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Why do Bookkeeping and Tracking Time go hand in hand?

There’s cut-throat competition for everything in today’s world, and the last thing one would want is to be swindled. That’s why bookkeeping or keeping a tab on the financial transactions forms the backbone of a corporation. It not only creates an integral part but also is a delicate department. With the numerous tasks that show up in this procedure, one can quickly lose track of time. To avoid getting caught up in this mess, xTimesheet allows efficient tracking of time.

The firms that have a great number of clients, and have to deal with multiple of them regularly have a lot to keep up. And, if they are not managing their time well, by being everywhere and nowhere truly, several big and small tasks are spoiled. The various companies with their varying rapports, all need individual attention. And with this kind of overwhelming schedule, it is only human to botch up the accounts. If there is proper time-tracking happening, the accountant could know about the fumble and mistakes and also figure out if he is paying less attention to important firms and/or overworking on the ones that have been satisfied. Don’t bother thinking that xTimesheet would add to the list of chores. Instead, this digital time tracker is a piece of cake. You would not have to put in any extra effort to learn this application or figure out its functions. It works in the background. It will only be a blessing and no less.

Another icing on the cake of digital time-trackers is that it functions beyond time-tracking. Not every fish in the pond is the same. Not every client has the same billing rates and patterns. xTimesheet features personalization when it comes to this issue. Hourly billing and customization of the prices for differently paid employees are available. It makes this fuzzy task a pumpkin. Which, in turn, makes accounting easier.

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Tracking time could result in a well-organized WFH

Be it a kindergarten student or the CEO of a company, and by this far, everybody is accustomed to the perks and drawbacks of work from home. The happiness of getting up late and still attending that 11 o’clock meeting is beyond expression. And, at the same time, the work pressure after wasting the whole long day is overwhelming. Amidst this chaos, some of us are managing to maintain a work routine and some of us are messing up badly. Some colleagues are working hard and performing well, so much so that their performance is better when working from home. Some corporations released data, which says that they have experienced better employee conduct during the lockdown period. However, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Working less than required is bad, but working too much is worse.
xTimesheet provides easy tracking of time so that employees don’t make a hash of their time. It lets the person work just in the right amount and helps him/her squeeze in time for leisure and other activities.

Let us shed some light upon the aids:

Vigilance: The most important thing is that you’re subconsciously watched by yourself. If your work hours are being tracked, you would know about your performance, about the time you’re misspending or if you’re working too much. This will help you balance everything in the right proportion and time.

Record: Another important thing is maintaining records of the number of hours of work. This would be useful in tracking the overtime hours and if the employee is getting good pay. It would also be helpful to track the hours of work not done. This creates transparency between the employer and the employee, which is much needed in a healthy work environment.

Thriving Routine: xTimesheet helps one make the most out of his/her ’24hrs’. Procrastination, futile multi-tasking, and hours going in vain doing nothing can all be taken care of now. The chance of spending an organized day with everything in the right amount and the willingness to participate in every area of life should be cherished in these hard times.

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Why are timesheets better than spreadsheets?

There are two widely used options for managing the workflow, namely, timesheet apps and spreadsheets. Spreadsheets have been in use for a very long time now. For many, they are the most trusted and preferable option. People who have been using them over the years have grown more and more used to it and find it to be a reliable medium. However, on the contrary, timesheet applications have proved themselves to be much more efficient and more comfortable. Their comprehensive set of options and automatic functioning are accurate and quick and require less manual attention. One of such apps is xTimesheet. xTimesheet provides speedy and convenient delivery of the work commands. It does not need the user to enter everything manually; instead, a one time command is sufficient.


Let’s figure out ways in which timesheet apps are better:

Suitability: Even though xTimesheet is a newer option, if picked up now, the user will very quickly get accustomed to it. He/she will experience a vast difference between handling and convenience of both the media, how most of the tasks have become mechanized and automated, and how accuracy has increased, without any re-checks.
Price: Unlike spreadsheets, timesheet apps could be free of cost. Since they are apps, they are generally free up to a specific number of users. Even if there are charges, they are very nominal and affordable. So, directly implied, xTimesheet is a cost-effective option.
Speed and Accuracy: To err is human. So, even if a flawless person is in charge of the spreadsheets, there will still be some mistakes that happen incognito. To check and again double-check them, manual assistance is inevitably required, which adds up to the speed issue. To get away from this, automated, one time commands are offered by xTimesheet. Speedy and accurate results are provided by these applications.

Now is the right time to switch to xTimesheet for a hassle-free experience if you’re still crawling with spreadsheets. It would be a change that will prove worthy of the effort of learning something new.

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Prioritizing Work Items – a Critical Component of Managing Workforces

Getting showered with clients and having the reputation of being the best in the field is demanded by all. However, the success rate of the company is directly proportional to the workload. The phrase ‘too much on my plate’ turns out to be a good one in such times. Being drowned into work up to the collar brings a different kind of zeal and passion into our work lives. But, if every morsel is not planned and timed well, the work balance gets shook and the efficiency falls apart. Every work is equally essential and outdated, and it doesn’t help with the modern-day work structure. Dealing with all kinds of work simultaneously and giving undivided attention to all is not possible. In this procedure, we end-up spoiling the task, which required our utmost attention, and bag negative points for the team. Looking at all of them together makes the task tedious and more challenging.


Giving equal importance to everything could make our focus crash all over the place, leaving us overwhelmed with the workload and then eventually ruining even the more straightforward tasks.

That is when priority comes into the picture. Prioritization of work items can turn a heavily loaded, hotchpotch program into a simple water slide. One can easily glide from top to bottom, finishing the essential tasks first and gradually moving to the simpler ones by the end of the day, or vice versa. It helps in productivity, minimizes workload, better manages time, and hence, efficiency, and maintains a work-life balance. Inducing this asset into our workplaces could turn out to be a boon. Those places where a lot of work needs to be done in less time could use this technique to save distraction and stalling.

How to prioritize work is an old struggle and requires proper attention paid to it. xTimesheet helps in tackling similar problems in an effective and accomplishing way. It offers economical and easy solutions to such issues, making our everyday work more comfortable. If one master the art of prioritizing work items, he/she can easily handle a rough schedule in a neat, spick, and span manner.

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Brushing-up distant workplace communication skills

A few months ago, a lot of us did not bother about ‘distant’ workplace etiquettes. Seeing our colleagues around us and immediately reacting to different hurdles showing up daily is what we were used to. COVID-19 has brought all kinds of changes to our lives, the majority of them being work-related. Dreaded by some, the ‘WFH’ style is in fashion these days. No matter how good and accustomed to work etiquette we are, remote working has more to it. There are unheard of situations and challenges. And as far as remote working is concerned, communication dominates the domain. Time clash, mode of communication, network challenges are just a few, to begin with. There are many more, which need our attention.

Basic Communication
We all must have had at least one office/work-related video call or voice call on different platforms offered these days. And all of us must have suffered some network problem on our end, or someone else’s in the call. The first and foremost point that goes here is to be polite when complaining about similar issues. Along with masks, network-issues are another ‘new normal.’ While organizing meetings, one should be mindful that one platform might not be comfortable for everyone. To overcome this, there should be tutorials of the platform in use circulated; this would help everyone move forward together. New communication tools should be adopted for efficiency and management.

Proactiveness
Being away and managing everything like it used to be is not a piece of cake. Be the lead or the team, and everyone needs to get out of their lethargy pants and try to know more about their daily schedule. Although the leads are required to push a little extra, think about sending motivational messages and update the team status. One should be aware of the teammates’ positions too.
Setting new goals, huddling up, and organizing questionnaires daily would help everyone be on the same page.

Micromanagement
Micromanagement, in itself, is not believed to be a very friendly practice. During remote working, it could be more baneful. During these difficult times, there are enough reasons to be worried about. On top of that, if the employee feels caged and excessively time-bound all the time, this could turn out to be frustrating for him/her and then eventually affect his performance. The lead should be vigilant and observant in a way that does not hamper his/her teammates’ basic work rights.

Although most of us have managed to cope with these arising issues, some of us are still struggling and figuring out ways to make our lives easier. xTimesheet, a product by XRM Labs, can efficiently and inexpensively solve these problems, whereas most solutions at hand are complicated or expensive to teach.
Being aware of these minute things could help develop interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
Prioritizing video calls should be a must because seeing each other’s faces could help keep the office environment alive at home.
We should not let technology meddle with our work relations. And we should not let distance spoil what we have augmented for so long.

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Overcoming the challenges of remote working

A majority of office-based groups in the world have been working remotely last many months due to the Covid pandemic. While educational institutes and shops are now open, it could be longer for offices – Specifically larger workplace, because of the potential safety risks, By now, your team has no doubt settled into remote working, but this doesn’t imply that it’s without difficulties. Over the last months, you may have encountered some common issues with a temporary setup, but the good news is that most obstructions to remote working can be easily overcome. How about we look at what management can do to overcome common barriers posed by remote working.

Struggling to adjust work and home commitments:

The odds are that remote working will be more hectic for employees with families or busy households – it’s undoubtedly hampered efficiency. If any employee has told you that they are finding it tough, or maybe you’ve noticed in their work output, at that point, work with them and find a solution.  Now, like never before, it’s essential to be flexible – explore the chance of things like flexitime, split or decrease hours, or condensed working to help them strike that balance. Offering flexible working to employees needn’t make an additional burden for you or your HR team.

Lack of communication with a person:

Communication is probably going to have slipped a little during the lockdown. Still, it stays as ever to maintain an adequate level of touch with your team and individual employees. If a particular employee or staff has been slipped off the radar somewhat, the main thing is to speak with them and check that they are coping well and needing any additional support from you. Besides that, you could:

* Set up a weekly meeting and getting a chance to discuss work and address any queries.

* Communicate the importance of communication, particularly during a time like this.

* Assign an employee every week to share what they’ve been working on and any beneficial distant working tips.

* Online setup channels where employees can share information, talk about activities yet also have general catch-ups.

Bring the team together:

Motivation may have slipped because team morale is lacking during the lockdown. An employee might miss the social viewpoints and camaraderie of being with their colleagues; thus, consider ways to bring the team together – albeit digitally. A bit of team spirit can work amazing things in boosting motivation.

Focusing on development :

A lack of progression or opportunities to develop can hit motivation and productivity, especially among the more optimistic employees. We can start by asking the question: “Do you feel satisfied with the work that you’re doing?” If their answer is “No,” start considering how you can help them progress. Talk with the employee about the skills they’d like to build on and how they see their role progressing. From that point, it’s about recognizing how you will uphold them, pointing them toward a better direction, or even offering any new course to them and bearing the cost so they can improve. It demonstrates that you’re an employer who invests in their people, which itself can be a genuine inspiration supporter. Ideally, these tips will help refocus your team and continue making remote working a success until we’re back in the office.

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What is Online Attendance Management, and how does it shape up the future of Corporates?

Online attendance management is a very modern-day concept where employees’ productivity is monitored with software build to perform this function mainly. This monitoring is real-time based and helps keep a complete track of the number of hours an employee has worked. This time tracking software does not only monitor but also can store data.

The attendance of each employee is a parameter based on which they receive their paychecks. Attendance shapes the future of the corporates as this real-time data shows their sincerity and punctuality at work. The time tracking tools have an entry-exit time frame set in them. It means a delay of a minute at work can cost a loss in income to the employees.

Online attendance management has made employees more efficient and punctual at work. Organizations can value and appreciate employees that are hardworking in actuality and get hold of employees that disguise to be one. The system is not only beneficial to businesses and organizations. Employees get paid for extra hours of work and projects they handle. No hour is left uncounted, and an error-free salary receipt is generated. Other benefits of such software are that if an employee is unable to visit the office due to some health-related or personal issues, they can work from home by logging into the software sitting at home. These systems are very cost-effective.

The better are the statistics about an employee, and the more are the chances of them getting promoted or receiving a fair bonus for their diligent performance. Thus, these time management tools play a crucial role in shaping the future of an employee.
xTimesheet is a very functional time tracking software with a fluid interface. It is compatible with Android and Windows, enabling employees to enter and exit the software anytime and anywhere. It performs functions like activity tracking, project management, expense management, and generating invoices.

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How to maintain employee discipline (pandemic edition)

The challenges faced by employers to maintain employee discipline has widened way more than ever amidst this pandemic. HRs worldwide would never have predicted that looking after the employees’ productivity and well-being would suddenly go virtual. So, ‘How to maintain employee discipline?’ is the question of the hour. Below are five ways you can achieve workplace discipline even when your staff is working from home.

  1. Set realistic deadlines- Setting up realistic deadlines is the first task after delegating duties. Most managers fail to understand that setting deadlines are essential, but the time constraint should be achievable. Giving employees reasonable time to produce quality work requires that they be kept well informed of the deadlines and expectations.
  2. Inculcate feedback system- As an employer or a manager, you will be benefitting a ton if you have a feedback culture. The employees’ efforts and hard work should be appreciated, and also, if an employee is not performing as per the requirements, they need a fair chance to improve upon their mistakes. A feedback system in the workplace helps employees set better goals for themselves, increasing efficiency. Feedback from clients is another useful tool that will make your employees directly responsible for their work attributes and discipline.
  3. Set productivity criterion- Each organization has its own set of expectations from its staff. Thus the measure set for employee evaluation should also be in affinity with the core of the company. Making a customized productivity metric rather than blindly following what other companies do is highly advisable. These metrics can even be customized further within the institution for multiple teams and projects. These measure variables can be based upon the number of projects an employee is simultaneously working on or the number of clients handled by them daily. Other such variables could be time taken to perform specific tasks or the number of hours worked.
  4. Follow discipline yourself- It is well said that you must ‘Practice what you preach.’ Being an employer/manager, one must follow deadlines and keep up with scheduled tasks. The staff is bound to follow and listen to your instructions, but your indolent approach would affect their sincerity. If you can attend meetings on time despite being overdecorated with work, they will have no excuses except for getting inspired by you and following it themselves.
  5. Use a time management software- Time management/tracking software is immensely helpful and currently used by various enterprises and agencies as a quick one-step solution to keep track of employees’ time on their respective work.
    xTimesheet is one such go-to application that will give you peace of mind and help shoot up your employees’ work pace. It is assimilated with features like Activity Tracking, Project Tracking, and Expense tracking. Accelerating, Declining, or Consistent performance, xTimesheet helps you know all through statical charts. It is compatible with Windows and Android. The interface is seamless and hassle-free; also, exporting data is smooth and does not require expertise.
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The five most important factors leading to a productive workplace

There’s this quote by Robin S. Sharma that, “Productivity is less about what you do with your time and more about how you run your mind.” Any workspace needs that environment and facilities to make the mind run in the right direction. There are varied factors that influence workplace productivity. Here are listed five most crucial ones.

  1. Distractions- An average human brain processes up to 6,200 thoughts per day. To say, you have ten staff members, now multiply it with this four-digit number, and a result you h the number of ts present in that space. Thoughts are essential to generate ideas, but all of them won’t be productive. Instead, it’s better to say that many of them can be distractive. Keeping your staff away from distractions can be a colossal challenge. Thus, having policies like no social media during work and giving your employees a reasonable number of breaks is recommended for increasing competence at work.
  2. Workplace Environment- The environment we work in is expected to be peaceful, and it must help concentrate. The physical surroundings and the essence of the very place, the seniors, co-workers, and subordinates we work with influence our work efficiency immensely. Maintaining a supportive and cooperative environment is essential for growth in productivity during work hours.
  3. Personnel Training- How well personnel has been trained and how well they have imbibed the training plays a vital role in the quality of performance. An employee should be able to perform well without supervision or in case of absences of directives if they are trained well. This saves the precious time of a senior, which would otherwise be put to use for essential tasks. Thus, selecting proficient candidates and their training is a vital factor leading to productivity at the workplace.
  4. Employee Wellness- The workforce is the key factor with which the day-to-day activities of an organization are executed. Looking after the well being of employees, keeping them happy by providing them security, and giving them appraisals from time to time will keep the employees motivated at work. Providing necessary refreshments at work will keep them rejuvenated. All of these are little things, but they matter.
  5. Workplace Technology- One significant factor is the tools and equipment used in the workspace. The technology includes applications, software, devices. They should support the employee in achieving goals and reduce the amount of time they would otherwise waste on a small task. It should make completing tasks seamlessly. One such technology that you can incorporate in your workplace if you are a Start-up, SME, Agency, or Enterprise is xTimesheet. It enables you to track the productivity levels of your employees using timesheets. It not only is helpful in time management but also will help in invoice processing and calculates billable hours. Keeping track of your employee’s work throughout the day and for 365 days, hassle-free is the need of the hour.
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Beat the ‘Work from Home’ isolation blues

Our work gives us goals in life, keeps us motivated and high spirited, but sometimes it might just make you feel isolated and lonely if you’re someone who is permanently working from home for years or is trying to adapt to it. The laptop lifestyle, more than being a privilege, is becoming a problem. Thus, here are five tips for you to keep up with the Isolation blues when you’re working from home.

Plan to work outside of the house- Working from home gives a lot of advantages and relaxation, but it can also fill you with loneliness and isolation due to the lack of human interaction. People develop habits of sitting and working in the same space day after day, making work-life monotonous. You can get rid of this dull lifestyle by merely switching to a new work environment. Find another place outside of the house that helps you concentrate and gives you that inspiration you were looking for. It can be a cafe, a friend’s place or even a park.

Schedule Video Conferences- Video conferencing is the easiest and most practiced way to stay connected in today’s world. Get your clients, co-workers, even friends that aren’t related to your work on video chats. Emails are necessary, and they serve the purpose of communicating pretty well, but nothing can replace a face to face interaction. It’s easy to explain, understand, and discuss topics in video conferences. It can help in avoiding unnecessary waste of time and confusion, also can be a savior in the times when you feel isolated.

Join or build a group or community- Building or joining a group related to your interest can help you keep away from the feeling of isolation. These groups can be work-related or anything that enables you to keep up with your hobby. Sharing things from your everyday life, such as pictures of your plants or pets or books and movie recommendations, can be very refreshing. People with varied skills can share tips and teach one another so much. One must look forward to being a part of such groups if you feel a lack of human interaction and connection.

Reach out to your co-worker’s- If you’re someone who is permanently working from home and don’t meet your co-workers regularly, then finding people who work in the same organization and spending time with them can help you beat that quarantine feels. They don’t need to be from the same department as yours. So, don’t just phone a friend, but find a friend.

Schedule your day- This is one of the most difficult to follow, but it’s essential to recognize how crucial it is to keep up with a schedule even if you don’t visit an office daily. Working from home is not like you need to sit with a laptop until midnight. Plan out your day for other important activities. Planning out things in advance can help you in keeping your work and personal life separate which will give you time to meet and be around people.