Accurate biometric time tracking for construction
AI-Powered, SmartBarrel completely automates time tracking and guarantees 100% accuracy
Trusted by contractors like you
How Does SmartBarrel Work?
Accurate Time. From Field to Office.
The only workforce tool you need to manage your employees, temp labor and union crews – all without the headaches.
Accurate Time. The Easiest Way.
Rugged TimeClock 4.0 and Kiosk App powered by AI-Facial verification creates 100% accurate, self-generated timesheets. No buddy punching and streamlined payroll.
Code Time in Minutes, Not Hours.
Your crew leads can tag productivity, cost codes, and production quantities instantly with a smart, intuitive system that keeps everything clear, accurate, and under control.
Worker Expenses, Handled Automatically.
SmartBarrel auto-calculates all worker-related expenses — per diems, travel, vehicle allowances, and reimbursements — in one seamless workflow.
Full Control of Crews, Subs, and Temps.
Track every worker, sub, and temp in real time. See in Real-Time all your hours, attendance, tardiness, weather, incidents, and more – all in one place.
Process Payroll in Hours Instead of Days.
Monitor project approvals and all expenses in one place. Automatic OT/DT calculations. Seamless ERP syncing for fast, error-free payroll every time.
What Makes SmartBarrel Different?
Effortless setup
SmartBarrel is a truly plug-and-play solution, ready to go as soon as it arrives on your site.
- No fasteners, power, or WiFi required
- Onboard workers in seconds
- No need to upload photos
- Add cost codes with one tap
- Native integration to Procore, CMiC, and PowerBI
Massive savings
SmartBarrel saves you more than $4,285+ per worker and 800 hours+ on manual entry work – every year.
- Pays for itself in the first month
- Eliminates buddy punching and ghost workers
- Saves hours on manual entry for daily logs and payroll
- Minimizes payroll disputes and head-office work
Easy cost code assignments
Use SmartBarrel’s multi-platform dashboard to easily add cost codes to every task, shift, and phase.
- One-click cost codes assignments
- Split shifts by tasks
- Automatically carry over cost codes to the next day
- Live reporting on labor by project, phase, and task
- Push cost coded labor data to any software
Seamless integrations
SmartBarrel integrates with virtually any construction software on the market, including:
- PROCORE
- CMiC
- Viewpoint Vista
- Viewpoint Spectrum
- Foundation
- ComputerEASE
- Sage
- QuickBooks
- Plexxis
- API
Packed with features
SmartBarrel doesn’t just help you track time. It helps you report, analyze, and manage your job sites.
- Real-time headcounts
- Productivity and time tracking
- Auto-fill daily reports and payroll
- PPE detection and safety features
- Access control and security
No more time tracking headaches
Stop letting payroll and time tracking issues hold you back. Discover how SmartBarrel can empower you to regain control and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Biometric Time Tracking in Construction
What is biometric time tracking?
Biometric time tracking uses unique physical characteristics – like facial features, fingerprints, or iris scans – to verify a worker’s identity when they clock in and out. Unlike traditional methods where anyone can punch a time card or enter a code, biometric systems confirm it’s actually that person checking in.
For construction, this means no more buddy punching or time theft. Workers can’t clock in for their buddies who are running late. The system verifies their identity before recording their hours.
SmartBarrel uses biometric facial verification, which captures a photo each time a worker checks in. The AI compares it to previous photos to confirm identity – no photoshoot required, and it works even with hard hats, safety glasses, and tough jobsite conditions.
What software is used to track employee time?
Construction companies use different types of software to track employee time:
Mobile apps require workers to download an app on their personal phones and clock in via GPS. These struggle with dead batteries, poor service, and workers who don’t want work apps on their phones.
Tablet-based systems have a foreman or super entering time for the whole crew. This creates buddy punching issues and puts the burden on your foremen instead of letting them manage the site.
Biometric time tracking software like SmartBarrel gives each worker accountability. They check themselves in using facial verification on a dedicated device that lives on the jobsite. No phones, WiFi, or charging required.
The best construction time tracking software captures accurate hours from the field automatically and flows that data straight to your payroll system – eliminating manual entry and guesswork.
How to keep track of hours as a contractor?
Most contractors track hours one of three ways:
Pen and paper is still common – workers write their names on a clipboard, and someone manually enters hours later. It’s simple but inaccurate and creates massive payroll headaches.
Time tracking apps require workers to use their phones, which often die, lose service, or get forgotten in the truck.
Biometric time clocks capture exact check-in and check-out times using facial verification. Workers clock themselves in, the data flows automatically to a dashboard, and you assign cost codes with one click.
The key is finding a system your workers will actually use every single day. If it requires their phone, reliable internet, or extra steps, adoption fails. The best solutions are excuse-free: they work regardless of phones, WiFi, or weather conditions.
How does biometric time attendance work on construction sites?
Here’s how it works in practice:
Workers arrive at the jobsite and walk up to a biometric time clock. They enter their phone number on the keypad (or scan a fob), and the device takes a photo of their face. The AI instantly compares it to their previous photos to verify identity – green circle means verified, red circle means not matched.
The check-in time and photo are sent to the cloud immediately. No WiFi needed – the device has built-in cellular connection.
Throughout the day, workers check out for lunch and back in when they return. At the end of shift, they check out. All that data flows to a live dashboard where project managers can see who’s on site in real-time and assign hours to specific cost codes.
The system eliminates buddy punching because it verifies each person’s identity. It removes the burden from foremen who no longer need to track everyone’s hours. And it gives you 100% accurate time from the field – no rounding, no guessing.
How does biometric time tracking improve payroll accuracy for construction companies?
Biometric time tracking improves payroll accuracy by eliminating the three biggest sources of errors:
Time theft and rounding. Workers can’t add “just 15 minutes” to their day when biometric verification captures exact check-in times. Those 15-minute increments add up – most contractors save over $4,285 per worker annually just by eliminating time padding.
Buddy punching. When your early guy can’t clock in for his buddy who’s stuck in traffic, you stop paying for hours that never happened. Biometric verification confirms identity before recording any time.
Manual entry mistakes. Handwritten time cards lead to illegible notes, lost paperwork, and office staff making their best guess. With biometric systems, the data flows automatically from the field to your payroll system – no human error in the middle.
The result? You’re paying workers for actual hours worked, not estimates. Your payroll team processes timesheets in hours instead of days. And you have bulletproof documentation if hours are ever disputed.
How to choose biometric time tracking software for construction companies?
Look for these essentials:
Field-ready hardware. Apps don’t cut it on construction sites. You need a dedicated device that handles dust, weather, and rough conditions. It should work without WiFi (built-in cellular) and without constant charging (solar or electric powered).
Facial verification, not fingerprints. Fingerprints don’t work with welded fingers or work gloves. Facial verification works regardless of PPE, gloves, or dirty hands.
Zero excuses from workers. If workers need their phone, reliable internet, or specific apps downloaded, adoption will fail. Choose a system where workers can clock in with just a phone number or fob – nothing else required.
Automatic data flow. The system should push time data straight to your dashboard and payroll system. Manual exports or re-entry defeat the purpose.
Real-time visibility. You should be able to see who’s on site right now, not wait until the end of the week to find out who showed up.
Integration with your ERP. Make sure it connects with Procore, CMiC, Viewpoint, or whatever system you’re already using for project management and accounting.
Choose a solution built specifically for construction – not adapted from retail or office environments. The jobsite demands it.