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- App or terminal?
Comparison
A phone app, or a terminal?
Both have their place. The question is whether your people arrive at a fixed entrance or spread out across a region.
In short
A mobile app records a clock-in from the employee's own phone, usually confirmed by location data. A terminal records it at a fixed point, confirmed by a card or QR code. Where there is a defined entrance, the terminal removes the ambiguity; where teams are scattered with no fixed point, an app is the stronger tool.
- App fits
- Field teams with no fixed entrance
- Terminal fits
- A defined entrance people pass through
- Offline
- The terminal stores up to 150,000 records
- Conditions
- IP65, −30 °C to +65 °C
Where app-only tracking strains
It works until it does not.
- A card costs almost nothing
Everyone needs a smartphone
On a production floor or a site, that assumption often fails.
- A fixed reader at the door
Location data is approximate
GPS near a building is good enough to argue about, not to settle it.
- IP65 terminal, −30 to +65 °C
Phones in harsh conditions
Cold, dust and gloves make phone-based clocking slow.
- A reader at the entrance with a camera
Clocking in for each other
A phone can be handed over; it is hard to prove either way.
How to choose
Four questions that settle it.
- Is there a fixed entrance?If yes, a terminal is simpler and harder to dispute
- Does everyone carry a work phone?If not, cards and fobs cover the whole team
- What are the conditions?Cold, dust and rain favour rated hardware
- What happens offline?A terminal with memory keeps recording regardless
Frequently asked questions
Comparison questions.
If your question is not here, write to us directly — we usually reply within one business hour.
Ask on WhatsAppCan both be used together?
The terminal supports QR codes, so an employee can present a QR from their phone at the terminal. The record is still created at the fixed point.
Which is better for a field team?
If people never pass a fixed entrance, a phone-based approach suits them better. easyPDKS is built around entrances where a terminal can be installed.
Is a card easier to misuse than a phone?
Both can be handed over. The terminal carries a camera, and clocking happens at a known point rather than anywhere within a GPS radius.
What if the terminal loses connection?
It keeps recording, holding up to 150,000 events, and syncs when the connection returns.
Quote and scoping
Get a quote.
Tell us your headcount and how many sites you run, and we will come back with a quote. Terminal setup, employee import and card assignment are part of it. We usually reply within one business hour.