Construction site time tracking: real hours for every worker, no paper
On site, workers clock in on arrival by scanning the QR code at the gate or on the tablet in the site cabin, and the app also checks the GPS location. Phone clock-in works without signal, in each worker's own language. The site manager sees who is on site, and at month end you export hours per site for payroll and job costing.
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Why time tracking on site goes wrong
The site timesheet usually lives in the cabin, filled in by the foreman at the end of the day – or worse, the end of the month. Anyone who has worked in construction knows what follows:
- Lost or soaked timesheets. Hours are rebuilt from memory, with arguments at payday.
- Inflated hours. "Whole crew 10 hours" when half left at 3 pm.
- Buddy punching. Someone signs in a worker who never turned up.
- No signal. New sites and basements have no coverage, and many apps fail.
- Workers from abroad who can't read English forms or check what was recorded for them.
- Several sites at once. You don't know the hours per site, so you don't know real labour cost against the estimate.
Records of hours worked matter beyond payroll: they show the 48-hour average and rest periods are respected, support minimum wage and holiday pay calculations, and – in Ireland – must be kept at the workplace or where work is directed from. See working time records in the UK and Ireland.
How workers clock in on site
Choose the method that fits each site. You can combine them, and each clock-in takes seconds, with big buttons.
| Method | What it looks like | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Printed QR code | Code fixed on the gate or cabin; the worker scans it in the app | Any site, zero cost |
| Rotating QR on a tablet | Code changes every 15 seconds, so a photo shared on WhatsApp doesn't work | Busy sites where you want proof the person is there |
| Entrance tablet (kiosk) | Worker types a PIN, shows a printed badge or a personal code that changes every 30 seconds | Workers without smartphones or who prefer not to use their own phone |
| GPS zone | Clock-in accepted only within the site perimeter | Large sites or crews that move often |
Workers don't install anything from an app store. They open an activation link, add the app to the home screen (Android or iPhone) and they're ready. Three actions a day: arrive, break, leave. More on the GPS time clock and QR code time clock.
No signal: offline mode
If there's no signal, the worker clocks in as normal. The punch is kept on the phone with the real time and location and sent automatically when the phone gets a connection – on the way home, for example. The recorded time is the punch time, not the upload time, and a changed phone clock is flagged.
Every worker in their own language
The worker app speaks 23 languages, including Romanian, Polish, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Turkish, Hindi, Nepali and Vietnamese, so workers from abroad understand it straight away. Each person sees their hours, breaks and monthly confirmation in their language; you see everything in English. Big buttons and few steps matter more than text.
Several sites, several site managers
- Create one location per site, with its own QR code and GPS zone.
- Each site manager uses the team-lead app and sees only their sites: who is on site now, who's late, who hasn't arrived.
- Suspicious punches (outside the zone, new phone, changed time) show yellow or red; approve or reject them.
- Corrections need a reason and stay in the history.
- A morning e-mail summarises attendance.
- Chat and announcements reach the crew with read receipts; leave is approved in one click.
- Several companies (for example a main contractor and a subsidiary) run from one account.
Schedules, late arrivals and overtime
Ten- and twelve-hour days aren't unusual on site. Set the schedule for the whole company or per worker, and the app shows late arrivals, early departures and a "not in yet" list.
- Overtime confirmation: a worker who stays on confirms with the site QR code and a photo; without it, they're clocked out at the scheduled end.
- Overtime and weekend hours appear separately, ready for the rates in your contract or sector agreement (in Ireland, check the construction Sectoral Employment Order).
- Breaks are punched, so you see hours actually worked.
- You can see when a worker is heading towards the 48-hour weekly average.
Need the sums? See how to calculate overtime pay.
Hours per site for costing and invoicing
Because each punch is tied to a location, you know the hours worked on each site. That helps with:
- day-work sheets and time-and-materials invoicing;
- comparing real labour against the estimate;
- settling hours with main contractors when you work as a subcontractor;
- proving your crew's presence to the client.
Take the Excel or CSV export straight into your costing. On Standard, the API and webhooks (Zapier, Make, n8n) send hours to other software.
Closing the month
- Review flagged punches and approve or reject them.
- Close the month: from then on nobody can change the hours.
- Workers get a notification and confirm or dispute their hours from the phone.
- The confirmation appears in the report alongside overtime, weekend hours and breaks.
- Send the export (Excel, CSV or PDF) to your payroll provider.
Pricing and the site tablet offer
Standard costs €1.99 per active employee per month, minimum 5 billed (€9.95/month), excl. VAT. You only pay for workers active that month, so seasonal crews don't cost you all year. Start with 7 days free, no card, up to 10 employees.
For the site cabin there's a special offer: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet, 3 months of QRtimetrack free for the whole team and a step-by-step setup guide – you set it up yourself in about 10 minutes – for €299 outside Romania. Limited stock of 100 systems. See the offer.
Not ready for an app? The free timesheet template builds this month's sheet in seconds, with weekends and public holidays marked.
Frequently asked questions
How do I track time on a site with no internet?
Workers clock in as normal; the punch is saved on the phone with the real time and location and sent automatically when the phone gets signal. The manager sees it with the time it was made, not when it arrived.
How do I stop workers clocking in for each other?
Each worker has one approved phone, and a new phone needs manager approval. Use the rotating QR on a tablet (changes every 15 seconds), the site's GPS zone and, optionally, a selfie or Face ID on the worker's own phone.
What if workers don't have smartphones?
Put a tablet at the site entrance in kiosk mode. Workers type a personal PIN or show a printed badge; those with phones can show a rotating personal code. Kiosk users and phone users appear in the same reports.
Can I see hours separately for each site?
Yes. Each site is a separate location with its own QR code and GPS zone, and hours are reported per location. Site managers see only their sites; you see them all. The Excel export works for job costing and invoicing.
Does GPS track workers all day?
No. Location is read only at clock-in and clock-out, to confirm the worker is on site. There's no tracking during the shift or after work. Tell workers in writing what is collected and why.
How much does it cost for a construction company?
The first 7 days are free, no card, for up to 10 employees. Then €9.95 a month for 1–5 active employees and €1.99 per active employee per month from 6, excl. VAT – for example €59.70 a month for 30 workers. Monthly billing, no long-term contract.