Workforce Tracking Software: Why It’s Not “Big Brother”

It’s not uncommon for employees to be wary of any system that allows supervisors to monitor their whereabouts throughout the day. This resistance is generally less prevalent in the younger millennial demographic, who are used to readily divulging their GPS location via their smartphones. However, members of Gen X may find it more difficult to hand over so much information to their managers. Below are three angles managers can take to deter the feeling that “big brother is watching” when introducing workforce tracking software to their field teams.

Develop More Efficient Routes

One benefit of using workforce tracking solutions with a GPS component is that managers can devise more direct driving routes for their field teams. Field employees spend approximately 13% of their day traveling between various locations. Since time spent on the road is time not being spent on productive activities, it’s imperative that employees are taking the most efficient routes possible to their end destinations.

Enter workforce tracking software. When managers have complete visibility of employees’ daily journeys, they are able to discover inefficiencies that are cutting into potential working time. Having access to this type of information enables managers to reduce the number of miles traveled as a company’s customer base expands and employees are covering larger territories. Employees are more engaged when they are using their skills to get work done rather than sitting in traffic. Therefore, managers should highlight this advantage to show employees how GPS tracking will save them time and prevent road rage.  

Provide On-Site Help

Workforce tracking also gives managers insight into problems occurring in the field that might otherwise go unnoticed. For example, if a manager sees that an employee is taking longer than usual to arrive at a site (due to traffic conditions or other unavoidable causes), they may send a replacement to take care of the appointment and avoid making the customer wait around. What’s more, some workforce tracking software solutions are equipped with messaging functionality that lets managers check in with the employee who is experiencing delays.

It can be challenging to administer help as needed to employees who spend most of their day out of managers’ sight. Knowing where employees are at any given point in the day and how long they are there for gives managers the ability to stay on top of any situations that seem unordinary. Employees should be made aware of this perk, as it testifies to the fact that managers are available to offer assistance in times of trouble.

Deliver Accurate Reimbursement

For those organizations who reimburse field employees for traveling expenses, workforce management solutions with a tracking feature can be especially useful. Using pen and paper to record mileage is outdated and inefficient. Not to mention, relying on one’s memory is subject to human error. Since workforce tracking systems let employees easily input their number of miles traveled throughout the day into a mobile app, field representatives will not have to worry about manually logging this information and can focus more of their time on meaningful, profitable work.

What’s more, employee tracking will eliminate any disputes over how much time workers are spending on the road, thus allowing managers to deliver accurate reimbursement for gas. Employees will obviously benefit from this because they will never get shortchanged for their traveling expenses. Furthermore, removing the possibility of mistakes in reimbursement amounts will improve relationships between managers and employees.

It’s perfectly normal for field employees to be hesitant of workforce tracking solutions that “follow” them throughout the day. However, managers should do their best to express how such solutions will make employees’ lives easier. With an effective solution in place, employees will save time on the road, avert problems in the field, and be paid accordingly for their gas bills.