Top 5 Undeniable Reasons To Have A Time Tracking App

Most people usually ignore time tracking app because they do not seem to be helpful. In many cases, it is easily considered a personal privacy breach. However, this article might change the opinions about such tools.

What Exactly Is A Time Tracking App?

Well, the name basically describes a time tracking app. Its main function is to track how much time spent on a task or project, what was opened and used during that period and so much more. This kind of insights is helpful for both personal and organizations uses.

Additionally, a time tracking app makes it easier to adopt strategies on time management depending on preferences. Some other features might include blocking certain sites, reminders, project management, etc.

This type of app comes in really handy when someone is easily distracted while working, studying as it allows reviewing, analyzing and improving productivity over time. Another use case is for people with ADHD to help them stay on the track.

Top Reasons Why Having A Productivity Time Tracking App Can Help

In reality, all the 5 reasons listed below usually do not apply to a single person. Many people will only see 2-3 reasons suitable with themselves, but that is more than enough to start looking for a time tracking app.

Now, here we go to the main part.

Improve Productivity

First and foremost, a suitable time tracking software is meant to enhance productivity. Therefore, it is time to see in which level someone's performance is. Low, medium or high?

During a task or project, when having an app for time management, people are able to see the amount of time spent to complete. Through that, ineffective areas and processes are easily identified. Also, distractive things can be seen.

From here, solutions will be created. Maybe social media, irrelevant websites should be blocked to ensure 100% concentration. Maybe a particular action is taking more time than expected and it needs to be shortened, simplified or adjusted.

Besides, time tracking app that allows goals setting helps with motivation, thus levelling up the efficiency. When combining this with a self-reflection on performance regularly, the positive effects on productivity will surely follow.

Assist In Project Management

Imagine that you are given 30 hours to complete a project with around 5 to 6 tasks. How are you going to prove to your boss or motivate yourself to finish each task within an acceptable time period? This is when project time management software steps in.

Doing so does not only give you a credible account on your work to show to others but also makes management easier. You have real numbers to estimate the viable amount of time for future projects.

Some time tracking apps like iTracksy also features a project board with cards. This is obviously made for project management as tasks can be classified, moved and tracked separately. The important thing is that you do not have to switch to another software, since it works like an upgraded Trello alternative.

Create More Accurate Billings

Commonly, this will be popular for freelancers, specifically remote ones. When clients or employers ask for hourly rates and evidences, it becomes much easier because invoices can be generated.

While traditional time tracking apps do not include this feature since they are created for personal use. It is possible to find a bill generator incorporated in a Toggle or a free Toggl alternative, iTracksy (if you do not want to use all the money received for subscription).

Moreover, a owners are searching for time tracking software for small business as a way to embrace the new trend, remote working. Yet, it is essential to understand that using an app like that does not equal to micro management or controlling, since the aim is primarily to enhance the productivity.

Last but not least, this removes the fear of cheating. This is not a popular case, but some people might report that a task takes 10 hours to do while in fact, it is finished in 2 hours only with the aim to get 5x the money.

Elevate Strategies On Time Management

Nowadays, methods like Pomodoro, time boxing, Eisenhower matrix, etc. are being widely applied because they are effective to many people. However, sometimes, it is difficult to commit to them and the reasons are many.

So, a time tracking with presets for such approaches can greatly help. It does not only motivate users to stick to it but also help block distractions like entertainment websites, thus boosting focus.

Additionally, a work time tracker like iTracksy, for example, provides presets that help people to instantly deploy those methods. That is surely more convenient than having to do that manually.

Provide Data For Decision Making

This might sound irrelevant, but it is actually real. Which type of data can be gathered here? Time spent on a task, time spent on a project, actions taken during work, and similar things.

Management people, project managers surely love them since they are equipped with insights on how to improve productivity for the next times. For example, flaws in work processes and flows can be easily detected or even hiring decisions can be made if overloads are detected.

It also assists in allocating resources. In case a task consumes too much time and often blocks the progress, a support tool should be used or more humans should join it.

This does not benefit companies only. Even when you are a solo worker or freelancer, having the data to back for your decisions on productivity is mostly welcomed too.

Who Will Benefit The Most From A Productivity Tracker?

The truth is that everyone can gain some benefits when having decided to use a time tracking app daily. It usually lies in the way people utilize it. This is specially correct if the app has the ability to adapt to both organizational and personal usage, for example, iTracksy.

Some particular audiences along with the advantages they receive will be discussed below.

Remote Workers/ Freelancers

Even though remote working has become a trend, a majority of companies choose to pay hourly rather than monthly. So, it is apparent that having a time tracking app will help in deciding the salary.

For freelancers, it is always about the hours spent on work. Having a proof will prevent unnecessary conflicts from happening. Apart from that, when having the data on how the performance looks, maximizing the productivity to get more jobs, finish more tasks at a shorter time becomes a piece of cake.

Like in iTracksy, analytics are available, thus allowing you to showcase your real productivity in a credible way and so, clients will follow.

Small Businesses/ Startups

When you have less human resources than big companies, then the solution is to make use of productivity of each person to the fullest. Overtime works also appear frequently in this type of companies and a time tracking software helps determine the overtime pay.

For owners, having a summary of how employees work is much more comfortable than looking and dealing with a manual timesheet. The team and resources will be easier to balance and distribute with the aim to enhance productivity, reduce time wasting.

Outsourcing Companies

For outsourcing companies, the charges are conducted in a hourly basis which means that it is a must to have a time tracking app. This requirement will also come from the client's side as well since they need something to rely on. As a result, your transparency and credibility are increased.

Moreover, it also eliminates vague billing and invoices at the end of the day, thus ensuring benefits for both outsourcing units and people hiring them.

Firms Charging Hourly Rates

This is a little bit niche as there are only specific industries containing this type of companies like architecture, law, consultancy. Ideally, those firms' invoices are based on the number of hours put into work.

Again, deploying a time tracking software eventually comforts the customers that they will not be deceived and pay in accordance to the efforts, no more or less. Hence, trust and transparency are boosted.

The Indicators Of A Good Time Tracking App

Searching for time tracking app returns an ocean of choices, but like any other things out there, the good always goes with the bad. So, the question is what characteristics and features should be there.

Users of time tracking software are often divided into two types: organizational and personal. Each has its own requirements, preferences and because of that, the below section will dive into them separately.

However, there are some common attributes for both types and they are easy-to-use, simple and sleek interface, stability and adaptability. Of course, nobody wants a productivity tracker that forces users to waste time in navigating, learning to use, etc.

For Companies

Let's repeat a little bit. In the case of firms, the main aims when using a time tracking app are to increase productivity, track work hours, make project management easier and possess a solid foundation for decision making.

Therefore, features to look for include:

• Summary, analytics dashboard with a time span of 1-3 months.
• Work time tracker with hours counting, application and domain usages, categorization and similar things.
• Team management and sync.
• Project management board.
• Billing and invoice generator with settings to choose currency, hourly rate.

For Individuals

Regarding personal uses, the most important things that a time tracking app can help should be productivity improvement, invoice creation, project management.

So, a list of features will contain:

• Analytics of productivity to review.
• Project board with task cards to manage.
• Domain, application usage and categories tracking.
• Invoice creation based on real data.
• Presets for different strategies on time management.
• Affordable pricing and if possible, free.

Conclusion

It is never too late to hop on a time tracking app and give it a try. Millions of people are using them and this type of productivity trackers have proven to be helpful.

In case it is too hard to pick one even after reading this article, iTracksy is a good-to-go option given its features, pricing and compatibility for both organizational and personal use cases.

FAQs

How does time tracking app work?

When a person starts the app, it will run in the background to collect the data of what he or she is doing until the stop button is hit. Then analytics are displayed for review to keep track of the productivity and time spent on a task or project.

This might make users worry about their privacy, so in that case, it is better to look for an app running locally, preventing unwanted data leaks.

Is it bad to use a time tracking software?

Obviously, there is no harm in using one under any circumstances. It is solely to solve productivity issues for individuals. However, when it comes to the organization settings, managers should find a way to make the members feel less monitored and still comfortable.

Can I find a perfect time tracking software?

A one-size-fits-all app for productivity tracker does not exist. It depends on your needs and budgets. Yet, there are some good ones you might want to consider: Rize, iTracksy, Toggl, Clockify.