LOCATION
Langley, British Columbia
CONTRACTOR TYPE
Specialty Contractor/Construction
TRADE
Concrete Forming
NO. OF EMPLOYEES
300
INTEGRATIONS
From Big Projects to Big Wins: Meet Syber Concrete Forming
CF Richmond Centre: A sprawling retail and commercial hub in Richmond, BC, featuring modern architecture and a wide range of shops and services.
Syber Concrete Forming Ltd. has set the standard in the concrete forming industry for more than two decades. The company focuses on high-rise residential buildings, commercial properties, and institutional projects and is based in Langley, BC. Syber has earned a reputation for its dedication to innovation and impeccable craftsmanship, consistently delivering on time—even for the most complex and high-profile jobs.
With a workforce that scales up to 300 employees and subcontractors, they have built a name for getting the job done efficiently, on schedule and managing budgets responsibly. Always on the lookout for ways to stay ahead, Syber blends cutting-edge technology with its expertise, ensuring sustainability and client satisfaction are always at the forefront. When it came time to take their timekeeping operations to the next level, they turned to SmartBarrel’s AI-powered biometric time tracking system, helping them maintain the high standards they’re known for and pushing their efficiency even further.
CHALLENGES
Fighting Time Discrepancies and Payroll Chaos
Prior to automating their timekeeping, Syber faced typical but costly construction industry timekeeping problems like buddy punching, time discrepancies, and paper-based timesheets, which led to payroll chaos. With more than 300 workers, it was nearly impossible to keep control of attendance tracking. The payroll staff felt the weight the most and would often be buried under 10+hours of manual data entry each week. They even had a full-time person dedicated to entering subcontractor timesheets and reconciling invoices. Two timekeeping data entries, one in employee payroll and another in accounting for subcontractors.
The company wanted to take advantage of a fresh approach. Getting time discrepancies under control was a major concern. “We’re paying for employee hours, and it’s not just a one-off or one employee abusing the system. It’s more than that. And this happens more with our subcontractors by the hour, not our direct employees who work for our company,” said Patty Horvath, CAO of Syber Concrete Forming Ltd. Syber couldn’t allow the budget to go toward employees who were not on-site working.
"We would have people who would sign in employee one, employee two, employee three, four, et cetera, and those people weren't physically there. It would be all in the same handwriting, all the same, start time and the end time," said Horvath.
SOLUTION
Syber Leads the Charge with AI-Powered Biometric Timekeeping
Faced with countless time discrepancies, questions and payroll inefficiencies, Syber made the decision to embrace innovation by integrating SmartBarrel’s biometric timekeeping solution. They had a clear vision of what improving accountability and accuracy on their jobsites could look like and took control by implementing facial verification and geofencing to ensure their workers were clocking in and out reliably and accurately.
"The facial recognition part of it was a big selling feature because then people couldn't sign in for each other," said Stefania Hansen, Payroll Administrator, Syber Concrete Forming Ltd.
Syber’s leadership helped make payroll smooth and efficient by integrating SmartBarrel with Procore and QuickBooks, helping to slash their processing time by 80%. By being proactive, their approach allowed for real-time labor insights, giving Syber the visibility they needed to keep projects on track and ensure workers remained accountable.
RESULTS
The Payoff: Saving Time, Money, and Headaches
“I used to spend five to six hours every Monday, plus another two to three hours during the week, sometimes up to six, just confirming things. With manual time entry, you always find discrepancies. Now, it's clear, and it only takes me about two hours a week at most,” Hansen said. “I'd estimate we've cut payroll errors by 20% to 30% because I was manually entering time before, and now I just review one file.”
The results were immediate, impressive, and undeniable. Syber saved an estimated $1 million in time challenges within the first year of using SmartBarrel. Payroll processing time dropped from more than 10 hours per week to just 2 hours. Now, the team can take back their hours and use that time to focus on other priorities. With payroll errors decreasing by up to 30%,the company could enjoy increased accuracy and reduce the burden and strain the payroll department incurred with their old manual timekeeping process of using paper timesheets. The real-time data provided by SmartBarrel also enhanced project management, while improved accountability among workers led to greater overall efficiency. Additionally, safety protocols were bolstered with quicker and more accurate headcounts during emergency situations.
"We have a SmartBarrel device on jobsites One time, at this job site, the major internet cable was cut. It affected our workers using the internet on their phones, but it didn’t stop the SmartBarrel devices. It turns out that SmartBarrel operates on its own internet connection, which is a huge added value. Even if our internet goes down, we can still use it without interruption," said Horvath.
Syber’s completed project, Brentwood Town Centre, is a vibrant mixed-use development in Burnaby, BC, combining residential towers, retail spaces, and entertainment areas.
“It’s a keeper,” said Horvath. “It’s going to save you money, right? It will capture timekeeping details that maybe the company wasn’t aware of in the past.”
Tired of losing time and money to outdated timekeeping methods?
Find out how SmartBarrel can help you take control of your job site. Contact us today to schedule your demo and upgrade your time tracking with SmartBarrel.
