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Time & Attendance System Vendors

Time & Attendance

Time & Attendance System Vendors

A first-rate time & attendance software solution can simplify your business and deliver a new level of precision to HR functions. But if you don't know what to look for, you could settle for a vendor with a product line that will soon be outdated and unmanageable.

If you haven't purchased a time and attendance software system before, the process of selecting a capable vendor can be tricky.

The features each vendor offers will be fairly consistent, but pricing and quality can be elusive for novice buyers.

From the outset, it's important to make sure prospective vendors have the legs to remain in business long after the initial sale. Scalability is a major benefit of today's time and attendance tracking systems. But if your software vendor closes its doors in six months, your system won't be capable of growing with your company and you'll have to start over with a new solution.

Unfortunately, that's not the only thing you'll have to think about when you select a time and attendance system vendor. Here are a few other considerations to help guide your search.

Market Overview

Time and attendance software solutions can be purchased from either vendors or resellers, also known as Value Added Resellers (VARs). The difference is that vendors are selling their own products while resellers are working as the middlemen for manufacturers.

It's common practice for vendors to handle large accounts themselves, but to offload small business sales, installation and training functions to VARs. Working with a VAR is fine as long as you are sure they can accurately represent the manufacturers product and are capable of providing service well into the future.

How to Evaluate Vendors
Don't be dazzled by the first product you see. Instead, take the time to evaluate a handful of products and make your decision based on the product's ability to seamlessly integrate with your work environment.
Longevity is critical when it comes to time and attendance software vendors. You should be able to scale your solution to your business size. If the vendor goes out of business after just a few months, you'll have to start the selection process all over when you outgrow your current system.
When you talk to vendors about their products, look for features that are available now rather than features the vendor promises to deliver in the near future. Far too often, promised features never materialize. Hold out for a vendor whose product has all the relevant features available from the very first day you place the solution into service.