As technology is evolving more businesses are turning to employee monitoring software to monitor employee productivity and performance. In a study by the American Management Association, 78% of major companies monitored their employees in 2001 compared to 35% in 1997.
Another research shows that 78% of companies use employee monitoring software to keep track of employee activities and performance. These statistics demonstrate the increasing trend of employee monitoring solutions among companies of all sizes as it helps in having complete transparency into-
- Employees’ work performance.
- Exposes issues before it is too late.
- Checks for compliance with company policies.
- Detects insider threats, and ensures security.
Furthermore, According to Top10VPN‘s research, the coronavirus pandemic has led to a 54% increase in the demand for employee monitoring software as businesses have moved to the hybrid working or working from a home model that makes it difficult for managers and employers to keep a tab on their team and ensure their compliance with company policy.
With concerns and issues like data security, cyber security, and employee productivity rising to the forefront as a result of employees switching from physical office spaces to remote working environments. There has been a rapid rise in demand for employee monitoring software.
So what is employee monitoring software, How many types of software are there, and what are notable benefits to the employer?
If you are an employer looking to find out more about employee monitoring software, read on.
This blog will cover everything you need to know about employee monitoring software.
Let’s get started
Highlights of Contents
What Is Employee Monitoring Software?
Employee monitoring software is a tool used by employers to track and monitor their employees’ activity and productivity while working.
Why you need it: employee monitoring software aims to ensure that employees are working efficiently and effectively, and to identify any potential security risks or issues. This includes monitoring internet usage, keystrokes, email and instant messaging, and even the use of specific applications.
Most employee monitoring software also includes time-tracking and project management features, allowing employers to manage their teams more effectively for maximum productivity.
Different Types Of Employee Monitoring Software
Employee monitoring software keeps track of employee performance, attendance, and other key metrics. Which help organizations to better manage and operate their business workflow. Various types of employee monitoring software are available, so it is important to choose the right one for your needs. The most popular types of employee monitoring software are:
1) Attendance Tracking Software
This type of software allows managers to keep track of employee attendance. Helping management ensures that employees adhere to company attendance policies and regulations.
2) Activity Monitoring Software
This type of employee monitoring software helps managers to track employee activities and performance for the day, week, or month. Through real-time screenshots of their systems, like website and app usage. It provides management with complete transparency of employee workflows to ensure that employees are executing their tasks properly.
3) Productivity Monitoring Software
This employee monitoring software is designed to measure employees’ productivity. It can track keystrokes, mouse clicks, and other metrics to determine how much work an employee is completing in a given period.
4) Location Tracking Software
This type of employee monitoring software allows managers to track an employee’s location in real time. It provides valuable insight into where employees are, at which location they are working, how much time they are spending in each location, and how frequently they are moving between locations.
What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Employee Monitoring Software?
With many different types of employee monitoring software available on the market. Businesses can use these programs to keep track of their work performance, logging all their activities and having complete transparency among all employees.
Here are some of the benefits that are enjoyed by businesses that use employee monitoring software:
1. Safety And Security Of Company Data
Employee monitoring software helps businesses keep a record of employees’ activities on company computer systems. This can help identify and prevent cybercrime, identity theft, and other types of data breaches. If these concerns are ignored, it can put the company’s sensitive data at risk and jeopardize the company’s reputation.
2. Productivity Boost
Many businesses believe that employee monitoring software can help improve employee productivity. By tracking employee activity, businesses can identify areas in which employees are inefficient and provide corrective training or motivation to help them improve, leading to productive and efficient employees.
3. Financial Growth
Employee monitoring software can potentially lead to financial growth for a company by increasing productivity and reducing wasted time. The software allows managers to track employee activity on company devices, allowing them to better manage their resources which leads to cost saving & increased profit.
4. Real-Time Employee Performance Insights
The tracking capabilities offered by employee monitoring software can help managers understand how their employees perform throughout the day. By getting real-time data, companies can measure performance and make decisions quickly for the betterment of their employees and the business.
Know more: Ultimate Guide To Mobile Workforce Management
What To Look For In an Employee Monitoring Software?
There is no doubt that employee monitoring software can be incredibly helpful in keeping track of the activities and whereabouts of employees. However, it’s important to ensure that the software you choose suits your needs and meets your expectations.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting employee monitoring software:
1. Features:
Many employee monitoring software options offer a range of features, such as GPS tracking, social media monitoring, and email and text notifications. It’s important to find a package that offers the features you need and can handle the volume of data you’ll be collecting.
2. Cost:
Employee monitoring software can be expensive, so it’s important to consider your budget before purchasing. Some software options deliver a higher level of monitoring for a higher price tag, whereas some options are more affordable but may not offer the same level of features that some more expensive options do.
3. Ease Of Use:
It’s important that the employee monitoring software is easy to use and navigate. You don’t want to spend time figuring out how to use the software or struggling with an interface that is difficult to understand. That’s why go for the options that provide clear and concise instructions on using the software for maximum effectiveness.
4. Scalability:
It’s important to ensure the employee monitoring software can grow and evolve as your business does. You don’t want to purchase a software package that is too limiting in terms of its capabilities or scope. Instead, research options that offer expandable features so you can keep up with changes in your business.
5. Data Security:
Consider data security while choosing the employee monitoring software. Make sure to research the options and find ones that offer robust data encryption and authentication processes to prevent unauthorized access to your data, helping your business to maintain a high level of privacy and security regarding the information collected about your employees.
These are some key factors to consider when selecting employee monitoring software. Make sure to research each option carefully to find the best fit for your needs and expectations.
Also Read: Insightful vs. Timedoctor vs. Workstatus: Battle for the Best Employee Monitoring Tool
Top 10 In-Office Employee Monitoring Software
1. Workstatus
Workstatus is a leading employee monitoring software that offers a variety of features to help businesses improve productivity and efficiency. This software allows managers to track employee activity levels, monitor work progress, and manage time and attendance.
Workstatus also includes advanced features such as website and app tracking, automated screenshots, GPS tracking, selfie validation, and more. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with third-party applications like Slack, Asana, and Trello.
This makes Workstatus a great choice for any organization looking to streamline their daily operations and increase productivity in the workplace.
Check Out These Features Offered By Workstatus:
3) Workforce Management
4) Employee Activity Monitoring
5) Active Screenshot Capture
6) GPS Tracking
7) Geofencing
9) AI Powered Reports
10) Central Dashboard
Pricing
- Free Forever Package: ₹0 forever
- Premium Package: ₹299 / user/month
- Enterprise Package: Get a customized plan
Free Trial
Workstatus provides a free trial to the customer with no credit card required.
2) Time Doctor
Some Of The Features That Make Time Doctor Stand Out Are
1) Automatic Email Alerts
2) Time tracking and productivity tracking
3) Detailed Employee Records
4) Customizable Dashboards and Reports.
5) Time Tracking
Pricing
- The basic plan at $7/month, 1 user.
- Standard plan: $10/month, 1 user
- Premium plan:$20/month, 1 user
Free Trial
Time Doctor provides a free 14-day trial with all the features available for users.
Also Read: Time doctor Alternatives: Apps that can make your employees highly productive
3) RescueTime
Some Of The Features That Make Rescuetime Stand Out Are
1) Time tracking and productivity tracking
2) Customizable Dashboards and Reports
3) Activity Levels
4) Detailed Employee Records
5) Automatic Screenshots and Reports.
Pricing
- RescueTime Lite: Free
- RescueTime: $12.00 Per month
Free Trial
With RescueTime, you can try all features for 14 days without spending a penny.
4) ActivTrak
Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with third-party applications like Trello and Asana to help managers keep track of all the tasks their employees are working on.
Some Of The Features That Make Activtrak Stand Out Are
1) Time tracking and productivity tracking
2) Activity levels
3) Employee activity monitoring
4) Workflow Management
5) Built-in Team Management
Pricing
- Free/$ 0/user/month
- Advanced/$ 10/user/month
- Premium/$17/user/month
- Enterprise/ Get a customized quote
Free Trial
ActivTrak offers a free 14-day trial, so you can assess its features to see if it suits your business.
5) DeskTime
Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with third-party applications like Slack, Asana, and Trello to make administration easy.
Some Of The Features That Make DeskTime Stand Out Are
1) Time tracking
2) Productivity tracking
3) Workflow Management
4) Employee Activity Monitoring
5) Centralized Management
Pricing
- Pro/ ₹560/user/month
- Premium/ ₹800/user/month
- Enterprise/ ₹1600/user/month
Free Trial
Make an informed purchase decision by trying out Desktime’s free 14-day trial.
Know More: Workstatus vs Clockify vs Toggl
6) Timecamp
You can also get reports on employee attendance and performance. Timecamp is the perfect tool for businesses of all sizes.
Some Of The Features That Make Timecamp Stand Out Are
1) Time & Attendance Tracking
2) Employee Monitoring
3) Task & Productivity Management
4) AI intuitive Dashboard
5) Alerts & Notification
Pricing
- Free/ Free forever plan
- Basic/ $ 6.3/user/mo
- Pro/ $9 /user/mo
- Enterprise/ Get a customized quote
Free trial
With Timecamp, you can access the software’s full features for 14 days for free.
7) Timely
Some Of The Features That Make Timely Stand Out Are
1) Time Tracking
2) Productivity tracking
3) Employee Activity Monitoring
5) Customizable Dashboards and Reports.
Pricing
- Starter plan at 11/per user/per mo
- Premium plan at 20/per user/per mo
- Unlimited plan at 28/per user/per mo
- Unlimited plus plan – Get a quote
Free Trial
Timely offers a 14-day free trial to try all its features.
8) Paymo
Some Of The Features That Make Paymo Stand Out Are
1) Time Tracking
2) Employee activity monitoring
3) Schedule Management
4) Integration with other platforms
5) Notifications and Alerts
Pricing
- Free/ $0 / user/month/ Maximum 1 User
- Starter/ $5.95 / user/month/ Maximum 1 User
- Small Office/ $11.95 / user/month
- Business/ $24.95 / user/month
Free Trial
Customers of Paymo are entitled to a free 15-day trial period during which they can use all the features without any limitations.
Read more: Strategic Human Resource Management
9) Toggl
Toggl keeps track of how many hours each employee has worked in the past month or quarter, allowing managers to make better decisions about allocating work and ensuring employees are meeting project deadlines.
Some Of The Features That Make Toggl Stand Out Are
1) Time Tracking
2) Employee Activity Monitoring
3) Progress Reporting
4) Team Collaboration
5) Simple, Intuitive Interface.
Pricing
- Free/ $0/Free for up to 5 users
- Starter/$10/per user per month
- Premium/$20/per user per month
- Enterprise/ Custom pricing/ Unlimited users.
Free Trial
With Toggl, you can try all its features for free for 30 days.
Also Read: Toggl Overview, Review & Alternatives
10) Workcomposer
Some Of The Features That Make Workcomposer Stand Out Are
1) Time Tracking
2) Productivity tracking
3) Task Management
5) Multi-user support.
Pricing
- $2.99/user per month, billed monthly
Free Trial
To make an informed purchase, you can start your 7-day free trial and use every feature available.
Read More: How Intrapreneurship Can Help Your Business
Tips For Successful Implementation Of Employee Monitoring Software
When it comes to implementing employee monitoring software, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind to make the process smooth. Here are some tips that can be helpful for successful implementation:
Tip 1 – Clearly Communicate The Purpose & Benefits:
Before implementing employee monitoring software, it is important to communicate the purpose and benefits of the software to your employees. Explain how it will help improve productivity, compliance, transparency, and overall business performance.
Tip 2 – Set Clear Guidelines & Expectations:
Set clear guidelines and expectations for employees on how the software will be used and what data will be collected. Ensure employees understand that the software is not meant to spy on them but to help improve overall performance.
Tip 3 – Provide Training & Support:
Provide training and support to employees on how to use the software, and answer any questions or concerns they may have. This will help ensure that employees are comfortable using the software and understand how it can help them improve their performance.
Tip 4- Balance Monitoring With Trust And Respect For Employees’ Privacy:
It is important to ensure that the monitoring software is balanced, which includes balancing trust and respect for employees’ privacy. Make sure not to invade their privacy unnecessarily while still ensuring that the data collected is valid and useful for enhancing the performance of the employees.
Tip 5- Get Feedback From Employees For Necessary Changes:
Ensure you regularly get feedback on the software and its usability. This is important as it will help ensure they are getting the most out of their experience with the software and provide insight into areas where improvements can be made for the company’s betterment.
With these tips, you can ensure that monitoring software is implemented to benefit both employers and employees.
Also Read: 15 Best Time Tracking Software Options To Boost Your Employee Productivity & Efficiency
Conclusion
There is no doubt that employee monitoring is an important part of ensuring a safe and healthy workplace. With the increasing number of workplace incidents, it is more important than ever to have systems in place to identify potential risks and take appropriate action.
In this blog, we have outlined everything you need to know about employee monitoring, including the different types of monitoring available, the benefits of implementing it, 10 options worth trying, and the steps to take when choosing the right monitoring solution for your business.
We hope this blog has provided you with everything you need to make an informed decision about implementing employee monitoring in your workplace.
So, what are you waiting for? Give employee monitoring a try and see how it can benefit your business!
Thanks for reading!!
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