Time tracking software
Encyclopedia
Time tracking software is a category of computer software that allows its users to record time spent on tasks. This software is typically used by professionals who bill their customers by the hour, including lawyer
s and accountant
s. It represents an electronic version of the traditional paper timesheet
. Many such packages allow the automatic generation of invoice
s to the professional's clients or customers based on the time spent and the hourly fee, and allow for the additional billing of related costs to each client or file.
Time tracking/recording software - automatically records activities performed on a computer.
Time tracking software can be:
s. This was the very first wave of the time tracking software when computers came to many offices. The idea is to replace all heavy paperwork and get more organized. Timesheet software allows entering time spent performing different tasks while working.
When used within companies, employees enter their time into an electronic timesheet, which can then be approved or rejected by supervisors or project managers.
When used by freelancers, this software allows creating reports for clients to explain how their time was spent.
Increasingly, timesheet software is web-based, making deployment much easier .
When used within companies, this software allows monitoring employees' productivity by recording computer and Internet usage. Also, it can be used to help to complete timesheets.
When used by freelancer
s, this software helps to create reports for clients (like timesheets and invoices) or to prove work.
Note: information in this article is based on the current time tracking market research.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s and accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
s. It represents an electronic version of the traditional paper timesheet
Timesheet
A timesheet is a method for recording the amount of a worker's time spent on each job.-Use:Originally developed for an employer to determine payroll, timesheets are not just for payroll any more. Timesheets may record the start and end time of tasks, or just the duration. It may contain a...
. Many such packages allow the automatic generation of invoice
Invoice
An invoice or bill is a commercial document issued by a seller to the buyer, indicating the products, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services the seller has provided the buyer. An invoice indicates the buyer must pay the seller, according to the payment terms...
s to the professional's clients or customers based on the time spent and the hourly fee, and allow for the additional billing of related costs to each client or file.
Types of time tracking software
Timesheet software software - allows to enter time spent performing different tasks while working.Time tracking/recording software - automatically records activities performed on a computer.
Time tracking software can be:
- Standalone - used only to record timesheets, and generate reports
- Integrated into accounting system - where timesheet data is directly fed into company accounts
- Integrated into billing system - used to generate invoices, especially used by contractors and professionals such as lawyers
- Integrated into project management systems - timesheet data is used in project management softwareProject management softwareProject management software is a term covering many types of software, including estimation and planning, scheduling, cost control and budget management, resource allocation, collaboration software, communication, quality management and documentation or administration systems, which are used to...
to graph the effort being spent on each project or task. - Integrated into payroll system - timesheet data is used in payroll software to pay employees based on their time worked.
Timesheet software
Timesheet software is an accounting software used to maintain timesheetTimesheet
A timesheet is a method for recording the amount of a worker's time spent on each job.-Use:Originally developed for an employer to determine payroll, timesheets are not just for payroll any more. Timesheets may record the start and end time of tasks, or just the duration. It may contain a...
s. This was the very first wave of the time tracking software when computers came to many offices. The idea is to replace all heavy paperwork and get more organized. Timesheet software allows entering time spent performing different tasks while working.
When used within companies, employees enter their time into an electronic timesheet, which can then be approved or rejected by supervisors or project managers.
When used by freelancers, this software allows creating reports for clients to explain how their time was spent.
Increasingly, timesheet software is web-based, making deployment much easier .
Time tracking/recording software
Time tracking/recording software automates time tracking process by recording what activities, when and for how long are performed on a computer. This was the second wave of the time tracking software. The idea is to get the actual picture about computer usage. Automatic time tracking/recording software shows applications, documents, games, websites usage.When used within companies, this software allows monitoring employees' productivity by recording computer and Internet usage. Also, it can be used to help to complete timesheets.
When used by freelancer
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
s, this software helps to create reports for clients (like timesheets and invoices) or to prove work.
Note: information in this article is based on the current time tracking market research.
See also
- Comparison of time tracking softwareComparison of time tracking softwareThis is a comparison of notable time tracking software packages and web hosted services.- See also :*Flextime plan*Project management software*Time tracking software*Timesheet*Working time...
- Computer surveillanceComputer surveillanceComputer surveillance is the act of performing surveillance of computer activity, and of data stored on a hard drive or being transferred over the Internet....
- Project management softwareProject management softwareProject management software is a term covering many types of software, including estimation and planning, scheduling, cost control and budget management, resource allocation, collaboration software, communication, quality management and documentation or administration systems, which are used to...