Smart and Efficient Ways to Monitor Employee Productivity
In today’s digital age, businesses heavily rely on computer systems to carry out operations and store valuable data. However, this dependency also opens the door to security threats and unproductive activities that can negatively impact a company’s productivity. That’s why implementing computer usage monitoring software can be a crucial step for businesses to ensure their security measures are up to par and their employees are utilizing their time effectively.
By tracking employees’ online and offline activities, computer usage monitoring software can help businesses monitor suspicious activities and prevent security breaches. For instance, it can detect if an employee attempts to access unauthorized information or install unapproved software on company devices. Identifying and addressing such incidents promptly can mitigate potential threats to the company’s trade secrets and sensitive information.
You’ll learn:
- How Deep Can You Go with Monitoring Tools?
- What Is The Best Monitoring Software?
- How to Choose the Best Employee Monitoring Tool for You?
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How Deep Can You Go with Monitoring Tools?
To ensure that your company is running smoothly and productively, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how your employees are using their computer systems. That’s where user activity monitoring tools come into play – they allow you to track your employees’ computer activities to both identify areas of inefficiency and to detect potential security threats. However, before implementing a computer monitoring system, it’s important to define what to monitor, choose the right software, and talk to your employees to ensure that everyone is on board with the process.
1. Define what to monitor
Before implementing an employee computer activity monitoring software, it’s crucial to define what exactly needs to be monitored. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the different aspects that should be considered when determining what to monitor.
Firstly, it’s essential to have a conversation with employees and explain to them the reasons behind the monitoring and make sure they understand why it’s necessary. This open communication will help establish trust between employees and employers and ensure that there are no misunderstandings or conflicts.
Applications use monitoring is one of the most common features of employee computer activity monitoring software. It enables you to keep track of all the applications that employees use, whether in-house or third-party software. By monitoring application usage, you can determine how much time employees are spending on non-work-related tasks or software that may be slowing down productivity.
Additionally, task and project monitoring is another aspect that may need to be monitored. This feature allows you to track how employees are progressing with tasks and projects assigned to them. With task and project monitoring, you can ensure that employees are working efficiently and completing tasks on time.
Another aspect to consider when determining what to monitor with employee computer monitoring software is monitoring online activity. This feature provides insight into the websites employees are visiting during work hours. By monitoring website usage, you can identify any potential security risks or unproductive behaviors.
Lastly, screen monitoring is another aspect worth considering. This feature allows you to monitor employee screens in real-time, enabling you to detect any suspicious internet activity or security breaches. Screen monitoring can also be helpful for training purposes, as supervisors can provide feedback and guidance on tasks being performed.
2. Choose the right software to track computer usage
When it comes to choosing the right software to track computer usage, there are several factors to consider. It’s crucial to select a software that fits your business needs and integrates with other tools you are using. This will ensure that you have a streamlined process and do not need to switch between various applications.
Another critical factor to consider is what needs to be monitored. While it’s essential to track employee activities to ensure productivity and prevent security breaches, it’s equally important to ensure that the selected software doesn’t use invasive methods that may scare employees. It’s vital to strike a balance between monitoring activities and respecting employee privacy.
Furthermore, choosing a software that respects employee privacy is essential in fostering trust. It’s imperative to communicate clearly to employees about what activities will be monitored and to use the software to improve productivity while ensuring employees are aware that their privacy is respected.
3. Talk to your employees
Open communication and transparency are key when introducing employee monitoring software to a workplace. It’s important to have a conversation with team members before implementing the software to prevent negative impacts on their morale and motivation. Being open about the reasons for implementing the software and discussing how it can benefit the team can help alleviate any concerns or objections.
There may be objections from both employees and managers when it comes to implementing such software. Some employees may feel like their privacy is being violated, while others may feel like they are not being trusted. In some cases, managers may also fear being perceived as micromanagers or losing employee trust.
To address these concerns, it’s important to communicate clearly about the objectives of the software and how it will be used. Employees should be reassured that their private data is secure and that monitoring capabilities will be restricted to certain employees who need access. Emphasizing that the software is being used to improve productivity and prevent security breaches can also help gain employee trust.
In addition to addressing objections, it’s essential to restrict monitoring capabilities only to certain employees. This will not only prevent any potential misuse of data but also help maintain employee trust and privacy.
What Is The Best Monitoring Software?
Looking for the best monitoring software can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available in the market. To help you narrow down your options, we have compiled a list of the top monitoring software solutions. Whether you’re a business owner looking to improve productivity, a manager monitoring remote employees, or an IT professional concerned about security, these software solutions can help you track user activity, detect suspicious behavior, and generate detailed reports. Here are nine of the best monitoring software solutions available today:
1. Time Doctor
Time Doctor is an excellent option for businesses that need efficient computer monitoring to track employee productivity. This software has a wide range of features and benefits, and comes highly recommended by users across different sectors. Time Doctor offers a cost-effective solution for businesses that want to streamline their monitoring efforts and motivate their employees to work more productively.
With Time Doctor, businesses can track time and create detailed activity reports that offer a birds-eye view on staff performance. The software also provides metrics on time spent on specific tasks and the overall productivity levels of employees. Managers can view all of this data through Time Doctor’s user-friendly interface, which includes screenshots of staff computer activity.
Aside from being easy to use, Time Doctor is also affordable, starting at just $7/month. For this price, businesses can easily integrate Time Doctor into their systems and benefit from its effortless monitoring and reporting.
Some of the key benefits of Time Doctor include its detailed reporting, effective time tracking, and consistent monitoring of employee productivity levels. By analyzing data from Time Doctor, businesses can identify areas in which employees waste time; for instance, spending too much time on social media or unproductive activities instead of focusing on their work.
The benefits of Time Doctor are not just theoretical; some companies have seen marked improvements in their productivity levels since implementing the software. One such company is Brainwave Science, which increased employee productivity levels by 22% after implementing Time Doctor.
2. Hubstaff
Looking for a comprehensive employee monitoring solution built for remote teams? Hubstaff might be your answer. This software makes it incredibly easy to track PC usage, productivity data, and employee location in real-time, making sure that you have all the information you need to drive results.
With Hubstaff, you can assign tasks, see how long it takes employees to complete them, and track their progress. You can also get detailed reports about your team’s activity, which helps you to identify any unproductive activities and take action. Whether you’re looking to improve employee productivity or ensure you’re meeting project deadlines, Hubstaff has tools to help you move forward.
Hubstaff has various pricing options, including a free plan designed for a single user. For businesses that require more robust features, premium and enterprise versions are available. The premium plan offers more advanced features like GPS tracking, client budgets, and automatic payroll, while enterprise plans provide advanced integrations with over 30 other business tools.
Some of the key features of Hubstaff include screenshot and keystroke capture, job site and geolocation tracking, easy shift scheduling, and productivity tracking. With these features, businesses can gain insight into how employees are spending their time and use that information to optimize productivity. The tool’s geolocation tracking feature is also helpful for businesses with remote or mobile workers, enabling them to know where employees are at all times.
3. Teramind
Are you concerned about insider threats and sensitive data breaches? Teramind is one of the best employee monitoring software solutions on the market for preventing such incidents.
Teramind continuously monitors employee computers and provides detailed user behavior analytics to track user activity and detect possible threats. This software captures every keystroke, mouse click, and application used, which allows companies to monitor and prevent sensitive data breaches.
Not only does Teramind detect suspicious behavior, but it also sends an instant email once it identifies suspected behavior. Depending on the severity of the breach, Teramind can lock out a user, deny access, or blur the image to prevent data theft.
Pricing for Teramind includes three different plans based on the size of the company. The Starter plan is designed for smaller companies with up to 10 employees, while the small business plan is for up to 50 employees. The Enterprise plan is for larger businesses with up to 2,000 employees. Pricing information is available on their website.
If you suspect someone of stealing confidential information, Teramind is the software for you. Its advanced user behavior analytics and email alerts make it an excellent tool for insider threat prevention and sensitive data breach prevention.
4. ActivTrak
ActivTrak is an employee activity monitoring software that tracks employee computer activity while also monitoring productivity levels. With this software, employers can monitor employee computer use to prevent data breaches and leaks while also identifying bottlenecks and improving team collaboration and productivity.
Like Teramind, ActivTrak’s main function is to monitor employee activity to prevent security breaches within the company. However, ActivTrak goes beyond Teramind by including productivity tracking features. These features allow businesses to monitor unproductive activities, evaluate workforce productivity levels and identify bottlenecks that hinder the workflow.
Some of the features that make ActivTrak stand out include screenshots, alarms, website blocking, and tracking application usage. Screenshots allow employers to see exactly what an employee has been doing on their computer, while alarms alert them of suspicious activity such as a large amount of data being transferred or a file being deleted. Website blocking and tracking application usage can further help employers limit employees’ access to non-work related sites and software, thereby increasing productivity levels.
By gathering detailed data on employee work, ActivTrak enables businesses to improve team collaboration, identify workflow inefficiencies, and ultimately increase productivity levels. This detailed data can also be used to measure employee performance levels and reward those who have increased their productivity or met their goals.
However, it is important to keep in mind that ActivTrak is not designed for those who value personal privacy. Because it gathers detailed productivity reports, it may be viewed as intrusive by some employees. Nevertheless, ActivTrak remains an effective tool for businesses looking to maintain data security and prevent company data leaks.
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5. DeskTime
DeskTime is an all-in-one employee productivity monitoring tool designed to streamline work and enhance team collaboration. This software offers a wide range of features aimed at making productivity management effortless and seamless.
One of the standout features of DeskTime is that it can be used offline on multiple computers and later synchronized with the cloud for ease of access and management. This ensures easy monitoring of employee productivity, no matter where they are located.
DeskTime is renowned for its detailed tracking capabilities. It can log access to documents, email subject lines, and chat group names, making it simple for team leaders to evaluate employee work and enhance collaboration. Additionally, the software takes automatic screenshots, providing an overview of how employee resources are allocated throughout the day.
Other features included in DeskTime are the productivity bar, which displays how employees interact with the websites and apps listed, an absence calendar to track vacation and sick leave, and the ability to create an employee absence schedule to calculate payroll. These features make it easy for managers to identify bottlenecks and improve productivity levels within the team.
Prices for DeskTime start at $7 per user/month, depending on the number of users. This makes it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes looking to improve employee productivity levels and optimize workflow management.
6. Harvest
Harvest is an advanced computer monitoring software solution designed to cater to freelancers and small businesses. It comes fully equipped with a host of features that are aimed at improving employee productivity and workflow efficiency.
One of the standout features of Harvest is its time tracking capability. It allows users to log and track time on all projects, ensuring that clients are billed accurately for the time spent on their project. In addition, Harvest comes loaded with automated invoicing, enabling users to automate their invoicing process and streamline their billing. This ensures that freelancers and small businesses can focus on their core business objectives, while Harvest takes care of all the invoicing and billing processes.
Harvest also comes with advanced integration capabilities, making it possible to automatically sync all tracked time and expenses with various other tools and applications, such as QuickBooks and Trello. This enables users to create streamlined and efficient workflows, resulting in improved productivity and increased profitability.
With remote working becoming more common in today’s business world, employee activity tracking tools like Harvest have become increasingly important. By accurately measuring remote employee productivity through activity logs and timesheets, businesses can identify areas of improvement and aid in performance reviews. This ensures that companies can track their employee’s productivity levels, regardless of their location, leading to improved performance and business success.
7. KickIdler
If you’re in the market for a powerful user activity tracker that can double up as a parental control software, look no further than KickIdler. This advanced monitoring tool is designed to cater to businesses of all sizes, providing them with valuable insights into employee productivity levels while also ensuring data confidentiality.
One of the standout features of KickIdler is its keylogger tool, which records all keystrokes and evaluates productivity. Unlike other monitoring software, KickIdler prevents data leakage by encoding keystrokes before sending them to the server where they’re decrypted only by the employer.
Additionally, KickIdler has an auto kick feature that alerts employees when they violate rules or need to take a break. This feature ensures that employees are following company policy, leading to improved productivity and work efficiency.
One of the strongest suits of KickIdler is its ability to display all employee desktops in a grid format, allowing managers to view the whole team at once. This feature provides visual representation into evaluating employee productivity and makes it easier to identify weak links and areas for improvement. Additionally, KickIdler’s grid view enables managers to quickly detect idle computers, reducing energy consumption and improving the overall efficiency of the workplace.
8. Veriato Vision
Veriato Vision is an AI-powered employee computer monitoring software that offers visual monitoring to provide a more accurate picture of what employees are doing on their screens. This type of monitoring is crucial because it provides reliable information to employers, which helps them make better decisions about their employee’s productivity and efficiency.
In addition to its reliable visual monitoring, Veriato Vision also boasts compatibility with iOS and Android devices, making it easy for employers to monitor the activity of employees across various devices. This software also allows employers to capture videos of their employees’ screens for later review, making the process of monitoring and evaluating employee productivity easier and more efficient.
Moreover, Veriato Vision includes an innovative feature called VeriClock, which offers activity and time tracking for remote workers. With VeriClock, employers can monitor their remote workforce and ensure they’re productive even when they’re not in the office. This feature provides employers with invaluable insights into their remote workforce’s productivity levels, helping companies to take control of their business objectives and increase their overall efficiency.
9. iMonitorSoft EAM
iMonitorSoft EAM is an effective employee tracking software designed to help businesses manage their remote employees, track their productivity, and protect their data. With its advanced features, iMonitorSoft EAM allows employers to monitor computer activity and track employee productivity, both in-office and remote.
One key feature of iMonitorSoft EAM is its ability to monitor different applications used by employees on their desktops. This detailed application usage monitoring provides employers with invaluable insights into how employees are using their work time, helping them to identify any unproductive activities and boost overall productivity levels.
In addition to its productivity tracking features, iMonitorSoft EAM provides several other benefits for businesses, such as central server management. This allows employers to manage multiple devices and employees from a single location, making it easier and more efficient to manage remote teams.
iMonitorSoft EAM also allows for efficient remote employee management, giving employers the ability to monitor their employees’ computers and evaluate their work performance – all from a remote location. This feature enables businesses to reduce the risk of security breaches and ensure that employees are focused and productive at work.
Conclusion - How to Choose the Best Employee Monitoring Tool for You?
When it comes to choosing employee monitoring software, it’s crucial to consider the specific needs of your business. Every organization has its unique requirements, and it’s essential to choose the software that fits those needs. This means considering factors such as deployment methods, pricing models, and visual monitoring capabilities. Taking these factors into account will ensure that you choose the right software for your business and get the most out of your investment.
One critical factor to consider is the deployment method of the software. Will it be installed directly on the computers or devices of your employees, or will it be a cloud-based solution? A cloud-based solution offers the benefit of being accessible from anywhere, while a locally installed solution may provide more customizable options but may require more resources to manage.
Another significant factor is pricing models. Employee monitoring software can be charged based on the number of users, on a monthly or annual basis, or as a one-time payment. It’s essential to choose the pricing model that works best for your budget and future growth plans.
Visual monitoring capabilities can also be crucial when choosing employee monitoring software. Some software solutions offer features like continuous video recording, mouse clicks, and mouse movements tracking, and keyboard activity monitoring. These features can provide extensive visual insights into employee activity, enhancing overall security and productivity in the workplace.
When looking for staff monitoring software, there are several critical features that businesses should look for. These features include security measures such as data privacy and encryption, reporting tools, and ease of setup and use. Many employee activity tracker solutions offer these features out of the box, making it easier to deploy and begin monitoring your employees quickly and accurately.
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About DigiWorks
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If you’re looking for a more affordable and sustainable option you might consider making use of a hiring platform like DigiWorks. Virtual assistant companies or platforms like DigiWorks are amazing as they not only match you with pre-vetted and assessed remote workers that can take care of all your business needs but they will also handle all onboarding and payroll needs as well.
