Construction projects move fast – and so should your ability to track who is on site, when they arrived, how long they stayed, and whether they’ve got the right credentials to be there. Time tracking for construction is no longer about collecting paper timesheets or chasing attendance logs at the end of the week. Forward-thinking contractors are using digital platforms to gain real-time visibility across their entire workforce.
From subcontractors and general labour to engineers and foremen, a modern time tracking solution gives you a live picture of your project staffing, improves safety, supports compliance, and reduces admin costs. But not all systems are built for field realities.
Here’s how Boxcore simplifies time tracking for construction teams and delivers immediate value across six key areas – from ease of use to real-time workforce visibility.
1. Simplicity and Speed of Setup: Get Running in Hours, Not Weeks
For most construction firms, the biggest roadblock to adopting new technology is time. If a system takes weeks to implement or needs multiple days of training, it won’t get adopted. That’s why Boxcore is built for speed.
With Boxcore, you can be fully operational within a matter of hours. Initial onboarding includes structured support, fast data migration of your existing workforce records, and setup of any site-specific access requirements. From there, field teams can start using the system with just minutes of guidance.
There are no complicated training sessions or long manuals. The app is designed for frontline adoption, meaning workers can clock in or out, view their status, and confirm credentials using a clean, intuitive interface. No technical background is needed.
Whether you’re managing a 10-person crew or 500 workers across multiple subcontractors, Boxcore makes it simple to track every onsite workers with minimal effort to setup.
Explore the platform setup: Boxcore Product Features
2. Fully Integrated with Worker Onboarding and Digital Inductions
Time tracking for Construction shouldn’t be a standalone function. On modern sites, the question isn’t just whether a worker is onsite – it’s whether they’re cleared to be there in the first place.
Boxcore integrates time tracking directly with onboarding workflows. Before a worker ever clocks in, the platform confirms that all required training, certifications, and documents are complete and up to date. This includes project-specific inductions, OSHA, CSCS or Safepass card validation, and any role-based training modules.
Each worker has a digital profile that links their identity (captured via facial recognition), training records, induction completion status, and site access permissions. This ensures your time tracking is fully aligned with safety and compliance requirements – not just payroll needs.
For large sites or firms using rotating crews, this alignment is a game-changer. New joiners are onboarded digitally in minutes and tied directly into attendance records from day one.
For a deep dive on this topic: Effective Construction Worker Onboarding
3. Facial Recognition: The Smartest Way to Track Time On Site
Unlike swipe cards, key fobs, or PIN codes – which are easily shared, lost, or misused – facial recognition is precise, contactless, and secure. Boxcore uses facial recognition technology to verify worker identity during every clock-in or access attempt.
The process is simple. Site teams take two reference photos of each worker during onboarding. From then on, workers simply approach the facial recognition device or check in via the app, and their identity is verified within seconds.
Here’s why facial recognition outperforms other methods:
- No card sharing or buddy-punching: Only the actual person can check in.
- No lost fobs or forgotten pins: No tools needed, just their face.
- Touch-free access: Ideal for health-conscious sites or environments where hygiene matters.
- Fast processing: Clock-ins happen in under two seconds, even on large, busy sites.
Boxcore’s solution uses high-performance Suprema BioStation devices for superior speed and reliability, but can also operate with mobile check-ins depending on project needs.
Facial recognition gives contractors complete confidence that time logs are accurate — and that site access is restricted to verified, trained personnel only.
See it in action: Boxcore’s Access Control Software
4. Enforcing Mandatory Training and Blocking Access Where Needed
One of the major compliance risks on construction sites is allowing unqualified or untrained workers to access restricted zones or perform high-risk tasks. Boxcore solves this with a built-in access control layer tied to training status.
If a worker has expired or incomplete training – for example, if their CSCS or OSHA card is out of date or they haven’t completed the site-specific induction / orientation – they’re automatically blocked from clocking in or accessing site turnstiles (if in use).
The system supports custom rules per site, per role, or per subcontractor. You can define mandatory training requirements, assign deadlines, and track progress at both individual and team levels.
For example:
- A steel erector must have a valid harness awareness certificate.
- An MEP subcontractor must complete a specific orientation.
- General labour must complete the GA3 equipment safety module.
Boxcore enforces these rules automatically. This ensures your time tracking for construction isn’t just a log of presence – it’s a tool to control access and drive compliance from the first point of entry.
Learn more: Access Control Reimagined
5. 100% Cloud-Based — No Local Servers, No IT Headaches
Too many legacy construction systems are still dependent on local servers, offline databases, or cumbersome IT overhead. Boxcore is different. It’s fully cloud-based, which means there’s nothing to install, no hardware to manage, and no infrastructure to maintain on your side.
Your data is always up to date, accessible from anywhere, and instantly synced across your team — from site foremen to head office. All you need is a phone, tablet, or laptop.
For multi-site contractors, this eliminates a huge amount of admin friction. Project directors can see time tracking dashboards across all jobs, compare labour inputs, spot anomalies, and download timesheets in one click – all without chasing reports from each site.
Cloud hosting also means automatic updates. You always have the latest features and improvements, rolled out securely with zero disruption to your workflows.
6. Secure, Certified and Built for Flexibility
Construction sites deal with sensitive data – worker identities, certifications, safety documents, time logs – and that data needs to be protected. Boxcore is SOC2 Type 2 certified, meeting strict standards around security, privacy, and uptime.
All data is encrypted, stored securely in the cloud, and access is permission-based, meaning only authorised personnel can view or modify records. Whether you’re operating in the EU, UK, or US, the system aligns with your data protection obligations.
And while security is key, so is flexibility. Boxcore supports multiple access configurations – from facial recognition check-ins using Suprema devices to manual approvals or mobile app verification for smaller sites.
You can customise access control, time tracking methods, and training rules based on project scale, region, and risk profile. Whatever your configuration, deployment is fast – with no need for specialist hardware unless desired.
7. Real-Time Workforce Visibility for Safer, More Productive Projects. Time Tracking for Construction.
The real power of time tracking for construction is in visibility. Who’s on site right now? Which subcontractors are under or overstaffed? Are critical trades present today? Is anyone clocking excessive hours?
Boxcore gives you this visibility in real time. Supervisors and project managers can instantly see live attendance dashboards, broken down by company, trade, or zone. Alerts can be set up to notify when minimum staffing levels aren’t met or when unauthorised access attempts occur.
Historical reporting is just as strong. Export timesheets, review trends across dates and projects, and support payroll or compliance checks with clean, verifiable data.
This visibility helps:
- Reduce downtime by flagging short-staffed zones.
- Improve labour forecasting and site planning.
- Ensure safety teams are properly distributed.
- Eliminate buddy-punching and inaccurate hours.
- Cut manual admin for attendance verification.
For related reading: Contractor Safety Software That Delivers Real Improvements
Final Thoughts: A Smarter Way to Track Time on Site
Traditional time tracking for construction methods fall short when applied to modern construction projects. They’re slow, reactive, error-prone, and often disconnected from safety and compliance systems.
Boxcore offers a better approach: a simple, field-ready platform that ties time tracking directly into training, access control, and workforce data. It’s easy to use, fast to deploy, and trusted by contractors across Ireland, the UK, and the US – from small subcontractors to Tier One firms.
With facial recognition check-ins, automated access rules, cloud-based reporting, and integrated onboarding, Boxcore gives you complete visibility of your workforce – and total confidence in your compliance.
Want to see how it works on your next project? Request a demo or explore more insights on the Boxcore blog.
