Tracking crew time on pen-and-paper job logs can create problems like:
Lost or inaccurate timesheets
Manual re-entry of data
Delays in payroll and billing
Limited visibility into field work
As teams grow, these issues make it harder to run payroll, track job costs, and make decisions quickly.
This overview looks at common ways companies solve these challenges and the kinds of systems that support them.
These focus solely on capturing time and job details.
Good for:
Teams that just need to replace paper logs
Simple hourly tracking without full accounting integration
Examples:
TSheets / QuickBooks Time – Mobile time entry and job tracking
ClockShark – Designed for construction and field crews
RazorSync – Simple mobile time and job tracking
Pros:
Easy to implement
Lower cost upfront
Cons:
Limited insight beyond time tracking
Often needs separate tools for payroll and billing
These combine time collection with payroll or job costing but may not cover full accounting.
Good for:
Teams that want deeper insight than standalone tools
Companies ready for payroll integration
Examples:
Hubstaff – Time tracking with payroll and productivity features
Deputy – Time, scheduling, and payroll add-ons
Pros:
Centralizes time + payroll
Better accuracy and fewer manual steps
Cons:
May not integrate tightly with accounting or job costing
These connect:
Field time tracking
Payroll
Job costing and billing
General accounting
…in one system
Good for:
Growing companies wanting real-time visibility
Teams that want one system instead of many
Examples of ERP with Field / Time Capabilities:
Acumatica – Cloud ERP with mobile time tracking and job costing
Sage 100 / Sage Intacct – Popular with small to mid-sized businesses
Oracle NetSuite – Cloud ERP with robust project accounting
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central – Integrated financials and operations
Deltek (for contractors & AEC markets) – Strong project tracking and labor
Pros:
Single source of truth for finance and operations
Better reporting and job cost visibility
Cons:
Usually higher cost and longer implementation
May be more than smaller teams need today
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. It usually comes down to:
How complex your job costing needs are
Whether payroll or billing needs automation
How much visibility you want into field activities
Smaller teams often start with dedicated time tools and then move to broader systems as needs grow. Larger teams or those who want one source of truth may consider full ERP systems that include field time, payroll, billing, and accounting.
If you want help narrowing these options down, we can walk through your current process and outline realistic paths forward based on your needs, team size, and budget.