Honest Review:

uAttend

• Ease of use
• Straightforward setup
• earlyPAY
• Touchless time clock
• Facial recognition
• Voice-controlled punching
• Temperature reader with punching threshold for an added layer of workplace protection
• Relatively affordable

There are five paid monthly subscription plans available for uAttend. Pricing depends on the number of users, but unlike other similar software, they don’t charge per seat but rather charge one price for each plan. 

For 1-9 employees, a monthly subscription costs only $25. For 10-19 employees, it’s at $41. For 20-49 employees, it goes up to $73. For 50-99 employees, it costs $119. And for operations with 100 or more employees, uAttend costs only $159 per month. 

Time clock devices are bought separately from the software, and cost $119 to $399 each, depending on the model. RFID cards are also sold separately and are priced by lot from $10 for 25 pieces to $139 for 100 pieces. Similarly, RFID key fobs can be bought per lot from $30 for 10 pieces to $199 for 100 pieces.

Another noticeable deviation from usual pricing offers is that despite the differences in number of users and pricing, all plans allow users to enjoy all uAttend features. There are no “locked” features that only become available for the more expensive tiers, and all plans are designed for two time clocks, one administrator, and unlimited exports of data in CSV format. 

Key uAttend features include real-time online dashboards, timesheet management, holiday and absence management, overtime tracking, shift scheduling, rounding and grace periods, break tracking, notifications and alerts, reporting and analytics, and integration with payroll. Users also get several punching options, namely facial recognition and voice for users with higher-end devices, fingerprint, RFID, and PIN code entry for mid and lower-end models, and mobile, web, and desktop for subscriptions without time clock devices.

If the default number of time clocks and administrators is insufficient for clients’ needs, they can opt to add more time clocks at $12 each per month, and additional administrators at $8 per seat per month. They can also opt for the ability to export in formats other than CSV for an additional $8 monthly.

1. Touchless Punching 

uAttend’s touchless punching feature is designed to eliminate the need for shared surfaces with facial recognition and identification and advanced voice-controlled punching. The system recognizes voice orders and uses a facial recognition feature that only requires an employee’s face to sign in. 

This touchless punching feature serves as a double-edged sword that protects both employer and employee. uAttend gives employees the option to eliminate manual code entry and fingerprint scanners that carry the risk of microbe transmission, helping secure the workplace against communicable diseases.

What I also love about uAttend touchless punching is the added layer of protection given by the built-in optional temperature reader which records the body temperature of users punching in using the time clock, and prevents users with temperatures above the limit designated by the administration from signing in and entering company premises. 

On the other hand, the facial recognition feature ensures that employers are protected from time theft shenanigans like buddy punching by the facial recognition and identification system. This feature ensures that the employee punching in matches the user profile being clocked in through the analysis and comparison of unique facial features facing the time clock camera versus the data stored in the uAttend system. 

Facial recognition is supported by uAttend time clock models MN2000, DR2000, and DR2500. Voice control is only available on DR2000 and DR2500, while the temperature scanning feature is only available on the DR2500 time clock.

2. Geofencing

Geofencing is a powerful tool that ensures employee accountability and protects employers’ interests in uAttend. With this feature, employers can put up virtual perimeters around certain areas from which employees must sign in. Outside the geofence, employees would be unable to clock in, ensuring they are where they need to be at the moment they begin tracking time.

It is particularly useful for industries with boots-on-the-ground operations that need the physical presence of their workers on job sites such as field services, hospitality, restaurants, and retail. Knowing that employees are actually present at the job site provides peace of mind for employers, employees, and clients alike that is otherwise unattainable through merely recording time in and time out data. 

Employers who use uAttend’s geofencing feature can be confident that they are not being cheated out of resources with buddy punching. Employees will also have incontrovertible proof of their presence on the job site upon punching in. Additionally, clients can get some visibility on what it takes to make their projects happen, helping increase their confidence in the business.

It is essential to note that uAttend’s geofencing feature only captures employee location details at the moment of punching and does not track any user’s location outside that. This means that there are no privacy concerns to be wary of when using the software, as it is designed to fully respect employee privacy.

However, the feature’s downside is that it doesn’t allow employers to have a live view of employee locations during work hours. This opens up an opportunity for slackers to steal time by moving out of the geofenced area for non-work matters. This lack of visibility may also prevent employers from ensuring and monitoring the safety of their employees, especially for jobs that entail a considerable level of risk such as transportation, construction, and hospital services.

3. Shift Scheduling, Break Enforcement, and Absence Management

Creating and managing schedules is an essential aspect of running a successful business. It is crucial to ensure that all locations are adequately staffed and that the employees get the necessary breaks and time off as per the law. With uAttend, managers can create schedules and assign shifts to team members, which can be adjusted in real time to keep up with dynamically-changing business needs. The break tracking feature of uAttend allows managers to record the duration and timing of breaks for meals and rest and schedule paid time off, vacations, and other types of absences to keep the business compliant with labor laws.

Creating schedules and assigning shifts with uAttend is a breeze. Managers can create positions on the scheduling dashboard, assign employees to these positions from a list, and create a shift template that defines the beginning and ending times of the shift and the number of employees required for a particular position. These templates can be easily copied and edited to fit business requirements, and any changes can be communicated in-app through notes.

In addition to creating schedules, uAttend also provides a comprehensive break tracking feature that allows administrators to enforce break times and manage time off. Employees can quickly punch in and out for designated rest and meal breaks, request time off for planned absences, view their leave balances, upcoming holidays, and history of time off requests to streamline their personal attendance planning while managers can easily keep track of break compliance and review and approve time off requests all in one place.

And because uAttend can be accessed from any internet-connected device, schedule management is possible even on the go. This allows managers to keep track of their schedules and make necessary changes in real time, ensuring that the business runs smoothly.

4. earlyPAY

I’ve saved the best for last: my favorite uAttend feature is earlyPAY. 

By enabling employees to receive their earned paychecks on demand, earlyPAY provides businesses with an opportunity to stand head and shoulders above others in the market and earn the loyalty of their people. It benefits staff members by helping manage unforeseen expenses, reducing financial stress, enhancing general welfare, and empowering them so they can better focus on the work that matters.

It’s quite easy to set up earlyPAY. Administrators only need to invite employees after turning on the feature in their uAttend account. The liability for making the advances to their employees will not be on the employers but on Clair, who enters into a direct contract with the employees. No integration is necessary on the employer’s end. Cash flow won’t be hampered, and payroll processes won’t be altered either. 

And if that isn’t great enough, it has no additional costs for the business. It’s a win-win for for all!

(As of December 2023) 

• Capterra: 4.6/5
• G2: 4.5
• Software Advice: 4.6/5
• SelectHub: 92%
• Google Play Store: 3.2/5
• App Store: 1.9

uAttend is a brilliantly conceptualized time and attendance tracking solution that incorporates tangible technology with its web, browser, and mobile-compatible software. If not for certain issues that affect its usability and functionality — the usual bugs, glitches and crashes, compromised function when power on internet connection experiences some hiccups, finicky fingerprint sensors, machines not being sturdy enough to last a long time — it would have been really awesome. As I’ve previously said in other reviews, it’s the execution that turns fantastic ideas into less-than-awesome realities, which can luckily be remedied with some TLC and a lot of elbow grease — and an attentive ear to the needs of users. 

Speaking of unmet user needs, it’s quite a shame that uAttend couldn’t claim to be an all-in-one solution, as it lacks an in-app payroll function and its third-party payroll integrations can be wonky and counterintuitive sometimes. They could also add some more firepower to their reporting system to get users the depth, specificity, and customizability that they need in their analytics. I’m sure that given time, they could address these to cover all their bases.

Having looked at what’s wrong with uAttend, I’m happy to say that there are a lot of things that they did right. First of all, I love that they put employee empowerment front and center with the earlyPAY feature which allows employees to get paid on demand. With the way things are going on in the world, employees need all the help they can get to help secure themselves and their families financially. And when their minds are freed of some of the burden of financial difficulties, they can perform better at their jobs and feel better about themselves. 

uAttend’s scheduling, break compliance, and absence management features make attendance tracking and management a breeze and help in ensuring that operations run smoothly and no site is left unmanned. They also help in making sure that employees get the breaks and time off they’re entitled to by law, so they can recharge away from work and return refreshed, renewed, and ready to take on new challenges… and spare their employers from costly infractions against labor laws in the process.

The geofencing feature is also worth mentioning, as it ensures that employees are where they should be at the moment they clock in. This visibility helps in gaining the trust of clients, protects employers by helping eliminate time theft, and gives employees incontrovertible proof of their presence at their assigned job sites. And as uAttend only captures employee location at the moment of punching, users do not need to worry about their privacy and being “spied on” throughout the work day. 

Consistent with the theme of employee empowerment that seems to run through its key features, the touchless punching is a really nice touch (pun fully intended that minimizes if not totally eliminates the need for shared punching surfaces with voice control and facial recognition. Aside from protecting against contact-spread diseases, the facial recognition feature also protects from buddy punching and adds a layer of accountability to operations. And for operations that require even tighter health standards, uAttend can also be configured to read body temperature and prevent employees with temperatures above administration-defined limits from punching in and entering company premises. 

Overall, uAttend is a very promising software that hits most of the right spots and addresses the right challenges. It’s very affordable and scalable and seems to be quite a nice fit with many industries, especially those with operations that require employees to hit the ground running. If they could just make the right tweaks and add the right features to optimize usability and positive user experience, I’d really love to recommend uAttend. 

So, listen, if you think you can overlook uAttend’s shortcomings and make the best of its current array of features for your business, by all means, get it. But if you’re still unsure, it would be wise to wait it out — I’m sure they’re working on improvements and will come out better and stronger in time.