Replacing paper crew timesheets through automation is easier said than done. It probably goes with saying, but we’ll say it anyway. Entering jobs, phases, cost codes, pay classes, billing codes, and other key information in a crew timesheet absolutely needs to be easier, more efficient and accurate than writing it in on a paper crew timesheet.
There are a few major tests that any software solution must pass in the field.
Test Number One: eliminating data entry errors. Robust crew timesheet software must significantly reduce or completely eliminate data entry errors. Critical features should allow supervisors to easily search and browse, or to start typing and have an autocomplete find what they are looking for. Automating data entry ensures that only valid jobs, phases, cost codes, etc. are entered, and that approvers and administrative staff do not have to spend time correcting errors.
Test Number Two: Finding and adding necessary resources to a crew timesheet must be easy. Search and browse features, autocomplete features, and filtered search features should make the task much easier. In some cases, the supervisor should be able to identify employees by key properties such as their default pay class, billing code or location.
Test Number Three: Automated copy previous features, and smart copy previous features, allow supervisors to carry forward key information on crew timesheets from day to day, avoiding the need to enter unchanged data again.