As a freelancer, timesheets are essential tools for you and your employer to keep track of the amount of time used in completing a project. However, compiling these papers can become challenging as they can be overly time-consuming and full of errors.
To mitigate these drawbacks of traditional timesheets, you can use an automated time tracker to save time and improve your efficiency. These time tracking applications help measure the accurate time you used in achieving a particular job. It allows you to share your reports and timesheets with your employer either via a collaborative app or via an invoice.
This article discusses the benefits of time tracking apps and how they can increase your performance.
Benefits of using time tracking apps
Time tracking apps come with a myriad of benefits to the freelancer and the employer. Managers can customize these tools based on the company’s time management policies. Some advantages of these solutions include:
Mobile versions
These time tracking apps are mobile-based, which makes it easier for you to track your working time. Handheld devices offer convenience and speed while calculating the number of hours spent.
Automated solution
With time tracking apps, you do not need to calculate the total time spent on a project manually. It is all done automatically. For example, the time tracking apps make it easier for you to keep track of time even while you are busy at work, improving your efficiency.
Transparency
Since time tracking is automated, it is almost impossible to manipulate the figures. Hence, it helps to uphold transparency and communicate the exact time the freelancer spent on the task. That way, you can eliminate overpayment.
Time-saving
One of the major benefits of these time tracking apps is their ability to help you conserve time. Rather than spending time on manual calculation and analysis, you can focus on your core task. Hence, you can mitigate distractions effectively.
Opportunity for feedback
Using these time tracking apps allows you to be able to craft good feedback and enhance your productivity. It helps you know the exact time taken to complete specific tasks to make proper time management in the future. This feedback also helps the employer to estimate the right deadlines to assign to specific jobs.
List of the best time tracking apps
- MinuteDock
This is an easy-to-use time tracking app. It is designed to allow freelancers to effectively keep track of their tasks, monitor budgets, and improve their overall performance. The standout feature of MinuteDock is its ability to let users keep track of every bill and generate standard invoices to be sent to employers.
- Timenotes.io
This is an essential time tracking app that integrates seamlessly with other project management solutions. It provides the freelancer with a well-organized and straightforward management procedure to ensure the seamless execution of jobs.
- VeriClock
Designed for both freelancers and businesses, the VeriClock time tracking app is built with several features — clock-in and clock-out, automated time logging, and more — to ensure enhanced productivity. It offers essential data that can be used to generate reports, calculate the cost, and send invoices to clients seamlessly.
- Asana
Asana is an automated time tracking application that is available in web and mobile versions. It allows you to organize, track, and manage your work effectively. The asana time tracking app was developed in 2008 by Asana Inc., which is based in San Francisco. It is best suitable for remote freelancers, and it helps you organize your work from simple daily tasks to managing more complex projects.
5.TimeCampÂ
TimeCamp is a unique internet timer – it fills the timesheets automatically with both time entries, and if the user wants, with computer activities. The tool saves much time for what really matters at freelancers’ work and makes sure they’re billed fairly for their job. The rich-data reports are perfect for showing the proof of work to the employers.
6. ezClocker
ezClocker is a highly rated time tracking app for freelancers and small businesses. Its simple design allows you to record your hours per job, add notes, and send an invoice email to your customers with a touch of a button.
Why should you keep track of the time spent on client work?
Contrary to what is obtainable in a traditional work environment, a freelancer’s pay is somewhat irregular and is dependent on the types of projects and the number of hours spent on executing the job. Therefore, as a freelancer, you have to look out for effective ways to keep track of the time spent on getting the tasks done. Doing so comes with various benefits, especially where you charge your client based on the number of hours worked. Here are some of the reasons why you should keep track of the time spent on completing a client’s job:
- To convert time tracking data into an invoice
- To improve the accuracy of future estimates
- Enhance speed and performance
- Discover and mitigate undue disturbance
- Accurate measurement of time and costs
- Setting goals and achieving them
Conclusion
In most cases, freelancers work remotely — away from their employers and are paid depending on the number of hours worked. This makes time tracking an essential factor for both freelancers and their employers. With the invention of automatic time tracking applications, you can now monitor and calculate the time spent on performing every task given to you. Doing so offers several benefits, including proper estimation of deadlines and appropriate allocation of tasks.
