Compliance, employee productivity, and efficiency are the three main goals of any business.
One way to achieve these is by using activity tracking tools, such as an Activity Log, to monitor employee time and output.
However, there are some caveats you should be aware of before implementing this type of software.
If you have decided to use this type of activity tracking software, it is important to understand best practices.
What Is Activity Tracking
Activity tracking is a technology that can analyze how all your machines and employees are performing.
This software can be used to identify areas of improvement in your production and business processes.
Activity tracking can be used for companies of any size, from large production scale facilities to small company-owned businesses.
Some companies turn to activity tracking to monitor and improve employee productivity.
Employers can implement Activity Logs to track individual activity and filter results by specific criteria.
The size and depth of your activity tracking policy will depend on your business's size, industry, and needs.
What Are the Benefits of Activity Tracking?
If left unchecked, facilities face numerous risks, which may lead to disaster for both staff and business.
Facility managers are in charge of addressing these risks and keeping workers and occupants safe.
One way they do this is by implementing an activity tracking policy.
Activity tracking allows business owners to monitor the activities of a business which can help mitigate a lot of risks.
Activity Tracking Reduces Risk to People
Facility managers face various potential risks that can put workers and their goals in jeopardy if they are left unchecked.
Employees and facility management teams are responsible for securing these risks to ensure safety in the workplace.
One way to reduce various types of risk is through an activity tracking policy.
Activity Tracking Reduces Risk to Property
Facilities face hefty costs when an asset breaks down, including the cost of diagnosing the issue, replacing parts, and ultimately fixing the problem.
Activity tracking can reduce the likelihood of these risks by allowing managers to design a system where routine asset checks and planned maintenance are scheduled to avoid costly fixes down the road.
Legal Compliance and Protection
Some employers rely on activity tracking solutions to maintain legal compliance and protect their organizations against litigation.
For example, highly regulated industries like healthcare tend to have strict production quality and control guidelines.
Activity tracking in real-time helps companies ensure that these high standards are complied with at all times.
Employee Productivity
Another advantage of tracking activity is the potential increase in employee productivity.
Although some employees may view activity tracking as a lack of employer trust, you can mitigate this concern by discussing your tracking policies with your team and explaining the reasons behind them.
Instead of using activity tracking to micromanage employees, use it to improve your business.
It is important for management to be transparent with employees about their performance.
This helps workers improve and know where they stand in the company.
Managers should reward high performers and create improvement plans for areas where workers are lacking.
Fair Working Environment
In a conflict-heavy environment, activity tracking tools can resolve issues and remove bottlenecks in multi-personnel projects or on teams with a poor working atmosphere.
Activity tracking software can help improve a team's working dynamics if there are disagreements on respecting the schedule, being punctual at work, and completing tasks on time without disturbing other people's working habits.
Not all teams are the same.
Every team is different, and it is important to hold each teammate accountable for their actions.
Some people may arrive late or leave early without completing their allotted tasks for the day.
This behavior might be acceptable in extenuating circumstances, but generally, this habit should not be allowed to continue as it may cause conflict and imbalance.
Resolving these issues without disrupting production is more than possible, but it requires a delicate approach and an objective eye, which is exactly where such activity tracking software can help.
Accurate data that is not biased by interpersonal relations can be provided to help make the most informed decisions.
Activity tracking software helps managers create a fair working environment by displaying activity patterns at the individual, team, and company levels.
What Does Activity Tracking Software Do?
Activity tracking software can include various features, depending on what you want it to do.
It can perform functions like capturing log activities, separate activities for an improved user experience, color-coding activities to easily track status, track activity in detail, generate activity reports, add notes & attachments for greater clarity, and more.
Activity tracking software is designed to help users track their progress in real-time.
It reviews what needs to be addressed immediately or at a later point.
Activity tracking data is often recorded in real-time, but it can be configured to display filtered results.
Over to You
To create a successful activity tracking policy, you should choose software with the specific features and integrations you need.
Most importantly, ensure to disclose all tracking processes to your employees.
1. Choose Your Software Carefully
First, you need to determine the benefits you are seeking in an activity tracking solution.
Do you need to track activity to maintain production quality, or is employee productivity your top priority?
If you already have other monitoring software, such as a CMMS, you may need to find an activity tracking platform that easily integrates with those programs.
Define your needs and objectives, and then choose a software that meets them.
2. Use Activity Tracking Software in Addition to (Not Instead Of) Other Monitoring Tools
Activity tracking software can be an excellent tool, but it's not enough by itself.
At 24/7 Software, we recommend implementing other monitoring systems on the ground for good measure.
This should help facilities manage resources and time better, ensuring a well-balanced production system while being careful of other factors that can cause a delay in production.
Activity tracking should maximize your operational capacity.
3. Openly Disclose Activity Tracking Policies to Employees
Businesses may be required to keep certain records under the law.
And, even if they are not legally required to do so, it is important that companies track and record employee activities to effectively manage them.
Being transparent about what you are tracking and disclosing your policies regarding privacy and security can help your employees trust you better.
