TimeClock Plus - Time Clock Software

TimeClock Plus is a computerized time and attendance system developed and sold by Data Management Inc. Beginning as a DOS application in 1988, it developed into a Windows application, and eventually a web application. The software is available under a perpetual license or a Software as a service.

The program includes a suite of web applications and optional hardware. WebClock is a web application for the employees to clock in and out. Another option is called a Time Clock which mounts to the wall and can come with different input methods including touch screen. A mobile app and automated telephone system called TelClock are also available. With any of these methods, the employee clocks in, and the data is immediately recorded in a Microsoft SQL database. TimeClock Manager is a web application for the administrator and managers to create employees, review hours, enter leave, run reports, and send hours to payroll.

An early version of the program was noted for working well on low-powered computers, even though it was capable of dealing with up to 10,000 employees.

History

TimeClock Plus was developed in 1988 as a program written in DOS and several versions were released up to 1994, with one in 1999 to fix the year 2000 problem. Versions were also written for SCO UNIX and IBM AIX. The first version for Microsoft Windows was released in 1994.

Until 2005, the software used a Dbase compatible database, but from version 5.0, it changed to Microsoft SQL. In 2006 the first web version was released as a simple, scaled down version of 5.0 for Windows. This removed the necessity of a client installation and also made the system available to Macintosh users for the first time. In 2008 a complete web version of 5.0 for Windows was introduced.

In 2010 web version 3.0 was released with all the functionality of 6.0 for Windows. Later, TimeClock Plus Hybrid was released, which allowed 3.0 for Web and 6.0 for Windows to operate together. This was followed by the SaaS model, TimeClock Plus OnDemand, which allows subscribers to use the application on a database hosted by Data Management Inc. at a SAS 70 compliant data center with encrypted data transmission and daily backups. Two new employee access points were introduced in 2011: an interactive voice response system and mobile applications that run on Android and iPhone.

In August 2011 a partnership was announced between TimeClock Plus and Windsor Management Group, which services "850+ school districts" around the country, to bundle TimeClock Plus with the financial and HR management solution, Infinite Visions. In September the same year, TimeClock Plus announced that it had formed a partnership with the Texas Computer Cooperative (TCC) which provides administrative software to Texas schools,

Features

The TimeClock Plus v7 software includes several web applications.

The administrative application is TimeClock Manager where employees, managers, job codes, and business rules are created and maintained. Important information is reflected on the dashboard in interactive widgets. Tools are available to manage hours and leave requests, generate a report, determine job code status, and total hours for the day or week to prevent unnecessary overtime, send employee messages, build schedules, and track tips for service industries. The reports break down employee time, job codes, and other information in different ways.

WebClock is the interface used by employees to clock in, clock out, go on break, change job code, and carry out other enabled tasks such as viewing and approving hours, viewing schedules, and entering time sheets or leave requests. Missed punches may also be enabled to save time when an employee forgets to clock in or out. Hardware is also available for clock operations involving a terminal that can be mounted on the wall, which is configured and controlled by another web application called Clock Hub.

Another web application is TimeClock Scheduler where schedules are created and maintained.

There are also over 100 payroll interface modules that can transfer hours to payroll systems.

Reception

In 1992, the New York Times wrote that "Unlike many flashy software products, Timeclock Plus works just fine on older PC-XT's" and it can "streamline paperwork and provide managers with a handy tool for analyzing labor costs." In the same year, the Miami Herald wrote that "TimeClock Plus will maintain the records of as many as 10,000 employees."

In April 2011, the San Angelo Standard Times reported that TimeClock Plus scales to any size from small family owned shops to large companies like NASA and that about 50,000 companies were using the system including Boeing, Harley Davidson, Ford Motor Company, Dial, and Sara Lee.