FAQs
What is CLOCKtales?
CLOCKtales is a mobile app designed to simplify office attendance tracking by leveraging existing WiFi infrastructure, eliminating the need for costly hardware like biometric scanners or RFID cards. It uses the office WiFi network’s SSID and MAC, with checks every 2 minutes (configurable). The app also offers robust features like leave and work-from-home (WFH) management, attendance viewing for custom periods, leave balance tracking, and admin tools for configuring company structures. Tailored for businesses in India’s banking, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing sectors, CLOCKtales is scalable for global markets, including English-speaking countries like the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia.
How does CLOCKtales track attendance?
CLOCKtales tracks attendance by detecting when an employee’s registered mobile device connects to the designated office WiFi network. It uses both the SSID to confirm the correct network and the device’s MAC to uniquely identify the employee, ensuring accurate presence verification. The app checks connectivity at configurable intervals (default: every 2 minutes), marking employees as present if their device is detected. Attendance data is securely transmitted to a cloud-based server for real-time updates, accessible via the app or admin dashboard.
Key points:
- SSID Verification: Ensures the device is on the correct office WiFi.
- BSSID: Prevents unauthorized access by linking to a specific device.
- Real-Time Tracking: Updates attendance records instantly, reducing manual errors.
What are the key features of CLOCKtales?
CLOCKtales offers a comprehensive suite of features to streamline attendance and leave management:
- WiFi-Based Attendance Tracking: Monitors employee presence using office WiFi, eliminating hardware costs.
- Configurable Check Interval: Allows admins to adjust presence check frequency (default: 2 minutes) for flexibility.
- Leave and WFH Management: Enables employees to apply for leaves or WFH days, with a tiered approval process involving supervisors and department heads for exceptional cases.
- Attendance Viewing: Provides employees access to daily or custom-period attendance records with export options.
- Leave Balance Tracking: Displays real-time leave balances for various leave types, updated automatically.
- Admin Configuration: Allows admins to manage company structures (locations, branches, departments) and employees using predefined templates.
- Advanced Features (Enterprise Plan): Includes HRMS integration, advanced analytics for attendance and leave patterns, dedicated support, and unlimited location support.
How does the leave and WFH management work in CLOCKtales?
Employees can submit leave requests (e.g., sick, casual, earned) or WFH requests through a user-friendly form in the CLOCKtales app. The approval process is tiered:
- Standard Requests: Sent to the employee’s immediate supervisor for approval or rejection, with real-time notifications via the app or email.
- Exceptional Requests: If a request exceeds the employee’s available leave balance, it escalates to the department head for further review, ensuring oversight.
The system supports multiple leave types, configurable by admins, and updates leave balances automatically upon approval. Notifications keep all parties informed, and the process integrates seamlessly with leave balance tracking.
Is CLOCKtales secure?
Yes, CLOCKtales prioritizes data security and privacy. The app employs industry-standard encryption to protect attendance and leave data during transmission and storage. Role-based access controls ensure that only authorized users (e.g., employees, supervisors, admins) can view or modify sensitive information. For global markets, CLOCKtales complies with data protection regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and Indian data protection laws, ensuring robust security for sensitive data.
How does CLOCKtales compare to other attendance tracking apps?
CLOCKtales differentiates itself with its WiFi-based tracking, which leverages existing infrastructure for cost-effective, non-invasive attendance monitoring, unlike apps requiring biometric scanners or GPS, such as Clockify or Jibble. Its tiered approval workflow for leaves and WFH requests, involving supervisors and department heads, ensures oversight for exceptional cases, a feature not always present in competitors. The Enterprise plan’s HRMS integration and advanced analytics further enhance its appeal for large organizations. Additionally, CLOCKtales is tailored for sectors like banking, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing, offering industry-specific customization.
Can CLOCKtales be integrated with other HR systems?
Yes, the Enterprise plan includes integration with popular Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS). This enables seamless synchronization of attendance and leave data for automated payroll processing and compliance reporting. For businesses using other HR systems, custom integration options may be available upon request, ensuring flexibility for diverse organizational needs.
Is there a free trial available for CLOCKtales?
Yes, CLOCKtales offers a 30-day free trial for all paid plans (Starter, Standard, and Enterprise). During the trial, users can access all features of the selected plan, allowing businesses to evaluate the app’s functionality in their specific environment. Certain Enterprise-level features, such as dedicated support, may require a paid subscription post-trial.
What kind of support does CLOCKtales offer?
CLOCKtales provides comprehensive support to ensure a seamless user experience:
- All Plans: Access to a help center with FAQs, video tutorials, and documentation for self-service support.
- Starter and Standard Plans: Email and live chat support for general inquiries and troubleshooting, available during business hours.
- Enterprise Plan: Dedicated account management and priority support via email, live chat, and phone, ensuring faster resolution for complex issues.
Support is accessible through the app or website, with response times tailored to the plan level.
Does CLOCKtales work for businesses with multiple office locations?
Yes, CLOCKtales supports multi-location businesses. The Free and Starter plans allow configuration for a single location, the Standard plan supports up to 5 locations, and the Enterprise plan offers unlimited location support. Admins can configure each location with its own WiFi network settings (SSID), ensuring accurate attendance tracking across all sites, ideal for multi-national or multi-branch organizations.
Is CLOCKtales compatible with both iOS and Android devices?
Yes, CLOCKtales is fully compatible with both iOS and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for all employees. The app’s responsive interface is optimized for smartphones and tablets, providing a seamless experience across different screen sizes and operating systems.
How does CLOCKtales ensure accuracy in attendance tracking?
CLOCKtales ensures accuracy through:
- WiFi Detection: Uses SSID and MAC address to verify device presence on the office network.
- Configurable Check Intervals: Frequent checks (default: every 2 minutes) provide near-real-time data.
- Manual Adjustments: Admins can correct exceptions (e.g., device connectivity issues).
- Cloud Syncing: Real-time data updates to a secure cloud server ensure accurate records.
These mechanisms minimize errors and ensure reliable attendance data for payroll and compliance.
How does CLOCKtales handle WiFi connectivity issues?
CLOCKtales is designed to handle WiFi connectivity issues gracefully:
- Offline Mode: If WiFi is temporarily unavailable, the app stores attendance data locally and syncs it to the cloud once connectivity is restored.
- Manual Overrides: Admins can manually adjust attendance records for employees affected by connectivity issues.
- Notifications: Employees and admins are alerted to connectivity issues, ensuring timely resolution.
These features ensure continuity in attendance tracking even in challenging network environments.
Can employees use CLOCKtales outside the office WiFi network?
CLOCKtales primarily tracks attendance within the office WiFi network to verify physical presence. However, for WFH scenarios, employees can submit WFH requests, which are tracked separately and do not require WiFi connectivity. Admins can also configure the app to allow manual clock-ins for specific cases (e.g., remote work or travel), subject to approval.
Can CLOCKtales generate reports for payroll or HR purposes?
Yes, CLOCKtales generates customizable reports for attendance, leave, and WFH data, available in formats like CSV or PDF. These reports include details such as check-in/check-out times, leave balances, and overtime hours, making them ideal for payroll processing and HR analytics. The Enterprise plan offers advanced analytics for deeper workforce insights.
How easy is it to set up CLOCKtales for a new business?
Setting up CLOCKtales is straightforward and can be completed in 3–4 days:
- Step 1: Admins register the company and configure WiFi settings (SSID) via the admin dashboard.
- Step 2: Add employees and assign them to departments or locations
- Step 3: Set leave policies and check intervals.
- Step 4: Employees download the app (iOS/Android) and register their devices.
The help center provides tutorials, and Enterprise plan users receive dedicated setup assistance.