on handbook time entry has scope for time theft.

Furthermore, in response to the American Payroll Affiliation (APA) over 75% of US employers lose cash from time theft and buddy punching practices. So there’s rather a lot at stake if you happen to ignore the necessity for a reliable time monitoring software program.

To not point out, the handbook time monitoring course of is certain to get irritating after some extent, leading to elevated human errors.

3. No answer for managing particular person duties

Microsoft Groups lets managers assign and observe activity progress for any crew member. Managers can create a Microsoft listing from the ‘Microsoft Lists’ characteristic and assign duties to their crew members. Staff can then point out once they begin or full a activity.

Nonetheless, MS Groups doesn’t provide an possibility to trace time for particular person duties. So there’s no actual option to point out how a lot time every activity takes or estimate future undertaking timelines with accuracy.

4. Lack of productiveness studies

One of many predominant advantages of time monitoring software program is that it improves productiveness and helps workers deal with their workflows. In reality, most time monitoring software program provide detailed productiveness studies to point how workers observe every undertaking on-line.

For instance, Time Physician gives a number of productiveness studies like initiatives and duties, exercise summaries, timeline studies, and so forth. These can be utilized to research worker work patterns and assist them yield higher outcomes.

Nonetheless, MS Groups doesn’t provide these options. So for somebody on the lookout for a devoted time monitoring software program, Microsoft Groups will not be the suitable match.

So what different instruments can you employ? Let’s have a look.

5 environment friendly Microsoft Groups time monitoring options

Microsoft Groups is an efficient undertaking administration and crew collaboration software program. However on the subject of instruments that may provide hands-on time monitoring options, there are a number of others you’ll be able to check out.

Listed here are a number of the most effective Microsoft Groups time monitoring options to take a look at in 2024:

1. Time Physician

Time Physician is an worker time monitoring and productiveness software program that’s utilized by giant corporations like Ericsson and Verizon in addition to small companies like Thrive Market.

It gives a number of key time administration and worker attendance options which might be useful for each managers and workers.

Key options

Listed here are a few of Time Physician’s key options:

A. Correct time monitoring

Time Physician is provided with each handbook and automated time monitoring modes for the person’s comfort.

To make use of the handbook time monitoring mode:

Create a brand new activity below the related undertaking.
Press ‘Begin’ whenever you want to start monitoring time.
Press ‘Cease’ to take a break or cease monitoring time.

The automated time monitoring mode has no person interface and runs silently within the background when workers begin their units.

Be aware that it’s an non-obligatory characteristic that may be turned off by the employer if the staff don’t consent to automated time monitoring. It has no influence on the staff’ workflows and helps them focus higher with out having to fret about monitoring time manually.

B. Idle time monitoring

Idle time is when the person is actively monitoring time on their app, however Time Physician doesn’t acknowledge any keystrokes or mouse exercise (i.e. the person is inactive).

This characteristic is helpful for these trying to calculate their best hours or enhance their workflows.

Furthermore, managers and purchasers can set a time-out restrict to make sure that the app doesn’t observe billable time after a sure interval of inactivity. They’ll additionally set a time restrict for receiving distraction notifications that inform customers they’ve been inactive.

C. Initiatives and duties

With Time Physician, managers can create or assign duties to at least one or a number of workers without delay. It additionally lets the person observe their time for particular person duties, bettering their time administration expertise.

D. Payroll administration

Time Physician’s payroll administration options allow you to customise and streamline your organization’s payroll processes. Staff can successfully observe working hours and time beyond regulation hours and get compensated pretty. In reality, they’ll export their timesheets in CSV, PDF, or Excel sheets for sooner funds.

Managers can invoice their purchasers precisely. It lets them set automated timesheets and hourly charges for batch funds of their workers.

The app integrates with platforms like Paypal, Gusto, and Smart for simpler, handy funds.

E. Detailed productiveness studies

Time Physician gives detailed perception into how your workers spend their time. It auto-generates a number of productiveness studies about worker efficiency. They’re:

Timeline report: Detailed breakdown of when and the way customers work, take a break, or are offline.
Undertaking and duties report: A abstract of how lengthy workers labored on particular person duties and initiatives.
Attendance report: Shows when workers had been current, absent, late, or partially late to the shift.
Exercise abstract report: Exhibits the lively minutes, unproductive use, and cell use for every person over a given time vary.
Internet and app utilization report: A breakdown of the varied web sites and apps workers visited throughout work hours.

F. Productiveness scores

To get a greater understanding of your workers’ productiveness, Time Physician allows you to charge numerous apps or web sites as productive, unproductive, or impartial (primarily based on their stage of productiveness).

For instance, websites like Youtube or Instagram might be ‘unproductive’ for sure workers, whereas they’ll be ‘productive’ for social media managers or design professionals.

Managers can customise these scores for particular person workers. Furthermore, they’ll then view their complete crew’s time use categorized into the corporate’s scores (on a every day, weekly, or month-to-month foundation).

G. Screencasts

Time Physician gives an non-obligatory screencasts characteristic that randomly captures screenshots of your workers’ screens all through the day.

This encourages worker accountability as they’re extra more likely to keep on the duty at hand and keep away from distractions in the event that they know somebody’s watching.

Be aware: Managers can delete or blur the screenshots that comprise any private or delicate info.

H. Strong Chrome extension

With Time Physician’s highly effective Chrome extension, you’ll be able to combine with different undertaking administration instruments like Github, Trello, Slack, and so forth.

As soon as you put in the extension from the Google Internet Retailer, it can routinely add a time monitoring button to your display. With this, workers can instantly observe time with any third-party interface they’re working with and save time.

Pricing

Time Physician gives a 14-day free trial (no bank card wanted). Paid plans begin at $7/person monthly.

Discover Time Physician’s options web page for extra particulars!

Person scores

G2: 4.4/5 (270+ evaluations)
Capterra: 4.5/5 (500+ evaluations)

2. RescueTime

RescueTime is a web-based time administration instrument that tracks worker time and pc utilization. It gives detailed perception into how workers spend their time and helps enhance their work productiveness and effectivity.