22 time recording systems compared. A clear winner: 123onsite. The Chamber of Skilled Crafts Frankfurt-Rhein-Main took a close look at systems for digital Time tracking in construction practice. The market overview compared functionality, usability, data structure and many other factors. The result: 123onsite impresses with the widest range of functions and a well thought-out concept – developed from practice for practice.
And the best thing about it? 123onsite is the only system that combines Time tracking and construction costing in one tool. While other providers only document working times, 123onsite also offers a complete quotation and cost calculation. Without system discontinuity, without double data maintenance. So if you not only want to know how long your people are working – but also whether the project is paying off: Here is the solution.
David Künnen, Head of Product Management at 123onsite explains: “The software development process at 123onsite has one main goal. Users should be satisfied with the daily use of our tools. But we thought it wouldn’t hurt to take an independent look at our Time tracking app, so we were one of 22 companies to take part in the survey conducted by the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main Chamber of Skilled Crafts on the subject of “Digital Time Tracking / Timesheets“.” The HWK was apparently also convinced, as the independent comparison of current digital time recording systems shows that 123onsite offers the most comprehensive solution.
Time tracking – but the right way: what a good tool needs to do today.
Digital Time tracking is more than just start-stop on your cell phone. Overview, speed and accuracy count on the construction site. If you’re looking for a system that really takes the pressure off, you need features that adapt to your working day – not the other way around.
A good time recording tool must:
- Mobile operation – directly from the smartphone on the construction site
- can do more than just times: Activities, breaks, construction site assignment, GPS tracking
- Record material data, ideally with Photo documentation
- be legally compliant and export all data in formatted form – e.g. as Excel, PDF, GAEB, DATEV
- be intuitive to use – without training, without a long familiarization period
Most systems only cover some of these requirements. 123onsite delivers them all – and more.
The gamechanger: Calculation directly in the system.
Many tools record times. But hardly any of them help you to write a quote – let alone calculate it properly. This is exactly where 123onsite comes in. The integrated calculation is not an add-on, but a complete tool for creating quotes – right where the Time tracking runs. You can create items, store prices and maintain standard services. Everything you need is already on board.
Whether you calculate according to cost elements or price quickly – you determine the level of detail. And if your purchase prices change? Then adjust them once and all future quotations are automatically up-to-date. Tenders in GAEB format can also be processed directly. Import the file, add prices, export – done. This not only saves you time, but also prevents transmission errors. Above all, however, it shows that 123onsite thinks further than others. This is also recognized by the German Brand Award, which 123onsite received in 2019 as Digital Brand of the Year, among others.
All advantages in one system – no tool changes, no data breaks.
What happens if Time tracking and costing are run separately? Data is recorded twice. Information is lost. And you spend more time reworking than on the actual project. 123onsite combines both areas in one integrated system. You don’t need to maintain any interfaces, transfer any data or convert any formats. Everything is directly linked: Construction site, time account, quotation.
When you create a new project, you have immediate access to all existing information. And when your team records times out on the construction site, the data automatically flows into the project calculation. This means less administrative work, fewer sources of error – and greater clarity in project management. Anyone who has ever worked with two separate systems knows how much friction this creates and how much potential for error there is. This is exactly what 123onsite eliminates. This is also confirmed by the OMR Reviews software portal with its award for the leading solution in the “Construction Project Management” category, which 123onsite received.
What does the HWK comparison say? 123onsites in the fact check.
How do you compare software used on construction sites? The HWK Frankfurt-Rhein-Main has compiled a market overview of all the major providers – practical and clearly structured. The tables are structured according to real application scenarios from everyday construction work: digital timesheets, construction site reports, evidence for clients and much more.
In addition to 123onsite, only three other providers made it onto the shortlist and were presented in more detail in a webinar(click here for the corresponding ePaper). In the comparison, 123onsite was not convincing due to a single feature, but due to the sum of all parts:
- The software digitally maps complete construction site processes
- It can be flexibly adapted to individual processes in the company
- The user interface is clear and the system can be used immediately without training
While other providers often only offer special solutions for Time tracking, 123onsite offers a complete digital image of the construction site.
123ONSITE RELIES ON FUTURE-ORIENTED TECHNOLOGY
The HWK Frankfurt-Rhein-Main also examined the data security and future viability of the technology. The comparison shows: 123onsite relies on modern technologies. The time recording system is available as a Tier for web browser and smartphone (Android/IOS). The cloud-enabled software is hosted on servers in Frankfurt. Servers located in Germany are particularly attractive in terms of data security. And for companies this means They do not have to install the software independently and laboriously on their own systems and do not have to maintain their own server park.
At a glance: What makes 123onsite better.
What counts is the practical comparison. The Frankfurt-Rhine-Main Chamber of Skilled Crafts took a close look:
Which features really help in everyday life?
Which systems are simple, complete and flexible to use?
And above all: Who offers more than just Time tracking?
123onsite stands out in one decisive point: the calculation is integrated directly into the system. While other tools only record times, with 123onsite you can also write quotations, calculate items and process GAEB files – without changing software and without an additional interface.
The following quick check shows you what 123onsite can do – and what other systems do not offer or only offer to a limited extent in comparison.
The most important criteria in the HWK comparison
| Feature | 123onsite | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Time tracking with GPS, activities and construction site reference | Yes | Yes |
| Record material and measurements | Partially (measurement in planning) | Partially |
| Save photos directly for Time tracking | Yes | Partially |
| Comment and correction options for time bookings | Yes | Different |
| Vacation and absence management | Yes | Rarely |
| Store forms and checklists | Yes | Rarely |
| Offline recording possible | Yes | Different |
| Export to PDF, Excel, CSV, DATEV | Yes | Different |
| Cloud solution with server in Germany | Yes (Frankfurt) | Partly yes, partly unclear |
| Data security and GDPR compliance | Yes | Not always clearly regulated |
| Reports and evaluations | Yes | Different |
| Multi-user capable with role assignment | Yes | Partially |
| Assignment to cost centers and cost units | Yes | Partially |
Additional benefits of 123onsite – not part of the HWK test, but crucial for many companies
| Feature | 123onsite | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation in the same system | Yes | No |
| Import and export GAEB files | Yes | No |
| Free versions and modular all-inclusive packages | Yes | Mainly time-limited trial versions and inflexible license models |
| No investment costs | Yes | Partially available |
123onsite scores with a fair price model for the time recording system
The cost of time tracking software is also critical for businesses. The HWK Frankfurt comparison breaks down what annual costs small, medium and large companies face with the individual platforms.
With 123onsite, customers only pay per active license, explains David Künnen. But you can give access to it to as many users as you want to invite. This pricing model is fair. This is because smaller companies pay much less than large companies – depending on the number of active time accounts. This means that a small company with only one employee, for example, would start with five euros a month.
Also fair to users is that there are no entry costs with 123onsite.
That is why the comparison of time recording systems is meaningful for construction companies
The questions of the HWK in the comparison of time recording systems were reasonable as well as industry-specific and aimed at the essential features of the software.
The comparison provides answers to exactly the questions users have when looking for the best time tracking app.
Independently tested: 123onsite comes out on top
The comparison of the HWK Frankfurt-Rhein-Main shows that 123onsite is the furthest along in the market environment as far as the range of functions of the tested Time tracking apps is concerned. This was a pleasant surprise for us as a company, says David Künnen. This is because we have a strong focus in our software development processes on the development of an appealing design as well as on the user-friendliness of our software solutions. In other words: We are not satisfied until the foremen on the construction site are too. When an independent comparison tests our time recording systems, we are therefore all the more pleased.
Conclusion: If you want to keep an overview on the construction site, you need 123onsites.
Anyone working digitally today no longer wants to jump between different tools. No copying of data, no duplicate entries, no cumbersome exports. This is exactly what 123onsite does – and sets it apart from the rest of the market. The readers of Baugewerbe Magazin also recognize these advantages and chose 123onsite as the winner of the readers’ choice “Product of the Year 2024” in the Management category. The combination of mobile Time tracking and integrated costing is unique in direct comparison. You can not only record who has worked where and when – but also what it all costs. Including GAEB, templates, price lists and everything you need for clean quotes.
The Chamber of Skilled Crafts has tested 123onsites – and if you want, you can now check for yourself how well the solution fits your business.
Picture credits: 123onsite
