Managing Employee Timesheets: Excel vs. Agendrix

Employees must fill out timesheets in order to be able to track their work hours. The payroll manager must then validate each timesheet, i.e., make sure that the hours clocked in are correct, that there are no missing time entries, that overtime is properly accounted for, etc.

The timesheets must then be sent over to the accounting department so that employees will get their pay. All these steps are essential for a company to run smoothly.

To facilitate timesheet management, many companies are turning to employee scheduling and online punch clock software.

Let’s compare how Excel and Agendrix scheduling software can help manage employee timesheets and track work hours.

Clocking Work Hours

Excel

With Excel, employees have to write their working hours (arrival, departure, breaks) on a sheet of paper or in an Excel document online. This means managers must rely on employees’ honesty and memory to keep track of their hours, which may lead to issues in industries with highly variable schedules such as events management.

Each employee’s hours must then be manually compiled in a single Excel document.

Agendrix

With Agendrix, employees clock in and out directly in the app, which keeps a record of their entries and exits. Managers can use the device of their choice to clock their employees’ time entries, i.e., tablet, smartphone, computer, landline phone, etc.

The employee scheduling software shows you at a glance if the hours clocked in and out match the hours in the scheduler. Attendance sheets are available online, and can be printed if necessary.

The app can even alert you when an employee doesn’t clock in. Managers can also activate the COVID questionnaire option to make sure that their employees aren’t sick.

When employees clock in and out, they can also leave notes for their managers. For example, they might mention that they worked an extra 30 minutes at the request of another manager. This makes it easier to manage irregularities in timesheets.

Timesheet Approval

Excel

With Excel, managers have to check each time entry manually. They also need to verify that the clocked hours match the scheduled hours in order to track their labor costs.

If a time entry seems to be missing, they have to get in touch with the employees concerned, by phone, email or text message, to validate everything and make sure they have the right data to take care of payroll.

Agendrix

Agendrix software lets you automatically approve time entries that meet managers’ criteria. For example, if the clocked hours match the hours planned in the schedule, the hours can be pre-approved automatically.

Any punching-related issues are highlighted. If an employee didn’t clock in or clocked out before or after their scheduled hours, managers will have to manually approve these hours.

Labor cost tracking is automatic in the app based on scheduled hours.

Exporting Timesheets to the Payroll System

Excel

With Excel, there’s no way to automate the process of exporting timesheets to a payroll system. Managers must manually upload an Excel document to the payroll system in the required format.

Agendrix

With Agendrix, once the timesheets are approved, managers can export them directly into their payroll software in a single click. Agendrix offers integrations with popular payroll software.

Alternatively, working hours can be exported in an Excel document so that managers can send it to their accountant.

Why Choose Excel for Your Time Tracking Needs?

Excel is an inexpensive solution that requires no additional purchases since most companies already use the Microsoft suite in their daily operations.

However, using Excel to manage timesheets heightens the risk of errors. Given that the software is unavailable online, information sharing and protection is more difficult. And follow-up with employees is more complex.

Managers can also create a work schedule in Excel to complete their employee time management needs.

💡 Excel is a good solution for small teams and for companies with employees who always work the same hours.

Why Choose Agendrix for Your Time Tracking Needs?

Agendrix employee scheduling software is a more expensive solution than Excel. However, it lets you automate a myriad of processes and saves a great deal of time for managers.

With Agendrix, employee payrolls are less prone to errors. This in turn enhances employee satisfaction and trust. The employee scheduling software is easy to use, and the customer service department offers support for both managers and employees.

💡 Agendrix scheduling software is an excellent solution for teams of more than 5 employees and for companies that need to manage variable working hours (days, evenings, nights, weekends, etc.) and shift workers.

Managing your employees’ timesheets is a crucial task for your company to be able to run smoothly. You owe it to yourself to use effective tools that genuinely meet your needs.