Timesheet Buyer's Guide

Selecting a timesheet system for your organization can be daunting. We've put some of our resources for selecting a timesheet into one place along with the most common answers for those considering a timesheet purchase.

TimeControl timesheet
TimeControl timesheet

"What do you need in a timesheet?" We've been asking that question of our prospective clients for over 25 years and the answers aren't always the same. We've put together the most common resources that HMS supplies to those considering a new timesheet system along with some of the questions you'll need to ask of yourself and of the vendors you consider so you know that you're getting a solution to your business challenges.

If you’ve just started your search for a timesheet solution then you probably already know that you’ve got a few things to consider. We’ve assembled some key resources for evaluating timesheet systems and we hope you’ll include TimeControl as a potential solution to your timesheet challenges. The first thing to remember is that a timesheet is a solution to a problem and it’s therefore important to start by articulating the problem or challenge you’re trying to solve. Are you the key decision maker or have you gotten guidance from that person as to what they’re trying to resolve? Is there only a single purpose to the timesheet or are you being asked to solve challenges from several perspectives. For example, trying to find a timesheet system that serves payroll requirements and reduces payroll errors at the same time as improving project tracking will often turn out different results than each party looking for a separate solution. HMS has been in the timesheet software business since the early 1980s. We are committed to provide solutions that make a difference and hopefully the materials we’ve listed here will help you in your search for a timesheet system for your own requirements.

As you get started in your search, one of the first things you’ll need to think about is what kind of timesheet you require. You may want to listen to the Timesheet Types webcast recorded by the President of HMS Software as he discusses the different kinds of timesheet solutions you may be faced with in the market. That webcast also discusses some of the timesheet types which you will find bundled with other software.

Once you know if you need a single purpose timesheet or one that’s more multi-functional, you may want to look at the Timesheet Evaluation Grid. This is a series of the most common functionality requests we receive here at HMS when prospective clients are looking for a timesheet. The grid is in Excel and has several columns for your short list of possible timesheet vendors. We’ve taken the liberty of checking off those functions that are included with TimeControl and left room for you to add additional functions and other products to consider. Looking at an Industrial Field-Data Collection timesheet? Then you might prefer the Industrial Timesheet Evaluation Grid.

The TimeControl Benefits Calculator will help you determine the return on investment of deploying the TimeControl timesheet system. Enter the number of employees, average salary, average hours per week and this Excel spreadsheet will show you the savings to your organization based on calculations taken from organizations such as the American Payroll Association. Take the 1% challenge and see the savings of deploying TimeControl when it makes an impact on efficiency of as little as 1%!

One possible solution that is often considered and then discarded is the idea of writing your own timesheet. This often sounds great in theory and turns out to be awful in practice. You’ll find an analysis of the differences of writing a custom timesheet or buying one off the shelf in the Buying TimeControl or Writing your own Timesheet white paper.

If you think TimeControl may be right for you and your organization, then take a look at some of the resources below. You can try TimeControl for free right now on the hosted TimeControl Trial or see a presentation and demonstration on a TimeControl webcast. We’d be happy to talk to you about your timesheet requirements. Just send us a Contact Request.

Good luck in your timesheet search!

Other TimeControl Resources

  • TimeControl Timesheet Screenshot Thumbnail
    TimeControl Overview

    The Matrix Approval process that is enabled by TimeControl allows both project management and finance to approve timesheet hours and costs within the same process. This webcast shows how line-item timesheet approval and sequential timesheet approval can be a huge problem for matrix organizations and how TimeControl's Matrix Approval Process can empower both parts of the organization.

    Watch Webcast
  • TimeControl Timesheet Screenshot Thumbnail
    On-premises or On-line?

    So, you like all the functionality TimeControl has to offer but you're not sure whether to consider purchasing TimeControl for an on-premises installation or to subscribe to TimeControlOnline, the hosted timesheet service in the cloud. This webcast looks at the pros and cons of each choice and gives you some basic questions to ask yourself when thinking about which option would be best for your organization.

    Watch Webcast
  • TimeControl Timesheet Screenshot Thumbnail
    Timesheet Types

    As you get started in your search, one of the first things you’ll need to think about is what kind of timesheet you require. This webcast recorded by the President of HMS Software as he discusses the different kinds of timesheet solutions you may be faced with in the market and some of the timesheet types which you will find bundled with other software.

    Watch Webcast
  • PDF
    TimeControl brochure

    This is a general overview of TimeControl's capabilities in a 4-page brochure.

    Open Factsheet
  • PDF
    On Premises or Online?

    This factsheet looks at choosing between purchasing TimeControl for an on-premises installation vs. subscribing to the TimeControlOnline hosted timesheet service. There are numerous factors to consider and this 4-page factsheet gives an overview of some of the questions to think about.

    Open Factsheet
  • PDF
    The Timesheet Approvals Challenge

    Selecting a timesheet can be daunting as there are many different types of timesheets to choose from. Do you need a time and attendance system? Time and Billing? What about Project Tracking? When you are looking for one timesheet to fulfill multiple purposes, choosing a timesheet is even more difficult. HMS has dealt with thousands of companies who have looked for a single timesheet for multiple purposes and the timesheet selection inevitably focuses on how to do approvals for different purposes. Overcoming the Timesheet Approvals Challenge shows how to use TimeControl's Matrix Approval Process™ to enable a single timesheet entry to serve multiple purposes.

    Open Whitepaper
  • PDF
    Buy it, Subscribe to it or Write it?

    This paper discusses the comparative advantages and challenges of buying or subscribing to TimeControl vs. writing your own custom built timesheet system. While creating a custom timesheet system may seem trivial at first, a moment's consideration will show how complex it can be. We've taken some conservative estimates of creating an organizational timesheet system and put them next to sample TimeControl and TimeControl Online pricing.

    Open Whitepaper
  • Excel
    TimeControl Benefits Calculator

    This spreadsheet helps you calculate the return on investment and the length of time to repay your investment of deploying the TimeControl timesheet system. Enter the number of employees, average salary, average hours per week and Excel will show you the savings to your organization based on calculations we've taken from organizations such as the American Payroll Association.

    DownloadTimeControl Benefits Calculator
  • Excel
    Timesheet Evaluation Grid

    This is a series of the most common functionality requests we receive here at HMS when prospective clients are looking for a timesheet. The grid is in Excel and has several columns for your short list of possible timesheet vendors. We’ve taken the liberty of checking off those functions that are included with TimeControl and left room for you to add additional functions and other products to consider.

    Download Timesheet Evaluation Grid
  • Excel
    Industrial Timesheet Evaluation Grid

    This is a series of the most common functionality requests we receive here at HMS when prospective clients are looking for a timesheet for industrial use such as in construction, EPC, shutdown, mining or other field data collection situations. The grid is in Excel and has several columns for your short list of possible industrial timesheet vendors. We’ve taken the liberty of checking off those functions that are included with TimeControl Industrial such as a crew timesheet and left room for you to add additional functions and other products to consider.

    Download Industrial Timesheet Evaluation Grid