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What is a time tracking application and why is it important ?

Author
  • Name
    Supriya Agarwal
    Title
    Product Manager

When you hear the word time tracking it might ring a negative bell for employees of a company. Does it mean that that company is keeping track of their activities at work like monitoring their break time or monitoring their laptop’s idle time?

Well, that is not the intended usage of a time-tracking application.

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A time-tracking application is a tool that helps you manage & track the time spent on various activities at work. The tool is used by freelancers, individuals and smaller team sizes to monitor productivity, manage projects, and allocate resources effectively.

There are a lot of time-tracking applications available, each with its own set of features and capabilities. Some applications allow users to track time automatically by logging the time spent on specific applications or websites, while others require users to enter their time manually. Some applications also offer features such as project management tools, billing and invoicing capabilities, and reporting and analytics.

Many time-tracking applications also offer integrations with other tools and platforms, such as project management software, calendars, and billing platforms. It allows users to streamline their workflow and have a complete view of their productivity and progress.

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Time-tracking applications are useful for individuals and teams who work remotely or with flexible schedules. By tracking their time, users can ensure that they are working efficiently and can identify areas where they may be wasting time or working too slowly. Time-tracking applications can also be used to monitor project progress, set goals and deadlines, and improve time management skills.

Since the pandemic, a lot of companies are focussing on remote working. The team is distributed and the companies are providing their team flexibility to work at any time that is convenient for them. At the same time, the companies also need to ensure that the team is completing their tasks within the timeline provided.

For instance, at Saeloun our team has been working remotely before the pandemic and has been. a remote-first company. The team members can work from any place and at a time that they are most productive however must complete their fixed working hours each day. The company has a policy where each team member must overlap 3-4 hours of their work time with their client’s timezone.

Using a time tracking application has allowed the saeloun team members to plan their days as per the tasks allocated to them by the clients. It allowed the admin to generate quick invoices and receive client payments.

Time-tracking applications can be used to plan, manage and track if you are spending your time effectively and efficiently. Accordingly, the users can plan their set of tasks for the next day.

Furthermore, time-tracking applications can help users to identify their most productive times of day and plan their work accordingly. By analyzing their work patterns and the time spent on each task, users can gain insights into how they work best and optimize their schedules accordingly.

Some of the key benefits of using a time-tracking application are:

  1. Improved Productivity: Time-tracking applications help users to stay focused and manage their time effectively. Users can track the time spent on each task and identify areas where they may be wasting time. This helps them to optimize their time and stay productive.
  2. Better Time Management: Time-tracking applications help users to manage their time more effectively. By tracking their time, users can identify areas where they may be spending too much time and can allocate their time more efficiently.
  3. Increased Accountability: Time-tracking applications help to increase accountability among team members. By tracking their time, team members can ensure that they are meeting their deadlines and contributing to the project effectively.
  4. Improved Billing and Invoicing: Many time tracking applications come with billing and invoicing features that help businesses to manage their finances effectively. These features allow businesses to track the time spent on each project and generate accurate invoices.
  5. Reporting and Analytics: Time-tracking applications also offer reporting and analytics features that help users to identify trends and patterns in their work. This helps them to make informed decisions and improve their productivity over time.

One important consideration when using a time-tracking application is to ensure that the application is being used effectively and not becoming a distraction or a source of stress. It is important to find a balance between tracking time and focusing on the task at hand and to use. By using a time-tracking application effectively, users can gain insights into their work patterns, optimize their schedules, and stay on track with their goals. Whether you're an individual or a business, a time-tracking application is a valuable investment in your productivity and success.

In conclusion, time-tracking applications are valuable tools for anyone looking to manage their time more effectively, increase productivity, and achieve their goals. Whether you're an individual or a business, a time-tracking application can help you to stay on track and get more done in less time. So, if you are looking for a way to manage your time more effectively, consider using a time-tracking application.

Miru is an open-source and free time tracking application where a user can manually log their time against the task of a project. If the logged hours are billable, then the admin can add them to the invoice and send them to a client. It is an easy-to-use tool with core user functionality of managing and tracking time, invoicing and payments. You can integrate the Stripe payment gateway to allow your clients to make payments against your invoices. It comes with four key reports that allow you to fetch the data required for your admin to manage the company expenses.

Please sign up and try Miru for free at www.miru.so If you have already signed up and have any suggestions please reach out to us on hello@saeloun.com

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