TimeClock Setup Guide: Turn Your Phone or Tablet into a Fixed Punch Clock
TimeClock turns any phone or tablet into a fixed punch clock that supports NFC card tap and face recognition check-in. This guide covers the basic workflow, setup steps, and ideal use cases.
Traditional punch clocks require dedicated hardware — and when they break, you wait for a repair.
If what you actually need is a fixed check-in device at the entrance, front desk, or office, you can use TimeClock to turn any phone or tablet into a stationary punch clock.
TimeClock supports both NFC card tap and face recognition check-in, making it a practical fit for offices, retail stores, factories, clinics, tutoring centers, and small businesses of all kinds.
This guide walks you through the basic setup process. You can also follow along with our video tutorial.
Where Does TimeClock Work Best?
TimeClock is designed for fixed-location check-in.
Examples include: the company entrance, an office lobby, a front desk, a factory gate, a retail checkout area, a clinic reception, or a tutoring center classroom entrance.
Employees clock in and out by completing an NFC tap or face recognition at the mounted device — no fuss.
If you also have field employees, TimeClock pairs with the Mobile Punch Clock. Field staff check in via GPS or location-based tap on their phones; on-site staff use TimeClock. All records go into the same management dashboard.
What You Need Before Getting Started
Before setup, have the following ready:
- A phone or tablet
- A stable internet connection
- The TimeClock app
- An admin account
- Employee profiles
For NFC check-in, we recommend an NFC-capable Android phone or tablet. iOS works too!
For face recognition check-in, choose a device with a clear front camera that can be mounted in a stable position.
Step 1: Download and Sign In to TimeClock
Download the TimeClock app on your phone or tablet. Once installed, register an account and sign in.
If you're already a subscriber of the Mobile Punch Clock (international edition), you can use the same account credentials for TimeClock. On-site and field attendance records will share a single web-based management dashboard.
Step 2: Select Your Company and Set the Device Role
After signing in, select your company or organization from the screen. We recommend configuring this device specifically as a fixed TimeClock and positioning it where employees naturally pass when starting or ending their shift.
If your business has multiple locations, you can set up one phone or tablet at each site. Employees at each location clock in on their local device, and all data consolidates in the shared dashboard.
Step 3: Choose a Check-In Method
TimeClock supports two check-in methods:
- NFC card tap
- Face recognition
You can enable one or both depending on your needs.
If employees already have access cards, start with NFC. If you'd rather not issue cards — or employees tend to forget them — go with face recognition.
Step 4: Create Employee Profiles
Make sure all employee profiles are set up. A profile typically includes the employee's name, ID, and department or group.
If you've already created employees in the Mobile Punch Clock (international edition), the same data carries over — no need to re-enter anything.
Step 5: Bind NFC Cards or Enroll Face Data
For NFC check-in: select an employee profile, tap their NFC card against the device's sensing area, and save once the system reads it successfully.
For face recognition: open an employee's face data settings, ask the employee to stand in front of the device with their full face in the frame, follow the on-screen prompts to capture the data, and save.
After setup, always do a test check-in to confirm recognition works correctly.
Step 6: Mount the Device
TimeClock works best when the device is mounted in a stable, consistent position. Use a tablet stand, phone mount, or desk holder to keep it from being moved around.
For face recognition, aim to have the camera at roughly face height. For NFC, make sure the sensing area is easy for employees to find. We also recommend keeping the device plugged in so the battery never dies during business hours.
Step 7: Review Records in the Dashboard
After employees start checking in, you can review attendance records in the web-based management dashboard.
You'll be able to see each employee's clock-in and clock-out times, check-in method, and status. At month-end, you can export reports to support payroll and hours calculation.
If you're running both the Mobile Punch Clock and TimeClock, field and on-site records are all visible in the same dashboard.
Closing Thoughts
TimeClock turns any phone or tablet into a fixed punch clock — no dedicated hardware required.
For small businesses, this means fast deployment, low cost, and an intuitive experience that employees take to immediately.
If you want employees to check in at a fixed point — the entrance, the front desk, or the office — set up TimeClock with NFC or face recognition and get your attendance system running today.