Workpuls Teramind ActivTrak Hubstaff DeskTime Time Doctor RescueTime Kickidler Veriato Work Examiner
OVERVIEW
Price $6/user/month $6/user/month $7.20/user/month $7/user/month $7/user/month $9.99/user/month $6/user/month $9.99/user/month $150/licence/year $60/licence (lifetime)
Free trial 7 days 7 days No 14 days 14 days 14 days 30 days 7 days Yes 30 days
Ease of use Very easy Difficult Very easy Easy Easy Very easy Very easy Very easy Very difficult Easy
TRACKING METHODS
Unlimited (tracker working 24/7)
Fixed (defined working hours)
Automatic (when computer is connected to a specified network)
Manual (start/stop)
Project based (track time only on projects)
GENERAL MONITORING FEATURES
Stealth mode
App and website usage
Real-time monitoring
Offline time tracking
Attendance
Activity levels
Keylogger
Geolocation
Remote desktop control
Website/activity blocking
SCREENSHOTS AND RECORDING
Screenshots
Screenshots on demand
Screen recording
PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES
Productivity trends
Websites and apps labeling
Category labeling
Productivity alerts
ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES
User behavior analytics
Data loss prevention
Advanced file and web monitoring
REPORTING
Productivity reports
Team reports
Timelines
Email reports
Access management
PLATFORMS
Web
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
Mobile app iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android Android
Browser extension Chrome Chrome Chrome
Other Citrix, VMware Chrome OS
OTHER
Support Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Email, online Phone, email, online, in-person Online Phone, email, online Email, online, Viber, Whatsapp Phone, email, online, support ticket Phone, email, online
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Integrations comming soon
API
Deployment cloud, on-premise cloud, on-premise, AWS, Azure cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud on-premise cloud, on-premise on-premise
Kronos Humanity Timeclockplus Tsheets Wheniwork Deputy Replicon Jibble EbilityTimeTracker OnTheClock BeeBole
OVERVIEW
Price(per month)Available upon requestFrom $2 per userAvailable upon requestFrom $6.40 per user+$16Free for up to 75 usersFrom $2.50 per userBasic plan:$30 for 5 users+$5 per additional userFrom $1.50 per employeeFrom $4 per user+$8From $2.20 per user$5.99 per user per month
Free trial30 days14 daysYes14 days14 days14 days30 days30 days,no credit card required
Ease of useDifficultEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyEasy
FEATURES
Timecard management
Scheduling
Shift Trading
Timesheets
Break time management
Real-time tracking
PTO Management
Payroll
Invoicing
Client billing
GPS tracking
Clock out reminders
Alerts
Manual time
PUNCH-IN METHODS
Web app
Mobile app
Time clock device
Time clock kiosk
Facial recognition
Fingerprint scanning
Geofencing
Group punch-in
REPORTING
Visual reports
Email reports
Time rounding
MANAGEMENT
Permissions
Manager approvals
Add time for others
Integrations
PLATFORMS
Web
Android app
iOS app
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
OTHER
SupportPhone and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,chat and onlinePhone and chatEmail and onlineChat and phonePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlineOnline chat and video support in English,French,and Spanish
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Community forum
API

From the standpoint of many job seekers, a remote or hybrid work system is a great advantage.

Employers who want to stay competitive on the job market need to offer a work-from-home option. This means they also need to work out how to track remote employees and ensure they are productive. Otherwise, this employee benefit can easily turn into a stumbling block for the company.

This article outlines the most useful methods for tracking remote employees together with the most popular tools you can rely on.

1. Introduce Time Tracking Software

Time tracking software allows employees to log their hours and activities. Thanks to this, managers get a transparent view of how their teammates spend their work time.

This approach can be especially useful for tracking project-based work and can highlight discrepancies between reported and actual work hours. 

What managers should be mindful of are the limitations of time tracking. One of those is the potential to miss out on recording spontaneous tasks like phone calls or unscheduled meetings.

Insightful

Insightful enhances workforce management with features like automated time tracking, activity and productivity monitoring, and insider threat detection.

Real-time insights into employee productivity allow managers to distinguish between active and idle time. This way it supports compliance with labor laws through break and overtime tracking.

The platform also offers real-time threat detection. This feature is especially important for remote or hybrid teams. It allows the security officers to immediately be notified about risky employee behavior and prevent any security breaches.

ActivTrak

ActivTrak, with its robust employee monitoring tools, aids leaders in enhancing team performance.

This software facilitates weekly coaching summaries and real-time activity insights, allowing targeted coaching and productivity tracking. It also offers detailed analytics on work activity and productivity, along with benchmarks to assess and improve team goal achievement.

What may be a downside of the software is that it might slow down the response time of the device.

2. Adopt a Project & Task Management Application

Task management applications enable managers to assign work, set deadlines, and track progress in real time.

While primarily used for project management, they can also shed light on individual work habits and productivity. This can help managers identify areas where employees may need additional support or resources.

Wrike

Wrike has around two million users across the world. It boasts extensive features including resource planning and AI-driven automation for efficient project management.

This tool also offers customizable Gantt charts, Kanban boards, real-time analytics, and numerous app integrations. Thanks to its robustness, it facilitates seamless collaboration and scalable growth.

Reliable support and diverse pricing plans allow it to meet various organizational needs.

Monday

Monday.com is a user-friendly project management software. It features customizable dashboards, automation, and a variety of templates to boost productivity.

With key integrations and a range of pricing plans, it garners positive reviews for its smooth navigation and collaboration capabilities.

Its flaws include potential data clutter as well as somewhat limited analytics and support options. Despite this, numerous companies choose this software to manage their projects.

3. Implement an Email Activity Analysis Tool

The average professional dedicates 28-50% of their workday to email communication. In other words, email activity constitutes an important aspect of productivity for many roles.

Email monitoring tools can provide in-depth data on email volumes, response times, and communication patterns. A data-driven approach such as this one can help managers understand individual workloads and redistribute tasks to enhance team efficiency.

EmailAnalytics

EmailAnalytics offers intuitive visualization of email activities for Gmail and Outlook. It provides metrics, like email response times and daily volume per agent, vital for sales and customer service efficiency.

With automated daily or weekly reports and a seamless setup that is adaptable to existing workflows, it allows insights into team email dynamics.

Right Inbox

Right Inbox is a Google Chrome extension for Gmail. It enhances your email management through features like click tracking allowing you to monitor who engages with your emails and their level of interaction.

This tool also includes functionalities for scheduling emails, setting reminders, and automating sequences to streamline your communication process.

Conclusion

These three methods for tracking remote employees are the best ones to start with. The sequence in which you will employ them depends on your industry and specific business needs.

Start with the analysis of your team’s day-to-day tasks. Figure out your priorities. If your email traffic isn’t heavy, then it’s probably best to start with general time tracking efforts.

Everything runs smoothly once you figure out your most important area for monitoring and choose the tracking software. Reach out to the software sales team, and they will surely guide you through the setup process.

Before you know it, you will have streamlined your business processes and boosted your productivity, all the while working from home.

We’ve reserved a 7-day free trial for you….

Want your hybrid or remote team to be more productive?

Claim your free 7-Day full feature trial of Insightful today. Insightful’s actionable work insights make your team more productive, efficient and accountable.

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Remote Work Management

How to Track Remote Employees: 3 Methods of Boosting Efficiency

Written by
Vanja Savic Petrovic
Published on
April 3, 2024

From the standpoint of many job seekers, a remote or hybrid work system is a great advantage.

Employers who want to stay competitive on the job market need to offer a work-from-home option. This means they also need to work out how to track remote employees and ensure they are productive. Otherwise, this employee benefit can easily turn into a stumbling block for the company.

This article outlines the most useful methods for tracking remote employees together with the most popular tools you can rely on.

1. Introduce Time Tracking Software

Time tracking software allows employees to log their hours and activities. Thanks to this, managers get a transparent view of how their teammates spend their work time.

This approach can be especially useful for tracking project-based work and can highlight discrepancies between reported and actual work hours. 

What managers should be mindful of are the limitations of time tracking. One of those is the potential to miss out on recording spontaneous tasks like phone calls or unscheduled meetings.

Insightful

Insightful enhances workforce management with features like automated time tracking, activity and productivity monitoring, and insider threat detection.

Real-time insights into employee productivity allow managers to distinguish between active and idle time. This way it supports compliance with labor laws through break and overtime tracking.

The platform also offers real-time threat detection. This feature is especially important for remote or hybrid teams. It allows the security officers to immediately be notified about risky employee behavior and prevent any security breaches.

ActivTrak

ActivTrak, with its robust employee monitoring tools, aids leaders in enhancing team performance.

This software facilitates weekly coaching summaries and real-time activity insights, allowing targeted coaching and productivity tracking. It also offers detailed analytics on work activity and productivity, along with benchmarks to assess and improve team goal achievement.

What may be a downside of the software is that it might slow down the response time of the device.

2. Adopt a Project & Task Management Application

Task management applications enable managers to assign work, set deadlines, and track progress in real time.

While primarily used for project management, they can also shed light on individual work habits and productivity. This can help managers identify areas where employees may need additional support or resources.

Wrike

Wrike has around two million users across the world. It boasts extensive features including resource planning and AI-driven automation for efficient project management.

This tool also offers customizable Gantt charts, Kanban boards, real-time analytics, and numerous app integrations. Thanks to its robustness, it facilitates seamless collaboration and scalable growth.

Reliable support and diverse pricing plans allow it to meet various organizational needs.

Monday

Monday.com is a user-friendly project management software. It features customizable dashboards, automation, and a variety of templates to boost productivity.

With key integrations and a range of pricing plans, it garners positive reviews for its smooth navigation and collaboration capabilities.

Its flaws include potential data clutter as well as somewhat limited analytics and support options. Despite this, numerous companies choose this software to manage their projects.

3. Implement an Email Activity Analysis Tool

The average professional dedicates 28-50% of their workday to email communication. In other words, email activity constitutes an important aspect of productivity for many roles.

Email monitoring tools can provide in-depth data on email volumes, response times, and communication patterns. A data-driven approach such as this one can help managers understand individual workloads and redistribute tasks to enhance team efficiency.

EmailAnalytics

EmailAnalytics offers intuitive visualization of email activities for Gmail and Outlook. It provides metrics, like email response times and daily volume per agent, vital for sales and customer service efficiency.

With automated daily or weekly reports and a seamless setup that is adaptable to existing workflows, it allows insights into team email dynamics.

Right Inbox

Right Inbox is a Google Chrome extension for Gmail. It enhances your email management through features like click tracking allowing you to monitor who engages with your emails and their level of interaction.

This tool also includes functionalities for scheduling emails, setting reminders, and automating sequences to streamline your communication process.

Conclusion

These three methods for tracking remote employees are the best ones to start with. The sequence in which you will employ them depends on your industry and specific business needs.

Start with the analysis of your team’s day-to-day tasks. Figure out your priorities. If your email traffic isn’t heavy, then it’s probably best to start with general time tracking efforts.

Everything runs smoothly once you figure out your most important area for monitoring and choose the tracking software. Reach out to the software sales team, and they will surely guide you through the setup process.

Before you know it, you will have streamlined your business processes and boosted your productivity, all the while working from home.