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OVERVIEW
Price $6/user/month $6/user/month $7.20/user/month $7/user/month $7/user/month $9.99/user/month $6/user/month $9.99/user/month $150/licence/year $60/licence (lifetime)
Free trial 7 days 7 days No 14 days 14 days 14 days 30 days 7 days Yes 30 days
Ease of use Very easy Difficult Very easy Easy Easy Very easy Very easy Very easy Very difficult Easy
TRACKING METHODS
Unlimited (tracker working 24/7)
Fixed (defined working hours)
Automatic (when computer is connected to a specified network)
Manual (start/stop)
Project based (track time only on projects)
GENERAL MONITORING FEATURES
Stealth mode
App and website usage
Real-time monitoring
Offline time tracking
Attendance
Activity levels
Keylogger
Geolocation
Remote desktop control
Website/activity blocking
SCREENSHOTS AND RECORDING
Screenshots
Screenshots on demand
Screen recording
PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES
Productivity trends
Websites and apps labeling
Category labeling
Productivity alerts
ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES
User behavior analytics
Data loss prevention
Advanced file and web monitoring
REPORTING
Productivity reports
Team reports
Timelines
Email reports
Access management
PLATFORMS
Web
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
Mobile app iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android Android
Browser extension Chrome Chrome Chrome
Other Citrix, VMware Chrome OS
OTHER
Support Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Email, online Phone, email, online, in-person Online Phone, email, online Email, online, Viber, Whatsapp Phone, email, online, support ticket Phone, email, online
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Integrations comming soon
API
Deployment cloud, on-premise cloud, on-premise, AWS, Azure cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud on-premise cloud, on-premise on-premise
Kronos Humanity Timeclockplus Tsheets Wheniwork Deputy Replicon Jibble EbilityTimeTracker OnTheClock BeeBole
OVERVIEW
Price(per month)Available upon requestFrom $2 per userAvailable upon requestFrom $6.40 per user+$16Free for up to 75 usersFrom $2.50 per userBasic plan:$30 for 5 users+$5 per additional userFrom $1.50 per employeeFrom $4 per user+$8From $2.20 per user$5.99 per user per month
Free trial30 days14 daysYes14 days14 days14 days30 days30 days,no credit card required
Ease of useDifficultEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyEasy
FEATURES
Timecard management
Scheduling
Shift Trading
Timesheets
Break time management
Real-time tracking
PTO Management
Payroll
Invoicing
Client billing
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Clock out reminders
Alerts
Manual time
PUNCH-IN METHODS
Web app
Mobile app
Time clock device
Time clock kiosk
Facial recognition
Fingerprint scanning
Geofencing
Group punch-in
REPORTING
Visual reports
Email reports
Time rounding
MANAGEMENT
Permissions
Manager approvals
Add time for others
Integrations
PLATFORMS
Web
Android app
iOS app
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
OTHER
SupportPhone and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,chat and onlinePhone and chatEmail and onlineChat and phonePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlineOnline chat and video support in English,French,and Spanish
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Community forum
API

BPO companies offering to handle IT services have been affected by the transition to remote work. With a significant impact on communication systems and collaboration means, teams have been scrambling to pick up the pieces and streamline remote work systems.

In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of BPO remote work, and touch upon the main pros and cons. In addition, find out how an employee tracking system like Insightful can help you better manage remote BPO teams.

Pros

1. Cut Costs

When transitioning to remote work, one of the first things many companies notice is the amount of cost savings they make.

This is largely due to the reduction of overheads which can include:

  • Office rent
  • Utility bills
  • Supplies
  • Telephone bills 
  • Furnishings
  • Desk equipment

Without the need for a physical location, companies can cut ongoing expenses and remove the need for one-off purchases including business equipment for the office.

Of course, the extent to which you save money will depend on your current overheads. A business with a smaller in-person presence isn’t likely to experience the same level of savings as a large company with a large office or multiple locations.

The caveat here is that while you will most likely cut many overhead costs, you may have to re-invest some of the resources into software solutions to promote productive and sustainable remote work.

2. Improve Productivity

Aside from financial benefits, moving to a remote work environment can have a surprisingly positive impact when it comes to improving employee performance.

While it may seem counterintuitive since employees don’t have access to the same resources and can’t collaborate in-person with their coworkers, work performance monitoring tools often show an increase in productivity in a remote work environment.

There are various suggestions as to why this might be the case:

  •  Fewer Distractions - The office can be an overwhelming place rife with distractions. There can be phones ringing, coworkers chatting, and ambient noise to contend with. The less there is going on in your surroundings, the more likely it is you’ll be able to focus comfortably and for longer periods of time. A remote employee monitoring system can help you confirm whether this is the case.

  •  No Commute - Most employees in a traditional work setting would spend anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour commuting to and from the office. In a remote work environment, they can be ready to work minutes after they wake up, allowing for valuable extra minutes of productivity and preparation.

  • Better Work-life Balance - When employees work from home, it’s easier for them to set up their work lives in a way that accommodates their personal life. This promotes greater engagement levels and helps encourage sustainable productivity. By remote monitoring employees, you can evaluate productivity trends over time.

3. Expand the Recruitment Pool

One of the biggest challenges BPO companies face is recruiting the right employees at the right price.

BPO employees are required to specialize in various IT services, and as such, it can be challenging to find everyone you need in the area you’re based in.

When you switch to remote work, you expand your recruitment pool to the international stage. If you offer location-independent remote work, you can attract top talent from abroad and likely hire at a lower cost.

This can help you scale faster and fill skill gaps in the company ranks as soon as they arise.

4. Business Continuity

Business continuity is all about how you respond to external events that threaten to disrupt your work.

It’s how you react after a power outage, natural disaster, or even a global pandemic diminishes your workforce’s ability to produce work at the same rate.

With remote work, you can protect against most external threats as you aren’t reliant on a physical location for making progress. When all of your systems and data are online or in the cloud, employees can check in from home and continue to work regardless of what’s happening outside.

Cons

1. Difficulty Coordinating

While you may see an increase in individual productivity when you transition to remote work, it’s possible that teamwork and coordination can suffer.

In a virtual office, it can be much more challenging to get hold of your coworkers and organize shared projects unless you have the right tools and systems in place. 

The best way to remedy this is to use project management software, communication tools, and a user activity monitoring platform. With this basic tech stack, you can coordinate effectively on assignments, stay in touch across departments, and track productivity through time data.

2. Communication Struggles

Closely tied into team collaboration is the ability to communicate seamlessly.

The best way to combat communication struggles when team members aren’t able to speak in person is to find an effective tool.

Slack is a popular option as it allows for context-specific channel communication. That is to say, you can organize and categorize your work-related conversations so all the information you need to access is easy to locate.

3. Heightened Security Risks

In BPO, online activity is essential, and even more, operations go virtual when you transition to remote work.

With this shift towards an always-online work culture, it isn’t uncommon to encounter more frequent cybersecurity threats. Data breaches can leak sensitive company information, and become more of a threat when you take most of your operations online.


There’s also an increased risk of employee fraud when everyone works from home. Emboldened by a greater sense of autonomy and anonymity, some employees may attempt to take advantage of their newfound status by committing fraudulent activity against the company.

Employee monitoring software for Linux, Mac, and PC can help you safeguard against the risk of employee fraud as you can remotely access computers and see what your employees are working on in real time. 

You can also enable screenshots with web monitoring software for business at custom intervals which can hold employees accountable for their actions and help you identify any instances of suspicious activity.

As a more transparent form of employer surveillance software, Insightful enables companies monitoring employees in a healthy and sustainable way. As remote staff monitoring software that prioritizes employees, you can have it running in the background to keep an eye on day-to-day employee activity.

Is Remote Work Worth It?

The question of whether remote work is worth it is one only you can answer.

Every business is different, and while some workforces might thrive in a remote work environment, others may flounder.

If you do decide to transition to a remote work model, the best thing you can do is to implement the right software to support your employees. Insightful can help you track remote work activity and evaluate performance levels in real time.

We’ve reserved a 7-day free trial for you….

Want your hybrid or remote team to be more productive?

Claim your free 7-Day full feature trial of Insightful today. Insightful’s actionable work insights make your team more productive, efficient and accountable.

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Remote Work Management

Pros and Cons of BPO Remote Work

Written by
Kendra Gaffin
Published on
June 26, 2023

BPO companies offering to handle IT services have been affected by the transition to remote work. With a significant impact on communication systems and collaboration means, teams have been scrambling to pick up the pieces and streamline remote work systems.

In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of BPO remote work, and touch upon the main pros and cons. In addition, find out how an employee tracking system like Insightful can help you better manage remote BPO teams.

Pros

1. Cut Costs

When transitioning to remote work, one of the first things many companies notice is the amount of cost savings they make.

This is largely due to the reduction of overheads which can include:

  • Office rent
  • Utility bills
  • Supplies
  • Telephone bills 
  • Furnishings
  • Desk equipment

Without the need for a physical location, companies can cut ongoing expenses and remove the need for one-off purchases including business equipment for the office.

Of course, the extent to which you save money will depend on your current overheads. A business with a smaller in-person presence isn’t likely to experience the same level of savings as a large company with a large office or multiple locations.

The caveat here is that while you will most likely cut many overhead costs, you may have to re-invest some of the resources into software solutions to promote productive and sustainable remote work.

2. Improve Productivity

Aside from financial benefits, moving to a remote work environment can have a surprisingly positive impact when it comes to improving employee performance.

While it may seem counterintuitive since employees don’t have access to the same resources and can’t collaborate in-person with their coworkers, work performance monitoring tools often show an increase in productivity in a remote work environment.

There are various suggestions as to why this might be the case:

  •  Fewer Distractions - The office can be an overwhelming place rife with distractions. There can be phones ringing, coworkers chatting, and ambient noise to contend with. The less there is going on in your surroundings, the more likely it is you’ll be able to focus comfortably and for longer periods of time. A remote employee monitoring system can help you confirm whether this is the case.

  •  No Commute - Most employees in a traditional work setting would spend anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour commuting to and from the office. In a remote work environment, they can be ready to work minutes after they wake up, allowing for valuable extra minutes of productivity and preparation.

  • Better Work-life Balance - When employees work from home, it’s easier for them to set up their work lives in a way that accommodates their personal life. This promotes greater engagement levels and helps encourage sustainable productivity. By remote monitoring employees, you can evaluate productivity trends over time.

3. Expand the Recruitment Pool

One of the biggest challenges BPO companies face is recruiting the right employees at the right price.

BPO employees are required to specialize in various IT services, and as such, it can be challenging to find everyone you need in the area you’re based in.

When you switch to remote work, you expand your recruitment pool to the international stage. If you offer location-independent remote work, you can attract top talent from abroad and likely hire at a lower cost.

This can help you scale faster and fill skill gaps in the company ranks as soon as they arise.

4. Business Continuity

Business continuity is all about how you respond to external events that threaten to disrupt your work.

It’s how you react after a power outage, natural disaster, or even a global pandemic diminishes your workforce’s ability to produce work at the same rate.

With remote work, you can protect against most external threats as you aren’t reliant on a physical location for making progress. When all of your systems and data are online or in the cloud, employees can check in from home and continue to work regardless of what’s happening outside.

Cons

1. Difficulty Coordinating

While you may see an increase in individual productivity when you transition to remote work, it’s possible that teamwork and coordination can suffer.

In a virtual office, it can be much more challenging to get hold of your coworkers and organize shared projects unless you have the right tools and systems in place. 

The best way to remedy this is to use project management software, communication tools, and a user activity monitoring platform. With this basic tech stack, you can coordinate effectively on assignments, stay in touch across departments, and track productivity through time data.

2. Communication Struggles

Closely tied into team collaboration is the ability to communicate seamlessly.

The best way to combat communication struggles when team members aren’t able to speak in person is to find an effective tool.

Slack is a popular option as it allows for context-specific channel communication. That is to say, you can organize and categorize your work-related conversations so all the information you need to access is easy to locate.

3. Heightened Security Risks

In BPO, online activity is essential, and even more, operations go virtual when you transition to remote work.

With this shift towards an always-online work culture, it isn’t uncommon to encounter more frequent cybersecurity threats. Data breaches can leak sensitive company information, and become more of a threat when you take most of your operations online.


There’s also an increased risk of employee fraud when everyone works from home. Emboldened by a greater sense of autonomy and anonymity, some employees may attempt to take advantage of their newfound status by committing fraudulent activity against the company.

Employee monitoring software for Linux, Mac, and PC can help you safeguard against the risk of employee fraud as you can remotely access computers and see what your employees are working on in real time. 

You can also enable screenshots with web monitoring software for business at custom intervals which can hold employees accountable for their actions and help you identify any instances of suspicious activity.

As a more transparent form of employer surveillance software, Insightful enables companies monitoring employees in a healthy and sustainable way. As remote staff monitoring software that prioritizes employees, you can have it running in the background to keep an eye on day-to-day employee activity.

Is Remote Work Worth It?

The question of whether remote work is worth it is one only you can answer.

Every business is different, and while some workforces might thrive in a remote work environment, others may flounder.

If you do decide to transition to a remote work model, the best thing you can do is to implement the right software to support your employees. Insightful can help you track remote work activity and evaluate performance levels in real time.