Time tracking for construction is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. For contractors working in New York City, where labour costs are high and regulations like Local Law 196 and SST training cards add complexity, accurately tracking hours is vital for compliance, safety, and profit margins. But with many firms still relying on paper logs, Excel sheets or outdated punch-in systems, the time has come for a better approach.
The best time tracking solution should go beyond basic attendance. It needs to work for site crews, not just head office. It must connect seamlessly with worker onboarding, digital orientations, and training records. And it has to deliver real-time insights so project leaders can make fast, confident decisions.
This is where Boxcore steps in.
Whether you’re managing a 20-person crew or a 500-person job across multiple trades, here are the five key things to consider when choosing time tracking for construction – how Boxcore is helping NYC contractors lead the way.
Why Facial Recognition Beats Manual and Card-Based Clock-Ins
Construction sites are high-pressure environments where workers arrive in waves. Manual sign-in sheets are slow and prone to error. Swipe cards can be forgotten, shared, or used inaccurately. That’s why facial recognition is becoming the new standard for time tracking in construction – and why Boxcore made it a core part of our platform.
Boxcore’s facial recognition works through the app or integrated access control. Workers register with two photos. Clock-ins and outs happen automatically—no cards or codes.
- Only registered workers can clock in
- Faster entry at busy gates
- Live visibility of who’s onsite
- Optimised for real-world site conditions
Read more about Boxcore’s facial recognition time tracking →
1. Ease of Use and Rapid Deployment
The biggest barrier to adoption for any site-based software is complexity. If your time tracking system needs a week of training or only works on a desktop, it won’t get used. That’s why ease of use is non-negotiable.
At Boxcore, we designed our mobile-first platform with the frontline in mind. Time tracking is built directly into our intuitive app, which works on both phones and tablets.
There’s no learning curve. Foremen, superintendents, and subcontractor teams can see what they need at a glance. Workers can clock in using facial recognition within seconds. For projects using turnstiles, Boxcore links access control with time tracking automatically.
And setup is quick—your team can be fully up and running with real workforce data in a matter of hours.
✅ Easy to navigate
✅ Mobile-optimised
✅ Up and running over 10X faster than standard methods
✅ Works with or without turnstiles
Read more about our fast-deployment model →
2. Ties in Seamlessly with Worker Onboarding
Time tracking for construction shouldn’t be a standalone tool. It works best when it’s tightly integrated with your onboarding workflow. That way, every worker who steps on-site is already in the system—and you know exactly who they are, where they’re supposed to be, and whether their credentials are in order.
With Boxcore, as soon as a worker is onboarded, their time tracking is ready to go. Our system captures worker data during onboarding, including identification, role, company, and required certifications like SST cards for NYC. Once approved, they can begin clocking in via the app or through access control if enabled.
You’re not duplicating data across systems or relying on gate logs and manual headcounts. You have a clean, centralised record of when workers started, how long they were on site, and which crew they were assigned to—all with a full audit trail.
✅ Syncs with onboarding
✅ One source of truth for all workforce data
✅ Clear roles, trades and access status
✅ Subcontractor-friendly permissions
See how we simplify subcontractor oversight →
3. Supports Digital Orientations and Training Validation
In NYC, Local Law 196 requires that all workers on major projects complete site safety training. Without proper time tracking linked to validated orientation data, there’s a real risk of non-compliance—and that can mean fines or worse.
Boxcore ties time tracking for construction directly to your digital orientation and training workflows. During onboarding, workers must upload their SST cards and complete any site-specific inductions or orientations. These can be configured by project or role.
Until that orientation is marked complete, access and time tracking can be restricted. This ensures only compliant, trained workers are clocking in—no more chasing paperwork or validating cards on-site.
✅ Verifies training status before time is recorded
✅ Tracks SST and task-specific certifications
✅ Custom orientation flows per project
✅ Easy export of worker logs for compliance audits
Learn how Boxcore helps with NYC DOB and Local Law 196 compliance →
4. Provides Real-Time Visibility into Labour and Attendance
Managing a job in real-time means knowing who’s on-site, who’s not, and what subcontractors are active. Time tracking that only gives you weekly CSV exports isn’t good enough. You need live visibility.
With Boxcore, project teams can see the full picture as it happens. Using our facial recognition-powered clock-in system, you get a granular breakdown of workers by company, role, and project—all updated in real-time.
Superintendents, Project Managers, and safety officers can check attendance from their phone, confirm headcounts instantly.
✅ Real-time dashboards for labour hours
✅ Automatic crew breakdowns by company
✅ Flags over- or under-utilisation
✅ Mobile visibility for site supervisors and head office
See how we give you instant insights →
5. Automates Reports, Reduces Admin and Improves Accuracy
Time tracking for construction is traditionally admin-heavy. Site teams spend hours chasing sign-ins, filling out timesheets, and typing worker names into spreadsheets. Errors creep in. Hours get missed. And those mistakes cost money.
Boxcore removes all that. Our platform automatically generates time and attendance reports daily, weekly or by custom range. These can be filtered by subcontractor, trade, project, or individual worker.
✅ No more spreadsheets or sign-in sheets
✅ Export-ready reports for payroll and compliance
✅ Improved data accuracy and security
✅ Frees up time for site staff to focus on delivery
Discover how we cut admin for NYC contractors →
Key Business Benefits for Time Tracking for Construction
Reduced Insurance and Legal Risk
Accurate time logs reduce the risk of false claims and support regulatory defence.
Less Admin, Lower Overheads
Eliminates paperwork and manual entry. Reports are instant and export-ready.
Improved Labour Productivity
Better visibility means better deployment. Reduce idle time and keep projects on schedule.
Reduced Compliance Risk
Links time tracking to valid orientations and training. Keeps sites DOB and OSHA ready.
Final Thoughts from the Founder
“As we grow in the US market, one thing is clear – busy contractors want tools that actually work for the people on site and deliver ROI fast. That’s what we’ve built Boxcore for. It’s about giving field teams real-time visibility and cutting out the paperwork that slows everything down.” — Padraig Reilly, CEO & Founder of Boxcore
Ready to See It in Action?
If you’re a contractor looking for a better way to manage time tracking, workforce visibility and compliance, Boxcore is ready to help with our proven Time tracking for Construction Solution.
