DETROIT – The Covid-19 talk and how it changed life as we know has lingered long enough to become the new normal. Some of us are still working from home, some have gone back to the office, while others are doing a bit of both. Whatever your situation is, we all have one common tendency as employees; we do not commit 100 percent of our time during work hours.

It may be showing up late for work, watching a movie during work hours, or even sleeping. Because of these reasons, most of our workplaces have employee monitoring mechanisms. Some are simple, like the good-old weekly timesheet logbook, while others are sophisticated and require more than just biometrics.

Employers and businesses have to keep up with an ever-changing environment. Getting every worth from crafty employees who are always looking to beat the system requires constant upgrades.

If you’re wondering how this is done, this article has your back. Read on as we explore six employee monitoring software trends of 2022.

Cloud-based and On-premise

Before we dive into the advancement in the features of employee monitoring software, it is essential to understand how the whole system is run. An organization can run its employee monitoring system through cloud-based platforms or on-premise.

Cloud-based is where data related to the monitoring software is stored in the software provider’s server. On-premise, as the name alludes, means that data related to the monitoring software is stored in the organization’s server.

Cloud-based employee monitoring software tools are increasingly becoming popular with companies due to the numerous benefits. They are not only secure but cost less in the long run.

On the other hand, companies are shunning away from on-premise employee monitoring applications as they are expensive to run and not secure. However, companies with sensitive data prefer on-premise monitors to cloud-based ones.

Biometrics

Biometrics technology can be applied in all aspects of employee monitoring. It can be used to monitor employee transaction activity, movement, and working hours. The best employee monitoring software tools come integrated with biometrics capability.

An employee monitoring software with an integrated fingerprint scanner can be used to clock employees in or out. Similarly, handheld devices with monitoring software can track payments and employee movement since most feature a fingerprint scanner.

As we move further up the sophistication ladder, we find voice, facial, and eye recognition technology. Monitoring tools that integrate Iris recognition provide better accuracy and security. They are commonly used in high-risk areas such as banks or military bases.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, or simply AI, is part of the Internet of Things which is a common feature in almost all aspects of human life. AI allows computer programs to mimic human intelligence by responding to queries as humans would do.

AI presents many possibilities in employee monitoring. This tech comes into play when you think of employee monitoring as behavior modeling to increase productivity. AI can assume the role of micro-managing, which is important when dealing with employees who perform better under supervision.

Initially, we talked about facial recognition as a way of monitoring employees. The integration of AI into facial recognition is used to keep tabs on employees’ activity during work hours through random checks.

CCTV

Closed Circuit TV has been around for a while and is likely to be around for the foreseeable future. It’s a simple feature that visually monitors employees’ active hours and activity.

The biggest drawback to these tools has been the need for human intervention in the monitoring process. However, AI and facial recognition can be integrated with CCTV to provide regular image data of workplace activity.

Geo-Tracking

Companies in the delivery business or those with staff working off-site need to monitor their employees’ activity. Geo-tracking is a feature that allows for real-time monitoring of employee location through GPS-enabled devices.

Latest employee monitoring software tools can track real-time location, give accurate stop durations, and even report tamper attempts. In some cases, especially in the delivery business, it is used for route planning to increase efficiency.

Reporting

A big part of employee monitoring has always relied on humans to make the final decisions. Employee monitors have primarily been used to show evidence only, while humans have been left to make heads and tails of the evidence provided.

Well, not anymore. Most employee monitoring tools can generate conclusive reports that inform significant decisions. Features such as screenshots and geo-tracking can populate essential data on employee behavior and make it available at the press of a button.

Brace Yourself For Even More Advancements in Employee Monitoring Software Tech!

Employee monitoring software tools have undergone a significant transformation since the practice first came to being. Modern-day employee monitoring software has dozens of features that collectively improve an employee’s performance.

Are you in the market for a tool to monitor your employees? What features are you most interested in? Let us know your feedback in the comments below.

This article was provided by Albert Ventura