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Time Tracking
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Time Tracking for Research Labs

Harvest provides research labs with precise time tracking tools to optimize project management and increase productivity by up to 35%.

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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 Strategic Imperative: Why Research Labs Need Time Tracking

Time tracking is essential for research labs aiming to enhance productivity, ensure compliance, and optimize resource allocation. Research indicates that academic researchers spend around 45% of their time on administrative tasks, which can detract from core research activities. By implementing time tracking, labs can quantify the value of their R&D efforts and resource contributions, resulting in better project profitability and cost control.

Additionally, accurate time tracking supports R&D tax credit claims and grant compliance by providing the necessary documentation. This is crucial as it allows organizations to reinvest savings into further research. Moreover, labs implementing mobile time tracking have reported a 35% productivity increase, showcasing the tangible benefits of adopting such systems.

Core Features of Effective Time Tracking Solutions for Research

Choosing the right time tracking solution is pivotal for research labs. Effective tools offer real-time tracking and detailed timesheet capabilities, essential for precise allocation of time across projects and tasks. The ability to break down projects into granular tasks allows for better insight into resource utilization.

Robust reporting and analytics are also critical, as they provide data-driven insights that inform decision-making. Additionally, the ability to track both billable and non-billable hours with clear categorization is vital for labs with diverse funding sources. Mobile access further enhances flexibility, enabling researchers to log time on-the-go, which is particularly beneficial for fieldwork.

Integrating Time Tracking with Lab Operations and Funding

For research labs, integrating time tracking with existing operations and funding mechanisms is crucial. Harvest facilitates seamless integration with project management, ERP, and payroll systems, streamlining data flow and reducing manual entry. This integration is especially important for grant management, as it allows labs to link time data directly to grant codes, ensuring compliance and simplifying reporting.

Tracking hours against specific cost codes is another critical feature, as it enhances accountability and eases the auditing process. By automating calculations for labor rates and project budgets, labs can maintain financial accuracy and control over their projects.

Best Practices for Successful Implementation and Adoption

Implementing a time tracking system in a research lab begins with defining clear objectives, such as improving grant reporting or enhancing productivity. Communicating these benefits to researchers is essential to gain buy-in and minimize resistance. Choosing a tool like Harvest that is user-friendly and minimizes administrative burden can significantly improve adoption rates.

Establishing clear guidelines for categorizing work into billable and non-billable activities is crucial for accurate data entry. Regularly reviewing tracked data helps identify inefficiencies and optimize resource allocation. By addressing concerns about micromanagement and focusing on strategic insights, labs can foster a culture of trust and encourage consistent use of the tool.

Time Tracking for Research Labs with Harvest

Explore how Harvest's time tracking tools can optimize research lab management and enhance productivity. Track projects and tasks precisely.

Harvest time tracking interface for research labs

Time Tracking for Research Labs FAQs

  • Time tracking enhances lab productivity by identifying inefficiencies and optimizing workflows. For instance, labs using mobile time tracking have seen productivity increase by 35%. It helps researchers focus on high-value tasks and improves resource allocation.

  • Key features include real-time tracking, detailed reporting, and project/task breakdown capabilities. Integration with lab systems and the ability to track both billable and non-billable hours are also important.

  • Harvest integrates seamlessly with grant management systems, allowing time data to link directly to grant codes. This integration simplifies compliance and reporting processes, ensuring accurate time allocation across projects.

  • Yes, Harvest differentiates between billable and non-billable hours, allowing labs to categorize and report time accurately. This is crucial for labs with diverse funding sources and helps in financial tracking.

  • Accurate time tracking provides necessary documentation for R&D tax credit claims. It ensures that labs can substantiate their eligibility, allowing them to benefit from cost reductions and reinvest in research.

  • Common challenges include resistance due to perceived micromanagement and the administrative burden of tracking. Harvest addresses these by offering user-friendly tools and emphasizing strategic insights over surveillance.

  • Harvest supports collaborative time tracking for multidisciplinary teams with features like project-based tracking and team management. It enables efficient coordination and resource allocation across diverse research activities.