Best ways to track employee attendance

Organizations worldwide are increasingly becoming more sensitive towards providing their employees with a healthy, encouraging, and inclusive work culture that provides them equally encouraging remuneration. Retaining an employee is something most companies strive for by providing them with the best working environment. While it inspires employees to deliver better services, it is also important for organizations to keep a tab on their business operations and workforce expenses. And without an attendance tracking system, you will not be able to have an insight into whether you are operating within the budget, remaining compliant, and keeping the right records.

Despite being an important aspect of every business, implementing attendance management systems can be an overwhelming task. Companies often struggle to figure out where to begin with or how to determine the best option available. But we will make things easy for you. This article will tell you everything about the attendance tracker and the best ways to track employee attendance.

Why use employee attendance software?

Tracking employee attendance is important for the success of every business. It comes with several benefits including minimizing daily loss of productivity and recapturing valuable assets like time and money. Here are some of the main reasons why every organization must use employee attendance software:

  • Provides ease of shit management: Employee attendance software makes attendance management and workflow synchronization a lot easier. It automatically schedules work assignments to employees, resulting in better time management for both employees and employers.
  • Streamlines leave management: The software makes managing leave, working hours, and tracking employee absence from work more streamlined. This results in better project management as the company has the exact number of employees available.
  • Enhanced payroll process: With accurate data of how many hours an employee has worked, number of off days, leave, holidays, etc., the attendance software makes payrolling a lot simpler and efficient. It also provides security to employee data.
  • Automating the workflow: By automating manual tasks, the attendance tracker reduces errors and smoothens the attendance recording process.
  • Improves productivity: With automated attendance processes, the tracking software saves precious time to do other, more strategic work.

Most efficient ways to track attendance

Choosing an efficient attendance tracking system that is not time-consuming, and cumbersome in use is important for every organization. Here are the best ways to track employee attendance:Tracking remote employees with mobile attendance system

Remote or work from home arrangements has become widespread in the post-pandemic world. And several companies are now looking for means that can be deployed for seamless remote employee attendance. And mobile attendance systems are one of the best options. GPS-enabled mobile phones can provide accurate data on working hours.

Wall-mounted swipe cards

These are updated versions of the punch card systems where the employees use their ID cards instead of timecards. The in-out time is automatically stored through the attendance tracking software and can be made available to the management at any time.

Automated systems to ensure regulatory compliance

All companies must fulfill their regulatory compliance requirements, and keeping the track record of employees and accurate data is one way of ensuring that. A few of the common reasons why companies often find themselves non-compliant is due to inaccurate recordkeeping. But using an automated system that accurately records employee attendance and working hours will help comply with government regulations and internal policies.

Technologically advanced attendance systems for adequate and accurate data processing

Several companies, especially larger corporations are now utilizing technologically advanced attendance systems like facial recognition attendance systems, fingerprint attendance systems, biometric attendance systems, and other time and attendance software that record in and out times accurately. These systems are highly efficient in maintaining security within the office premises apart from providing accurate data.

Easy to use software that employees can embrace

Using software that lets employees track their attendance data, correct discrepancies, and review the number of hours worked and available leave will save a lot of time for the HR professionals. This will also help the employees embrace the system as they can participate in doing the administrative tasks.

Cloud-based systems work well

Safely storing a massive amount of data can require companies to invest in expensive internal hardware systems increasing the overall expenditure. But if you invest in a cloud-based system, it will save you that cost. In addition to that, it will also make the data available to all parties at different locations while providing utmost safety to this critical employee data.

Attendance tracking systems are crucial for organizations to function seamlessly. The attendance tracker helps keep a tab on the employee’s productivity and frees the HR managers from manually tracking work hours and absenteeism. This allows organizations to concentrate on other crucial aspects of operations and create a healthy working environment for the employees. While choosing and implementing the right employee attendance tracking software can be overwhelming, one way to simplify this is by letting the experts do the work for you. Carbonate is one of them. With a team of experienced professionals, Carbonate helps your business grow by providing comprehensive HR solutions.

 

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Low-budget Business Ideas to Venture into in the New Year

We are wrapping up the year, and it is time to make new year resolutions. Many companies are still trying to find their footing after the adverse economic effects that have been caused by the global pandemic. Several individuals are still jobless after the massive layoffs in the last year. However, if you are an outside-the-box thinker, all hope is not lost for you. There are so many misconceptions associated with starting a business, the most common one being that you have to break the bank to become a business owner. We are here to dispute that by listing down low-budget business ideas for you.

Cheap and Lucrative Business Ideas

Starting a business can be an uphill task, especially if it’s your first time. There are important details that need to be taken into consideration before a business can start to run. The most important factor is to decide the kind of business you want to venture into and determine if it’s the right fit for you. Here is a list of some business ideas you can start in the new year.

Laundry Business

In today’s fast-paced world, it is almost impossible to find time to perform simple tasks such as doing laundry. Many people have turned to laundry shops to help them with their laundry needs. For a startup laundry business, all you need is to acquire an ideal location, preferably in a residential area and a laundry machine. 

To limit your costs, you can go for a multipurpose machine that washes and dries laundry. Ensure that you purchase a machine that has strong valves from a reputable industrial valve manufacturer. This will enable you to avoid constant valve repairs for your laundry machine.

Airbnb Host

One would say that this is a flooded market but do not let that discourage you from becoming the best Airbnb host. The fact that so many other people are doing it doesn’t mean that you cannot succeed in this business. The secret is to be unique. Most Airbnb guests want to experience something different from their usual day-to-day lives. One special way to stand out in this field is to look for units that are out of the norm. How about a floating house on a sea dock? That will for sure make you stand out from your competition. Make sure that you get your dock from the best suppliers to ensure the safety of your unit and your guests.

Fast Food Business

You can never go wrong with food business. Food is a basic need for every individual, and due to busy schedules, most people opt for fast food to avoid having to cook each and every meal. The good news about this business is that you can run it from the comfort of your home. All you need are supplies, cooking equipment and, of course, customers.

However, without proper marketing, you cannot hack it as a fast-food owner. The best way to market your business is by the use of online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This way, you do not end up throwing out your food because you did not get enough orders to finish your stock. You can also make door-to-door visits to offices and offer to deliver their lunches and snacks to them.

Cleaning Services

This is a field that most people choose to despise, not knowing the great profits that one can make by offering cleaning services to residential homes and work premises. As you start this business, you can hire one or two people to help you and offer them a percentage of the payment you get from your services. 

Start with a simple vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies such as bleach, washing liquids, cleaning brushes, and sponges. You can also run this business from your home and do house and office calls. If you are good at what you do, clients will refer you to other clients, and with time you will work your way up to become a big cleaning business owner with employees on payroll.

Running Errands

If you knew the number of people who need someone to help them pick up their laundry or go to the grocery store for them, you would have already started this side hustle. All you need is to come up with an enticing business name and logo and advertise your services online. People do not have time for simple tasks such as cleaning their yards or picking up a parcel from the courier office. If you have a car and some spare time on your hands, why not make some extra cash as an errand person.

Conclusion

In today’s world, anyone and everyone can own a business. With the best marketing and brand promotion strategies, you can come from a small startup to a big business enterprise. There are also business experts who are in a position to advise you on the best business ideas and can help you set up and guide you on how to grow your business. Try some of these in the new year and see yourself become an employer.

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How To Manage Difficult Phone Calls

Handling a frustrated or angry caller is not an easy feat! While the stress and anxiety of managing these situations fade as you learn more about your job, the importance of dealing with difficult clients never fades.

When it comes to client support, dissatisfied clients air out their sentiments more than the satisfied clients. Bad news travel faster than the good. Thus, you must ensure that the client hangs up with a happier disposition.

#1: WORK EFFICIENTLY

Time is money. The more efficient you can be, the more clients you can help throughout the day. You need to address all the concerns as quickly as possible. You must be organized because clients get frustrated when they wait or when they are put on hold for a long time.

#2: BE PREPARED

Before starting the call, ensure that you pull out all the relevant files and reviewed all the notes pertaining to the case. Being prepared will help you to avoid asking for the client’s story again. After the call, take down notes on what was discussed. This will help you know what to follow-up next time.

#3: ACTIVELY LISTEN

In general, one of the vital aspects of handling difficult callers is active listening. Listen to your clients while simultaneously showing concern and getting insight into the issue. This will help you arrive at a solution.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#4: REACT POSITIVELY

Train yourself to be pleasant during stressful situations. Practice your tone of voice and use a calm approach. At times, callers can test your patience to the limit. You must separate yourself from their emotions and treat the issue objectively. Reacting with anger can only exacerbate the situation.

#5: LET IT GO

It is worth your time to apologize for any problem or inconvenience caused. If the problem was originally the client’s fault, blaming the person will make it worse. Remember that the client should be your ally and not your enemy. Assist the client to arrive at a workable solution together.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

When the challenging call is over, take a deep breath and let it go. Hanging on to the stress of the demanding situation can affect your relationships at work. There is simply no benefit in reliving the difficult call.

Sources: 1 & 2

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6 Smart Ways to Start a Courier Business

There might never be an ideal time to start a local courier business than in 2021. For those who don’t know, more than 55% of consumers in 2020 consciously set out to support and purchase from local businesses.

According to them, they did so to support local jobs in their community. People want to support local businesses in a very big way. 

Since a lot of people are buying locally, small businesses require an affordable and easy way to deliver their products around the area. 

Just like consumers, merchants like to support fellow small businesses. They’re searching for local courier businesses to help them fulfill demand. 

Fortunately, you can easily tap into this market and be the courier service provider they need. However, do you know how and where to start?

Keep in mind that starting a profitable courier business can be lucrative and quick. However, it only happens if you know where to start and how to scale. 

Starting a local courier business can be a frustrating, difficult, and slow process. However, if you know the steps, you can make things quick and easy for you. 

Determine Your Niche

To guarantee success, you have to establish your unique niche. This is a crucial step if you live in an urban location with a lot of existing courier service businesses. 

Even if you’re located in a small town, it will offer you a quick start to targeting your new clients. 

Talk to your potential clients, whether they are caterers needed to deliver prepared meals at a particular time or lawyers needed to deliver a document on the same day. 

Talk to these people to determine what they need. Then, provide it to them at a reasonable price. This is the secret to success for any business. You need to provide clients with what they want or need. 

One of the greatest niches you should consider is offering local businesses same-day local delivery. With this, you can compete with big services, such as FedEx and UPS.

When delivering packages, make sure you use high-quality security tape for boxes.

Create a Business Plan

Source

All businesses require a good business plan. Aside from analyzing both your target audience and competitors, this plan should tackle problems with the marketing methods and finances of your company as well.

Your business plan will help keep you on track towards reaching your goals as you start your courier business.

In your business plan, one thing you need to tackle is how you plan to acquire customers. For example, you might need to take advantage of websites to drive new traffic to your business. 

Give Your Business a Name, Logo, and Space

This is perhaps the most enjoyable part of starting a business. You get to choose the name of your business. Try to be creative. Make sure the name of your business stands out, is unique, and is memorable. 

Also, try to tie the name of your business with the services you offer. This means that you have to avoid making the name too confusing and ambiguous.

Aside from the name of your business, you also have to design the logo of your company. With this, your clients can easily recognize you and distinguish you from the competition.

For example, you might have the same business name as a company that sells hand sanitizers. To avoid confusion, make your logo a lot different.

If you’re planning to start your business at home, you’ve got to ensure the zoning in your neighborhood allows home businesses. 

On the other hand, if you plan to lease a commercial space, you need to think about both the monthly fees and the location of the property. 

Invest in a Delivery Car

Source

When it comes to getting a reliable delivery car, you’ve got two basic options. You can either rent a car or purchase one right away. 

If you choose to buy a car for delivery purposes, you’ve got to ensure you inspect it thoroughly for defects before you complete the sale.

Also, you’ve got to ensure you have van insurance coverage, the right license, and more.

Insure Your Business

You will require a lot of insurance coverage for your courier business. This includes liability insurance, cargo insurance, and car insurance. 

It’s also vital to have an insurance policy so that you can establish trust with clients.

Call your local commercial insurance broker to determine how much it will cost to insure your business. The price might differ from one location to another, the perceived risk, and the types of deliveries you make. 

Market Your Courier Business

Once you’ve got everything you need for your courier business, the next thing you should do is to market it. 

You can first communicate with your family and friends to start off using your social media accounts, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. 

Also, try to create a business page on each of these social media platforms. 

Almost every courier business will have to market to other businesses that are searching for a courier. You can do this by creating a list of businesses that might require a courier service. 

Once you’ve got a list of these businesses, contact or email them. You can even visit their store and drop off your business card. 

Online advertising and marketing can also be an effective and low-cost way to target business owners. 

Facebook and Google AdWords both have easy-to-use self-serve platforms. You can target clients based on keywords they search for online. You can learn more about DIY marketing if you look it up online.

Conclusion

Starting a business is a difficult task.

Source

However, you can make the process a lot easier if you simply follow the tips above. 

Once you’ve started your courier business, the next challenge for you is to maintain it and beat your competitors.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Kitchen Remodelling

If you were to ask members of a typical family which room of the house was their favourite, the odds are pretty good that their answer would be the kitchen. After all, the kitchen is usually the source of food, which, when shared with the other members of the household, results in happy memories and opportunities for bonding. It’s the place people go for a bit of comfort when they’re feeling down or overwhelmed, where they celebrate, and where they feel most full and satisfied. Clearly, there are many positive associations to be made with the kitchen.

It’s no wonder, then, that many homeowners seek to renovate this part of their home before any other. This actually makes perfect sense: aside from all the positive associations people tend to have with the kitchen, it’s also a common area, which means all members of the household benefit equally when it’s refurbished, as compared to bedrooms, studies, work areas, or en-suite bathrooms.

Whether you’re looking to simply upgrade to a new kitchen hood Singapore homes typically have installed, or are redoing your kitchen’s entire look, here’s what you need to know.

Set Your Budget

As with most big-ticket purchases, remodelling your kitchen will require you to set a budget. Before you begin choosing backsplashes or installing that shiny new range, you need to know how much you can comfortably afford, without severely compromising other aspects of your family’s lives. There are no hard and fast rules for preparing a budget for this, but some experts recommend trying to limit spending on remodelling to less than 15% of the total value of your home per room. Therefore, if your home is valued at SGD500,000, your remodelling budget for each room should not exceed SGD75,000.

Another aspect of budgeting that is often overlooked is the time required to complete the project. If you’re having your kitchen remodelled, you might have to deal with unfamiliar people coming into your house on a regular basis, for at least a few days.  Weigh the comfort and convenience of your family versus the value of your remodelling project, before embarking on it.

And speaking of weighing one thing against the other…

Weigh Needs and Wants

Are there parts or features of your kitchen that absolutely need to be reworked or replaced? Meanwhile, are other parts of your kitchen still serviceable, and maybe in need of some repair or cleaning? If you can differentiate between the two, then congratulations, you have successfully distinguished between needs and wants.

If your hob has undergone multiple rounds of repairs and still can’t successfully heat up your dinner, then it’s probably time to get it replaced. This is something that needs to happen, in order for your kitchen to be functional again. On the other hand, your backsplash may be slightly soot-stained or pocked with old grease, but cleaning it up will have it looking, if not as good as new, at least presentable. You won’t have to replace or reinstall it just yet. Prioritizing your needs over your wants will go a long way towards keeping your project within budget.

Get Ready to Compromise (and to Let Go!)

Sure, everyone would love to have walnut baseboards, a marble countertop, and a smart fridge that knows when you’re out of milk and orders it for you. However, not all of us can afford to pay the costs you’re likely to incur from buying or installing these luxury items.

Inevitably, in the course of your remodelling, you’ll have to make compromises. Some items might be more expensive than you initially expected, causing your budget to spike even before you’ve gotten to the good stuff. Some items might simply be unavailable where you are, meaning that you’ll have to settle for alternatives that aren’t quite what you had in mind. In either case, you’ll definitely have to pivot to new options and let go of some of your initial ideas in order to complete your project without going overboard. Just try to go with the flow and find alternatives that give you nearly as much satisfaction or appear as similar as your original concept.

Decide Whether to Outsource or DIY

If you happen to be the handy type and are skilled with a saw and plane, then this tip doesn’t apply to you. Just do your own remodelling and you’ll probably save around 40% on your budget. However, if you’re unfamiliar with woodworking or electrical installation, this tip will definitely help. Naturally, having an expert will make your project run like clockwork, but it will also quickly eat into your budget. On the other hand, attempting to do it yourself could be a fun project and will probably save you a few bucks, but the results may not be what you expect. Again, there are no predetermined rules for this, other than if your budget is limited, try to do it yourself, but if you really want a good job done, then simply leave it to the pros.

Take these tips into consideration when planning your kitchen remodelling project so that the next meal you serve your family will come from a kitchen that’s magazine-worthy!

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