Myths about a Biometric Time Attendance System Debunked

Singapore is amongst the top countries in the world for technological adoption and breakthroughs in the workplace. Though changes in workplace procedures generally produce positive results for the Singaporean companies, employees may occasionally still resist them. So whenever employers plan to introduce process changes in the workplace, they need to start with accurate information. If you are planning to install a biometric time attendance system in your business premise in Singapore, it’s even more important to focus on the facts. Here is a list of the most common myths concerning biometric time attendance technology, we will attempt to debunk them and hopefully, help you improve your workforce.

Myth: Installing a biometric attendance system means the company does not trust its employees

Fact: Installing a biometric system in workplace is not about trust but more about accuracy and efficiency. Biometric time attendance systems have been created for more than just employee time theft prevention. A biometric system eliminates ID card punching errors, such as misplacing a card or punching in other’s card. Unlike traditional method of filling attendance registers or card punching, employees can punch in and out in seconds using a biometric scanner. With an integrated biometric attendance tracking and payroll software, employees can rest assured that they will be paid appropriately for all hours worked. So, a biometric time attendance system is not only beneficial for employers but also provides a number of benefits to employees as well.

Myth: Biometric devices store employees’ physiological characteristics, which is against their privacy

Fact: This is a common myth which most employees have about biometric time attendance systems in Singapore but biometric devices do not store employees’ physiological characteristics that can invade their privacy. When employees are first enrolled in a biometric device, the system captures the unique features of the individual's hand, finger, iris or voice. The device then converts this captured feature into mathematical file which came to be known as biometric template. Any time attendance system relies on multi spectral biometric capturing technology which captures the unique physiological characteristics of the employees and records this as a numeric string. This numeric string is then used to verify a person's identity whenever he or she punches in and out of the premise.

Myth: A biometric attendance system is expensive and hard to manage

Fact: Employers can easily purchase a biometric time attendance system in Singapore at affordable rate from a reliable supplier of biometric devices and attendance tracking software. There are different modalities available, such as facial recognition, fingerprint scanner, iris and voice recognition. Employers can purchase a biometric system with the best modality that suits their budget and organisational needs. Biometric attendance tracking systems are easy-to-use and can be managed remotely. With a cloud-based biometric system, employees can be automatically enrolled into the system the first time they punch in at the terminal. So you don’t need to have an extra staff to enrol your employees or manage the biometric system.

Employers who are looking to adopt biometric time attendance system in Singapore can avoid resistance from their employees by choosing the right biometric system and providing proper information to their employees about this new change in the workplace. Being transparent about how biometric systems work can significantly reduce employee resistance, while also helping you capture accurate attendance data and prepare payroll without any errors.