Does your Construction Time Tracking Solution Integrate with your Accounting System?

Precise time tracking is critical

The construction industry typically runs on razor-thin profit margins from project to project, and accurate bidding keeps profits from vanishing. With labor costs taking an average of 20% to 40% of the total cost of a project, keeping precise time records becomes vital.

A time tracking system that doesn’t integrate with accounting diminishes the accuracy of labor recorded on a project. Errors creep into the process in many ways. Manually exporting and importing data to the accounting system requires substantial time and effort. Non-configurable export options that require manual changes to the data within Excel foster errors.

Not all integrations are equal

Many time tracking systems claim to integrate with ERPs. But when choosing a time tracking system, it is essential to consider specific features.

Light integration vs. deep integration

Some tracking solutions try to appeal to everybody by claiming they can integrate with every possible accounting system. However, many of those tracking systems integrate minimally with most ERPs most of the time. They can solve some issues but require unstable, manual workarounds for many essential functions.

Only deeply integrated time tracking systems can offer the full set of features your accounting system provides, such as associating time with employees, jobs, pay types, coding, equipment, and other considerations.

A time tracking system with robust accounting integration goes beyond the basics and should offer standard practices, such as coding labor to jobs, child jobs (extras), general ledger accounts, cost codes, standard cost codes, certified classes, unions, union locals, and almost any other coding method your accounting system supports.

How much IT expertise do you need?

Synchronization often presents unexpected challenges. Security tops the list as an essential consideration when integrating any tool with your accounting system. You should consider your company’s IT support; do you have the expertise to get your time tracking system up and running, free of security threats? Can your IT staff handle unexpected circumstances such as loss of sync? Can the synchronization recover by itself if server issues cause it to stop working?

You can hedge against this issue by finding a time tracking system with a broad user base. A road-tested solution, by nature, brings confidence to your decision to buy. Look for a system with an easily installed integration client. The on-server software should auto-update and possess auto-recovery protocols. Look for a solution that offers multiple syncing options: scheduled syncs, continuous syncing, and manual syncing. Finally, the integrations with your time tracking system must always be available and require little to no in-house IT support.

Custom vs. platform synchronization systems

Many time tracking systems go to the market to enlist external synchronization services for accounting sync. Unfortunately, synchronization services vary in quality and effectiveness.

Some rely on point-to-point, customized integrations. These systems might work well at first, but issues inevitably surface due to the nuances of custom-built sync with specific accounting databases. In addition, problems that arise from custom-built integrations require custom-built solutions—often not in the wheelhouse of local IT.

You can dodge these issues by choosing a time tracking system built on a synchronization platform trusted far and wide by many customers. Companies that offer such proven integrations know about and have solved most issues. In addition, they employ teams ready to assist your company in a software environment they understand at an expert level.

Select your time tracking system with care

Using a proven time tracking system that integrates with your ERP saves time and increases productivity. Don’t settle for a time entry solution that isn’t built on a solid synchronization framework. Instead, search for a time tracking solution that extends your accounting system’s capabilities to the field.

How hh2 Cloud Services can help

hh2 Cloud Services products integrate seamlessly with the top construction accounting ERP systems including Sage Intacct, Sage 300 Construction Real Estate, Sage 100 Contractor, Acumatica, Procore, Autodesk Build, ComputerEase, Foundation, Viewpoint Vista, Viewpoint ProContractor, and Viewpoint Spectrum. Also, hh2 Universal Construction Model (UCM) offers seamless integration between Autodesk Build and Sage 300 CRM!

Whether you need AP routing and approval, time entry and reporting, field reporting, human resources access, pay stub access and history, reporting databases, or service management in the field — we have a product that deploys quickly and easily.

Integrate your construction time tracking and more with your accounting system of record. We can help take your business to the cloud.

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