Being able to work anytime, anywhere – even in the comfort of your own home, has been the revolutionary evolution that the definition of working has undergone in the advent of the global pandemic. Workers’ and companies’ eyes have now been opened to the perception of remote work.
In this work structure, there is improved productivity, less overhead expenses, and happier workers (which, in turn, churns quality work). Adapting to a work-from-home setup is perched to be the future of working environments.
However, as with all kinds of systems, it’s not without its challenges. One of which is how this working condition fits into the company policies and how employee performances are audited. The common solution companies have put in place is by enforcing a time tracking system.
What’s a time tracking system?
Virtual time-tracking is a structure where employees can record their business hours accurately. This can be used by both employees and managers to also keep track of work progress and better self-management. With an objective log of an employee’s activities and the time it takes to get certain tasks done, employees and their managers, as well as their co-workers/teammates can identify key productivity blockers or distractions and plan a workaround to improve the team’s overall performance.
The Pros
Boost in Productivity
Time-tracking illuminates employees and employers on how much time particular tasks take. In knowing this, the team can evaluate which tasks can be eliminated and which ones need some fine-tuning to improve efficiency.
Increasing a remote team’s productivity is the most essential perk of using virtual time-tracking systems. It also allows the team to see what the others are doing and clues them in on what they can do to support each other.
Clearer Accountability
With a remote team working in separate locations, tracking who did what and how long is much tougher. Using time-trackers that record these important details holds employees more accountable in every function they take on.
This helps multi-layered projects with many teammates involved to really be responsible for their chunk of work and inspires them to be more engaged in their tasks.
Better Transparency
When you’re working with a team, communication is a necessary element. Time tracking shows teammates what others are working on to let them know how the team as a whole is doing. This also pulls the team together in a sense of oneness in a remote environment.
Increased Efficiency
Having to fill out timesheets and having managers check them one by one is a tedious and taxing chore. Therefore, having time tracking systems streamlines this exhausting task for employees and employers saving them time and effort.
It’s also easier to audit billable hours this way. Whether your team is big or small, processing your payroll is uncomplicated and straightforward.
The Cons
Potential to Micromanage
With all the data in your hands, employers might be enticed to micromanage their teams. Contrary to that misconception, time tracking is a way for managers to loosen their grips on their team members and instead, examine the insights provided by time-trackers to think up how their undertaking can be enhanced.
A Sign of Mistrust
It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that having your employer log your every move by the hour means that they don’t trust you as their employee. And feeling like you’re being watched all the time just waiting to make a mistake can cause anxiety – and therefore, under-performance.
As a solution, management should share with the team what the time-trackers are used for and how they can be used to their advantage. Being open to their two cents can also ease their apprehensions about having to log their work and hours.
Create Your Own Project Management Web App with No-Code
Using a centralized tool for project management, including time-trackers for your remote team is the key to your business or project’s success. A web app that has it all is within reach with the use of no-code web builders, such as Bubble which are user-friendly and easy to use.
Coding proficiency isn’t a prerequisite in making your own project management web app. With easy drag-and-drop features, elements you want to add to your website can be done in minutes. With Bubble’s vast options for templates and additional features, everything you need is at your fingertips.
What’s Next?
The pros of time tracking management plainly outweigh the cons in overseeing a remote team. With the use of high-performing no-code tools, you can build your own project management web app that can do so much more than track your team’s time and tasks. Increase your virtual team’s productivity and partner with professional no-code builders for your web app!
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