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Time Tracking
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Best Time Tracking for Construction Crews

Manual time tracking can inflate construction payroll costs by 2-8% annually. Harvest offers digital solutions to prevent inaccuracies and reduce costs.

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How much revenue is your team leaving on the table?

Most agencies run at 55-60% utilization. Even a small improvement means significant revenue. See what closing the gap looks like for your team.

Number of people who track billable time
$
Blended rate across roles (junior, senior, lead)
55%
Percentage of total hours that are billable. Industry average is 55-60%.
75%
A realistic target for service businesses is 70-80%.
Monthly revenue gap $0
Revenue at current utilization $0/mo
Revenue at target utilization $0/mo
Extra billable hours needed per person/day 0h
Annual revenue opportunity $0

Start tracking team utilization

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

The Hidden Costs of Manual Time Tracking in Construction

Manual time tracking methods can significantly inflate payroll costs for construction companies, often resulting in a 2-8% increase in payroll expenses annually. This is primarily due to inaccuracies and issues like "buddy punching," where one employee clocks in for another, affecting approximately 75% of businesses. Furthermore, the administrative burden of manual tracking is immense, with hours lost to chasing timesheets and data entry errors.

Beyond financial impacts, manual tracking poses compliance risks. Construction companies must adhere to labor laws and prevailing wage regulations, with potential penalties for violations. These inaccuracies can also hinder accurate job costing, leading to inefficient project budgeting and bidding. By understanding these hidden costs, companies can see the clear advantage of switching to digital solutions like Harvest.

Essential Features of Construction-Specific Time Tracking Software

Construction crews require time tracking software with specific features to address their unique challenges. GPS tracking and geofencing are crucial for verifying worker locations and preventing off-site clock-ins. Software must also offer offline functionality to accommodate areas with poor connectivity, syncing data when back online.

Mobile accessibility is another essential feature, allowing field workers to record hours on smartphones and tablets. Additionally, tracking hours by job and cost codes ensures precise allocation for detailed project analysis. To combat "buddy punching," systems should incorporate facial recognition or biometric authentication. Harvest meets these needs by providing mobile access and job-specific time tracking, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

Unlocking Efficiency: Benefits of Digital Time Tracking for Construction

Digital time tracking solutions offer substantial benefits for construction companies, including significant cost savings. By automating verification processes and eliminating errors, companies can reduce labor costs by up to 32% in the first year, potentially saving over $700,000. Improved payroll accuracy further accelerates financial processes, cutting processing time by up to 70%.

Moreover, digital tracking enhances job costing and project management by providing real-time labor cost data. This enables better budgeting and forecasting, increasing productivity and accountability. Harvest supports these efficiencies with real-time reporting, offering insights for better decision-making and compliance with labor regulations.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Time Tracking Solution

Selecting the right time tracking software requires consideration of several key factors. Integration capabilities are crucial, especially with construction-specific accounting software like Sage and QuickBooks. Scalability is also important, as the solution should accommodate varying crew sizes and project complexities.

User experience is another critical factor. Opt for intuitive mobile apps that field workers can easily adopt. Reporting and analytics features should offer insights into labor costs and productivity. Consider "pay-as-you-go" pricing if your workforce fluctuates seasonally. Harvest excels in these areas, providing user-friendly mobile access and robust reporting features, making it an ideal choice for construction crews.

Best Time Tracking with Harvest

See how Harvest tracks construction crew hours with features like mobile access and real-time reporting. Ideal for reducing costs and improving accuracy.

Screenshot of Harvest's time tracking dashboard for construction crews.

Best Time Tracking for Construction Crews FAQs

  • A time tracking app for construction crews should include GPS tracking, geofencing, mobile accessibility, offline functionality, and integration with payroll systems. These features help ensure accurate time reporting and compliance with labor regulations.

  • Harvest enhances time tracking by offering mobile access, real-time reporting, and job-specific tracking. These features help field workers clock in easily and project managers monitor labor costs and productivity effectively.

  • Digital time tracking reduces labor costs, improves payroll accuracy, and ensures compliance with labor laws. It provides real-time visibility into workforce activity, enhancing productivity and project management.

  • Construction companies can reduce time theft by using features like GPS tracking and geofencing, which verify worker location at clock-in/out. Harvest offers these tools, preventing off-site punches and "buddy punching."

  • Consider integration capabilities with existing accounting systems, scalability, user experience, and robust reporting features. Harvest excels in these areas, making it an ideal choice for construction crews.

  • Yes, Harvest integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, facilitating seamless data transfer and accurate job costing for construction projects.

  • Harvest's mobile app allows field workers to clock in and out easily, even in remote locations. It supports offline functionality, syncing data when connectivity is restored.