Time is money at InfoTronics
By ERIC MORATH
emorath@mbizreview.com
InfoTronics Inc., a producer of employee attendance systems and software, has more than 15,000 companies on its client list, including firms such as Pepsi Co., Archer Daniels Midland and Campbell’s Soup Co. But even InfoTronics' management acknowledges that the average person might not know the 25-year-old firm from the punch clocks its system powers.
“We are a pretty invisible company, but our product is greatly needed,” InfoTronics Vice President George Murray said.
InfoTronics' Attendance Enterprise software tracks when an employee punches in and out either through a networked time clock or through a Web portal on a worker’s computer. Murray said the system saves customers' time and money compared to manually calculating hours from punch cards or time sheets.
More Internet-enabled features and thousands of firms still manually computing their hours mean InfoTronics has room to grow, Murray said. He anticipates 16 percent revenue growth next year, but declined to provide sale figures.
“We see that 40 percent of companies do not automate their time and attendance system, so we see this is a huge opportunity for growth,” Murray said.
InfoTronics has allowed firms to replace punch clocks with a program on an employee’s computer since 2001. That allows the employee not only to clock in and out, but view time cards, see vacation days and be aware of impending discipline issues related to tardiness.
Contractors and field workers can use such a system to punch in via a Web-enabled wireless phone or laptop.
“Even ten years ago having a computer at your desk was a rarity, now almost every one has a PC, so it makes sense to use them for punching in,” he said. “It saves on hardware cost and offers more convenience.”
Next year, InfoTronics will roll out systems hosted on Web servers, which will improve reliability and make it easier to centralize payroll for multiple location companies. The server based product will automatically be upgraded and firms will pay a service fee rather than buy software licenses. Today, systems range in price from $1,299 for a one clock, 50-worker system to $400,000 for 20,000 workers.
Other benefits of the system include allowing managers to match schedules to budgets, tracking and documenting tardy and absent employees for legal and disciplinary reasons and following which departments eat up the most overtime.
“Clients tell us the system is really insightful because when you get to certain level of overtime you should probably look at hiring people,” Murray said. “The system helps show where that new worker is most needed.”
Advanced Time Management Inc. distributes InfoTronics' products in Michigan.
Recently Advanced’s Canton office installed Attendance Enterprise at Schoolcraft Collage in Livonia. Sales Manager Dan Corp said the system installed at Schoolcraft has workers' identification and access cards also work as electronic punch cards. Office workers at Schoolcraft punch in using their computers.
InfoTronics is also compatible with biometric readers that use measurements taken from a hand or finger to identify a person. Those types of systems eliminate “buddy punching,” or having co-workers clock out for employees who left early.
“In the case of Schoolcraft, the system cut down on the time it takes to process payroll,” Corp said. “InfoTronics has been very good about getting updates customers request, such as to-do lists and attendance discipline systems, into the software.”
George Murray demonstrates his firm’s punch clock system.
