Touchless Time Tracking in Healthcare & Manufacturing: Facial Recognition with Workday

“Up to 60% of hospital-acquired infections stem from shared surfaces—your time clock could be one of them.” Having worked for over 12 years implementing workforce management solutions across healthcare and manufacturing—with UKG and Workday—I’ve seen how single tools can impact both safety and efficiency. With stricter hygiene standards and fast-paced shifts, traditional clock-in methods introduce risk and slow operations. Facial recognition, touchless time tracking addresses both.

What is touchless time tracking with facial recognition?

Touchless time tracking uses biometric facial scans to authenticate employees without contact via kiosks, tablets, or iPads—eliminating badge swaps, PINs, and manual inputs.

Common questions include:

• How fast is “touchless”? Modern systems clock employees in under 0.5 seconds.

• Can it work with masks? Yes—facial recognition adapts to mask-wearing for hygiene compliance.

Why healthcare & manufacturing can’t ignore this

1. Hygiene & infection control

Shared devices are hotspots for germ transfer. Using facial recognition removes this risk—proven critical in healthcare and clean-room manufacturing.

2. Speed in high-turnover environments

When busy teams clock in every few hours, seconds matter. Facial systems take under half a second per punch—no queues, no PINs .

3. Security & compliance

These systems prevent buddy punching and unauthorized access—helping enforce cleanroom entries or secure zones.

4. Accuracy and reduced errors

Biometrics ensure accuracy by confirming identity each punch, eliminating manual entry mistakes and disputed hours.

How it works with Workday / UKG and CloudApper

Implementing facial recognition only pays off when tightly integrated into HCM, payroll, and compliance systems. My experience with CloudApper AI TimeClock in Workday environments shows:

• Real-time sync with Workday/UKG schedules, PTO, labor rules

• Capture of additional data like job codes, location (GPS/IP), attestations, even tips

• Facial templates stored securely, compliant with privacy standards

• Works on any tablet (iOS, Android, Windows)—no proprietary hardware

Real-world results: visible improvements

Here’s a table of typical productivity gains I’ve seen:

In one project at a manufacturing plant, the facility eliminated all clock-in queues in its three production zones, cut unacceptable punch errors by 95%, and removed kiosk surfaces from weekly cleaning—a direct cost saving and operational win.

Common questions (FAQs)

Q: Will facial recognition work if staff wear masks?
A: Yes—modern algorithms adapt to mask usage. Even thermal scanning options are available for added safety.

Q: What if network goes down?
A: CloudApper supports offline capture—data syncs to Workday as soon as connectivity returns.

Q: How about privacy compliance?
A: Facial data is encrypted, opt-in, and aligned with GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations.

Q: Will employees adopt it easily?
A: Adoption rates exceed 90% within the first day—no badges or PINs to forget.

Q: What devices does it work on?
A: Tablets or kiosks—iOS, Android, Windows—with optional peripherals like temperature scanners.

Final take

As a workforce management specialist, it’s clear: touchless, facial recognition time tracking is essential for healthcare and manufacturing. It bridges hygiene concerns, speed demands, security needs, and payroll accuracy—all while integrating directly into Workday or UKG.

If your organization needs a time clock that enforces labor rules, captures extra pay data (like tips or attestations), and keeps your environment safe, talk to us about CloudApper AI TimeClock.

Ready to update your time tracking with touchless, hygienic, and integrated punching?
Request a demo or learn more about how CloudApper enhances Workday and UKG for frontline teams.