CenterPoint Accounting - Time Capture Tools

 

Document #: 3177 Product: CenterPoint Payroll

 

Red Wing Software offers an add-on module to CenterPoint Payroll called Time Clock Import. The cost of the module is $195.00. It provides the ability to create a mapping function to work with most time files created by electronic time clocks, time capture software applications, Web based applications or other time capture tools.

A commonly asked question by customers is “What time clocks will work with the CenterPoint Payroll?” With the mapping functionality found in our Time Clock Import module, just about any time tracking tool can be used. Which tool to use comes down to the needs of the business. While some employee time tracking requirements are fairly simple, others may need to track hours and pieces, associate labor to profit centers, departments, locations, and projects, etc. Because of these varied tracking needs, a time clock or time capture tool that works for one customer may not work for another customer. Many time clock manufacturers also offer multiple models with different options.

Time Capture Tool Compatibility with CenterPoint Payroll:

  1. Identify the detail time information your company needs to track in CenterPoint Payroll. Verify that the time capture tool you are considering has the capability to capture that information.
  • For example, if you have simple time tracking requirements you may need to import just the employee abbreviation, date, hours, and earning code.
  • For more advanced tracking, you may need to also track things like; profit center, department, work shift, pay defaults, expense accounts, pieces, etc.
  1. Determine the type of time capture tool appropriate for your needs and research manufacturers/distributors that offer the desired solution. Here are a few examples of different types of tools that are available:
  • Electronic Time Clocks
    • Punch pad for employees to enter information.
    • Card swipe (each employee has an employee identification card used to swipe).
    • Biometric (thumb or hand scan identifier).
  • Mobile/Hand held time capture devices (for capturing time/pieces at external locations).
  • Time Capture Software (computer based tracking).
  • Web based time tracking tools.
  1. Prior to purchasing the chosen time capture tool, request from the vendor/manufacturer a definition of the type of file their tool creates and the format of the file. If they can also provide a sample file, it is helpful in verifying compatibility.
  • Comma Delimited File Format (CSV) is a common file type for importing data. The data in the file is separated by a comma. For example: smithj,01012011,08,HR. The definition of that file would then be: employee abbreviation, date, hours worked and earning code.
  • Fixed Width File Format: The data isn't separated by any fields, instead the software tracks the number of characters per field being imported. An example of the data found in a fixed width file:  00000001110101201108HR. The file definition would then be: Characters 1-10 are the employee abbreviation, 11-18 is the date, 19-20 is the number of hours and 21-22 is the earnings code.

Regardless of the above file formats, the Red Wing Time Import Utility prefers a separate time transaction line for each type of earnings. If time for one employee is tracked to multiple earning codes, we recommend that each employee/earning code transaction be a separate record. If the employee is in the file once with multiple earnings on that record, then the data will need to be imported multiple times (once for each earning code).

  1. Contact Red Wing Software to verify that the file created by the time tracking device can be imported into CenterPoint Payroll.
  • Existing Red Wing customers: Contact the Red Wing Support department. The most efficient process is to e-mail the information and sample file provided by the time capture manufacturer/vendor to the Red Wing Support department.  Their e-mail address is support@redwingsoftware.com
  • If you are not yet a Red Wing customer: Contact a Red Wing Sales representative for assistance.

Other Information on Time Clocks/Time Capture Devices:

Time clocks, time capture software, Web based time tools and other time capture tools normally have installation, setup and support requirements like most hardware and software.

Sample list of Time Clock/Time Capture Device Manufactures/Distributors:

  • Qqest/Time Force
  • Acroprint
  • Nova Time
  • Kronos
  • T-3 Technology (hand held devise)
  • Agricultural Data Systems (hand held device)
  • Hand Track (hand held device)

  • Easy Time Clock (web application)

Red Wing Software does not guarantee that any of the products listed above will work with your unique requirements.

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