How to Track Time for a Workforce That Grows from 32 to 148 Overnight

Growth is good—until your time tracking system becomes the bottleneck.

For operations that scale quickly—think seasonal demand, temporary contracts, or rapid expansion—your workforce might go from 32 to 148 in a matter of days. But most traditional systems can’t keep up. They’re built for stability, not flexibility.

That’s where the real trouble begins: inaccurate punches, payroll delays, and overwhelmed HR teams.

So how do you track time at scale without losing control? You need a scalable time tracking solution that adapts just as fast as your workforce.

Why Traditional Time Tracking Breaks When Your Team Triples

Most legacy time clocks and workforce management tools are optimized for predictable headcount and fixed locations. When your workforce spikes overnight, these systems begin to falter.

Here’s what usually happens:

• You need more hardware: Buying more time clocks is expensive and slow.
• IT gets involved: Setting up new systems across locations takes time.
• HR gets overwhelmed: Manual data entry and follow-ups increase.
• Employees get frustrated: Long lines at shared punch devices hurt morale and compliance.

In short, you outgrow your system before it can react. And the larger your workforce becomes, the greater the compliance risk.

Time Tracking Needs to Be As Flexible As Your Workforce

Scaling doesn’t just mean adding more people—it means adding them fast. Your time tracking solution has to match that speed.

Unfortunately, most systems assume fixed infrastructure:

• Clock-ins must happen at a specific terminal.
• External scanners or biometric readers may not scale cost-effectively.
• Adding new locations often means IT intervention, retraining, or software changes.

That’s not practical when you’re hiring dozens of new team members across distributed facilities.

The Better Way: Flexible Time Tracking with hrPad

hrPad is designed for exactly this kind of challenge. It turns any Android, iOS, or Windows tablet into a fully functional employee self-service kiosk—capable of handling everything from time capture to HR support.

Here’s how hrPad delivers a scalable time tracking solution:

• Use Tablets You Already Own: No need for proprietary hardware. If you’ve got tablets, you’re ready to go.
• Multi-Modal Clock In Options: Employees can clock in using face ID, PIN, or QR—whatever works for the environment.
• Supports Job Transfers & Attestation: Track job codes, departments, or compliance-related data effortlessly.
• Instant AI Support Built In: Employees can ask policy questions, check PTO, or submit requests—all from the kiosk.
• Real-Time Data Sync: Time data flows directly to your HCM or payroll system—no manual entry required.

And because hrPad is fully customizable, you can tailor the interface and workflows to match the needs of each department or location.

Scaling Up? Just Add Tablets.

Let’s say you need to go from 3 to 10 clock-in points overnight. With hrPad, it’s simple:

1. Grab your tablets and connect to Wi-Fi or your internal network.
2. Launch the hrPad kiosk software.
3. Your new punch stations are live—no IT setup required.

The experience is consistent for every employee, regardless of which tablet or site they use. And because data is synced in real time, payroll always has the most accurate information—no matter how quickly you grow.

This makes hrPad ideal for:

• Manufacturing plants ramping up production
• Staffing agencies with rotating field teams
• Hospitality groups with seasonal hiring needs
• Retail stores preparing for holiday surges

Why This Matters for HR and Payroll Teams

Fast growth shouldn’t mean operational chaos. With hrPad, you give your HR and payroll teams the tools to stay in control—even when the headcount spikes.

Here’s what you eliminate:

• Manual timesheet reconciliation
• Repeated training for new devices
• Delays in timecard approvals
• Compliance violations due to missed punches

Here’s what you gain:

• Speed: Set up new punch stations in minutes.
• Accuracy: Real-time punch data sent to your HCM system.
• Engagement: Employees handle their own HR needs through AI assistance.
• Scalability: Add or remove stations as needed—nothing is hardcoded.

Use Case: From 32 to 148 Without Missing a Beat

A facility in Georgia faced a similar challenge. Their staffing numbers varied weekly depending on demand, with headcounts ranging from 32 to 148 employees.

Using hrPad, they:

• Deployed tablet kiosks across the floor in 24 hours.
• Enabled facial recognition to eliminate buddy punching.
• Integrated directly with their payroll system to avoid double entry.
• Reduced missed punches by 60% and saved hours of admin time weekly.

No new infrastructure. No retraining. No IT support required.

Final Thoughts: Time Tracking That Grows with You

If your workforce scales quickly, your time tracking solution must scale even faster.

hrPad was built for high-growth, high-variability environments—where flexibility, accuracy, and speed aren’t optional—they’re essential. Whether you’re expanding for a season, a contract, or permanently, hrPad helps you maintain control without adding complexity.

Ready to scale your time tracking with confidence?