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Biometric data capture devices: where they're helpful, where they're not
Specialists or laymen,
we’ve all long been aware of the vulnerability to petty cheating of
traditional timekeeping devices that employ an ID card (including those
using magnetic media or bar codes). Even to someone without a criminal
mind, it’s obvious that a dishonest employee can simply ask a willing
co-employee (or anyone for that matter) to time in or out for the real
owner of the ID card. It’s a trick older than the Bundy clock.
Or Mr. James Bond could steal your swipe card,
slip into your workplace, and … dump 50 pounds of siling labuyo
into your Dunkin Donuts production run! 
A timekeeping setup that uses a biometric device to read or recognize an employee’s fingerprint, palm print, retina, or voice, provides significantly higher security levels (suppliers claim several hundred to several thousand times improvement). Regardless of the approach, these technologies all rely on the assumption that each of us is unique in certain biological attributes.
Fingerprint readers are the least expensive of the biometric systems (between P10K to P25K per reader), and are therefore the more popular biometric devices in the Philippines. Thus, unless an employee is willing to cut off his/her finger and give it to a friend or co-employee to log in/out, the chances that that particular employee is actually there at the fingerprint biometric terminal, is practically 100%.
COMMERCIAL BIOMETRICS for time-in/time-out purposes is relatively new (about 5 to 6 years) in the Philippines, and companies offering such devices come and go. It is therefore prudent to purchase a biometric device from one of the more established and experienced suppliers. Availability of local support is of course equally important. But recognize that biometrics only address one narrow aspect of your business problem.
A timekeeping device, whether it is a plain vanilla card reader or a sophisticated biometric device, basically “adds value” by capturing time-ins and time-outs of employees. In this basic function, the biometric device is no different than the old Bundy clock; where it improves your corporate quality-of-life is in promising you greater protection from the classical forms of cheating. Beyond this consideration, however, it shares the same limitations as the quaint old Bundy clock.
AND WHAT are those limitations? We’ll be blunt, we’ll be plain: a timekeeping device – biometric or traditional - is not, repeat not, a timekeeper software; and these two totally different creatures are in turn not, repeat not, to be confused with payroll software.
If you’re like most folks making this purchase decision, you’re probably assuming that buying a biometric device will zap attendance fraud and maximize efficiency in your payroll processes. That second part is a perilously easy assumption to make, and for sure one that the vendor will encourage you (ha ha ha) to make. Beware. Before you cut a check for that sleek, shiny box, you should ask yourself: “Can my timekeeping device supplier also supply a timekeeper software to my specs and needs?” Because, as we’ve said some paragraphs ago, those are two altogether different things. This is one question lots of payroll departments and CFOs have wanted to kick themselves afterwards for not asking.
For your own protection, you need to educate yourself quickly on the pitfall-strewn subject of timekeeping devices, timekeeping applications, and payroll applications. In fact, we go so far as to say that you have no business contemplating biometric technologies until you’ve fully understood the different roles of these three different creatures in the business process. For more information that will save you from career-denting missteps, go forth now and read the article “Three different animals: learn how to tell them apart“. RCD/RSR.
Questions? Reactions? Write to balmori@balmorisoftware.com.