Convenient mobility and excellent reporting facilities were the biggest motivators for Capacity Outsourcing to replace existing time and attendance control and on-site card clocking devices with Beget’s biometric fingerprint recognition T & A system.
Capacity Outsourcing is part of the Adcorp Group, a provider of temporary employment with a database of 40 000 assignees of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers, servicing around 300 companies. There are 23 branches operating in 11 business units throughout South Africa.
In March of last year, IT specialist André Fourie joined Capacity as access and automation manager with the mandate to improve and upgrade the time and attendance system as well as to integrate it into payroll and database management systems.
“We had a biometric fingerprint system in place, but the major drawback was the lack of Internet connectivity. We could not carry out essential corrections ourselves and had to rely on the service provider to make changes in their own time, and the reports generated did not suit the requirements of some of our major clients.”
Willem van Tonder, head of branch administration for Gauteng Business Unit 3, adds that he deals with around 4000 employees in remote areas particularly on construction sites, “Most important was that the on-site devices were not mobile and it was difficult to centralise worker registration. On the sites where biometric fingerprinting was not feasible and card clocking devices were used, we experienced high incidences of ghost workers and buddy clocking.”
Web-based
Extensive research on various product offerings was carried out. “Some mobile units were big and cumbersome and many did not fulfil our reporting requirements. Beget’s advantage is that the Web-based system allows instant access to data and reporting structures are flexible.
“The only problem experienced was that the Beget devices were damaged on site, but much of that can be attributed to rough handling and harsh working conditions. When devices need replacement, generally we can depend on service within 24 hours from Beget. This can be avoided by making site managers responsible for their sites’ devices.”
Van Tonder further points out enthusiastically that technology which allows systems integration improves efficiency. “Previously we had to rush to fill in timesheets to meet payroll deadlines. Now it takes a few hours for each branch to compile and submit information.”
Double security
Workers are identified by both a PIN number and fingerprints. The double security ensures that if fingerprints cannot be registered properly for temporary reasons such as abrasions on the finger, the T & A system will still recognise that a worker has tried to clock in or out.
“Beget’s new finger vein recognition system has exciting possibilities in some of our harsher environments that play real havoc with workers’ hands,” says Fourie.
To conclude, Fourie relates that when a Beget competitor was considering integrating Capacity Outsourcing’s payroll system with its time and attendance system, it was stated that Beget is the only company in southern Africa that has the design of both the fully mobile fingerprint device and the Web-based software right. “We had not disclosed that we use Beget’s products.”
For more information contact Delmé Hawkins, Beget Solutions, 086 112 3438, [email protected]
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