As work patterns evolve, companies require customized workforce management based on industry-specific conditions. Through this blog, Shiftee introduces common attendance challenges across industries—and how to solve them using Shiftee.

There are many service vendors operating in industries such as manufacturing, production, services, and research. But how is the attendance of dispatched workers managed? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at workforce attendance in the outsourcing industry.

A key characteristic of outsourcing is that dispatched workers are assigned to perform tasks at specific client-designated sites. In some cases, workers are distributed across hundreds of locations, often in small numbers per site. These employees are managed by the outsourcing vendor, typically using physical time tracking devices installed at each site.

Subcontractors and staffing agencies often need to manage large numbers of workers across many client sites.

While a small team may be overseen by one or two supervisors, larger groups require designated managers by site. These mid-level or field managers are responsible for overseeing work and attendance, then reporting to headquarters for payroll and other processes. It’s common in this industry for site managers to travel between locations.

The key difference is whether the client company (referred to as the “user company”) can directly manage the worker’s tasks.

Though subcontracting and dispatch have different labor relationships, both require the vendor to manage employee attendance. Since employment contracts are signed with the vendor—not the user company—attendance and overtime must be tracked by the vendor.

Shiftee supports centralized and multi-location workforce management. It also enables configuration of mid-level managers, making it ideal for outsourced workforce scenarios. Here's how Shiftee enables structured and accurate attendance management:

Shiftee provides all necessary functions through its mobile app and web. Employees clock in and out at designated locations based on coordinate or IP settings configured by the company.

Time records sync automatically with scheduled shifts for accurate tracking. Both vendors and user companies can view attendance data in real time.

Unlike hardware-based fingerprint devices, Shiftee requires no installation and allows remote, real-time access—saving administrative time.

▶︎ Location data used for clock-ins is immediately discarded after authentication, ensuring data privacy for both employee and employer.

Without hardware installations, Shiftee can manage any number of locations via PC or mobile.

The “Timeclock Area” feature allows vendors or user companies to set up work locations for their staff. There are no limits to the number of areas, making this perfect for managing dispersed teams.

The “Multiple Timeclock Areas” feature lets you assign several locations to a single employee. This is especially useful when workers rotate between sites.

Assigning Shifts by Manager

Supervisors can assign employees to specific locations. This allows project managers to balance workloads and compare schedules across individuals and teams for optimal resource planning.

Assigning Access Permissions and Approval Roles

The “Access Level” feature allows vendors to configure roles for mid-level or site managers. For example:
- Vendors: “Owner” - User companies: “Manager” or “Supervisor” - Field managers: “Supervisor”

The “Approval Rules” feature enables tailored approval lines for time-related requests. Dispatched employees can submit requests to mid-level managers, who can be granted customized visibility and control.

The “Request Feature” processes shift, attendance, or leave requests according to approval flows. If vendors and user companies are configured as Owner and Manager access level respectively, both can track and manage requests.

Real-Time Attendance Reporting

Both the vendor and client can view attendance statuses live or by specific periods. The “Reports” feature automatically calculates overtime, night, and holiday hours based on work data. Over 100 report fields are available for flexible use.

In addition, the “Message Feature - Overtime Alerts” helps you manage workers at risk of exceeding labor hour limits.

Payroll and Payslip Management Based on Attendance Reports

User companies must provide attendance data to vendors for payroll processing. When using a payroll outsourcing service, Shiftee’s “Real-Time Reports” allow on-site managers to extract Excel files in just a few clicks.

Additionally, the “Closing Periods” feature locks attendance records to prevent post-processing changes, ensuring mutual trust between employer and employee.

The “Messaging Feature” enables delivery of payslips based on attendance data, helping meet legal requirements. Employees can easily access their documents via app or web.

Solutions like Shiftee help streamline multi-layered management across subcontractors and user companies. With improved visibility and control, vendors can efficiently manage their dispatched employees and foster smooth collaboration with clients.

With automation and customization, even complex outsourcing operations can now be managed smartly.

Manage Outsourced and Dispatched Workforce with Shiftee