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Get to know Albert Bou Fadel, SmartBarrel’s CEO, and the story behind why he built the company.
The Evolution of the SmartBarrel Device
In this episode, SmartBarrel’s founder walks through the real story behind building a rugged hardware device for construction jobsites—what worked, what didn’t, and how years of iteration shaped the product in use today.
You’ll learn:
- Why hardware for construction isn’t just hard—it’s brutal (dust, mud, rain, no power, no WiFi)
- How the very first prototype was built from a taped-up orange electrical junction box
- The evolution from bulky field enclosures with solar panels to today’s compact, weatherproof wall-mounted units
- How each version improved on the last using real-world feedback from jobsites in Arizona, Canada, and everywhere in between
Meet Albert Bou Fadel, Founder & CEO of SmartBarrel
Albert Bou Fadel started his career in construction, spending over a decade working as a contractor in the glass and glazing industry across North America and the Caribbean. Throughout his time on job sites, he experienced firsthand how critical and challenging managing and tracking workers hours accurately is. Tracking hours isn’t just about payroll; it’s about profitability.
Frustrated by outdated paper-based systems and ineffective tech solutions, he set out to build something better—something made specifically for construction. That’s how SmartBarrel was born.
“If you don’t have a good grasp on hours, you definitely don’t have a good grasp on labor costs”.
The SmartBarrel Journey
FROM CONTRACTOR TO PROBLEM-SOLVER
Albert Bou Fadel spent over a decade in construction, managing projects across North America as a contractor in the glass and glazing industry. With hundreds of workers across multiple job sites, he quickly realized that workforce time tracking was one of the industry’s biggest headaches.
TRYING OTHER SOLUTIONS
Payroll was based on outdated paper timesheets, opening the door to buddy punching, time theft, and costly payroll disputes. Albert tested every available solution—mobile apps, fingerprint scanners, ID cards, and even iris scanners—but none adapted to real job site conditions.
BUILDING A SOLUTION THAT WORKS
Realizing that existing tech wasn’t built for construction, Albert decided to create his own solution—one that actually worked in the field. SmartBarrel was born.
The industry’s first excuse-free timekeeping solution
SmartBarrel is an AI-powered biometric facial verification system designed for job sites. The plug-and-play hardware is durable, weatherproof, and LTE-connected, ensuring that workers can clock in and out with ease at all times. The software automates time tracking and payroll, eliminating fraud, reducing disputes, and giving foremen real-time labor insights.
The Easiest Way to Track Time on Construction Rates
AI-Powered Biometric Facial Verification for 100% Accurate Time Tracking
SmartBarrel makes time tracking effortless.
- Workers clock in and out using the SmartBarrel time clock or the mobile app, and a quick photo verifies their identity.
- Labor hours are logged automatically, no manual entry required, and buddy punching is eliminated.
- Supervisors and payroll get real-time, verified timesheets ready for review and approval.
No errors. No disputes. Just verified labor data when you need it most.
Who Benefits from SmartBarrel?
WORKERS
Get paid for every minute you work-Facial verification ensures your time is tracked accurately. No missing hours, no disputes, no guessing.
Always know your hours-Get SMS confirmation when you clock in and out, so you always have a record of your time.
No paper, no hassle-Hours are sent straight to payroll. No paper timesheets, no manual entry, no waiting to get paid.
FOREMEN
No more chasing timesheets-Workers clock in with facial verification and hours are logged automatically. No more manual entry or chasing down workers for their hours.
Faster Approvals, Less Admin-Pre-verified timecards make approvals quick and easy. Spend less time reviewing hours and more time running the jobsite.
Real-time crew visibility-Know who’s on site and track hours as they happen. Make informed decisions without waiting on reports.
EXECUTIVES
Increase jobsite visibility-Get real-time labor data from the field. No more waiting for reports. See exactly where your workforce dollars are going.
Make better strategic decisions-Access reliable workforce data to optimize labor costs, improve efficiency, and keep projects on budget.
Prevent time theft and payroll waste-Eliminate buddy punching and inaccurate time tracking. Only pay for actual hours worked.
