Frequently asked questions about using clockin

The FAQ with all the important questions

How do I convince my employees to use clockin?

Many people are wary of trying something new at first. clockin is no different – even though it creates plenty of new benefits for everyone involved. On the support page for employees, we list the benefits they get from using clockin.

In our experience, it makes sense during the free trial to first bring a few employees on board who are especially open to digital topics. Enthusiastic testers pass their experience on quickly, so that in the end your whole workforce is looking forward to the introduction of clockin.

Transparency matters to us. We stand for creating a clear set of facts between employer and employee. Anyone fudging their hours is found out, and overtime no longer quietly disappears.

What do I do if employees see GPS tracking as surveillance?

Nobody wants to be monitored. Neither do we. clockin is not about surveillance, but about transparent documentation of work. That is why the GPS tracking function is the boss's call here – you decide whether to use it. A live log and live documentation work without GPS tracking too.

From experience, we recommend handling the GPS function transparently and involving employees or the works council in the decision.

Important legal note:
clockin does not provide legal advice here. The information provided is not binding and can vary from company to company and from country to country. We therefore expressly recommend having the use of clockin, and the extent of that use, reviewed by a qualified lawyer.

How often is my employees' GPS position requested?

The German Occupational Safety Act sets narrow limits on determining employees' locations. In particular, employees should not feel under pressure or subject to permanent monitoring. clockin therefore does not track employees permanently. You are free to decide whether to use the GPS function in agreement with your employees or works council. Technically, a GPS point can be recorded each time an employee or a crew switches activity. Trips in a company vehicle are different: because a vehicle is a costly company asset, in certain cases the location can be recorded at shorter intervals.

Important legal note:
clockin does not provide legal advice here. The information provided is not binding and can vary from company to company and from country to country. We therefore expressly recommend having the use of clockin, and the extent of that use, reviewed by a qualified lawyer.

Does every employee need their own smartphone including a mobile contract?

No. With the crew function, the whole crew can be booked in the clockin app using a single smartphone. A mobile contract is not necessary. The app can also be used offline. As soon as there is an internet connection (over Wi-Fi, for example), the data is transferred to the Office Center.

How does clockin make communication with my customers easier?

The work carried out can be documented straight in the app, customer sign-offs collected and copies sent by email in a single click. All the relevant information can be recorded, which helps prevent disputes with customers. And because the digital project file can be exported, you can easily give customers an excellent record of the work done.

Does clockin make sense for my company even if my employees don't use a smartphone yet?

clockin was deliberately developed and tested together with tradespeople and other hands-on professionals who do not use a smartphone day to day. Our experience shows that because our app needs no training and is intuitive to use, employees who are not tech-savvy have no trouble with it either.

An employee has a new smartphone. How do I connect the new device to their existing employee account?

Simply go to the “Mobile devices” tab in the Office Center. Click the device that is still assigned to the employee. There you can click “Disconnect” at the bottom right to break the connection.

The employee can then download the clockin app on the new device, tap “Connect manually”, then “Go to device ID login”, and enter the device ID and the employee's password there. You will also find the device ID and password when you click the device under the “Mobile devices” tab. It is a good idea to name the mobile device after the employee.

Questions that matter to employees

Is my screen monitored when I use clockin?

NO! Neither we at clockin nor your boss or supervisor can monitor your screen. clockin simply replaces the traditional timesheet or customer report.

Which data from my smartphone is transferred to clockin?

clockin only records the working hours you clock and passes them on to your office. If you use the clockin app for documentation, the project documentation you create in the clockin app – notes, photos or sketches – is sent to the office as well.

For support purposes, the current version numbers of the apps and of the smartphone operating system are also transmitted.

Recording location-based activity changes is possible, but your boss or supervisor has to switch it on first. Just speak to your boss or supervisor about it.


No other data is collected.

Why should we start using clockin now?

As the saying goes: those who don't move with the times will be moved out by them. clockin helps you work in a more modern and efficient way. It digitalizes & automates all your annoying paperwork – whether out in the field or in the office. Companies still working on paper in the 21st century will run into serious trouble in the market within a few years. That is why clockin helps to secure your job. At the same time it takes pressure off your working day. You no longer have to write things on paper and can concentrate more on your job. After all, a bricklayer didn't become a bricklayer to end up writing more notes than a journalist.

Isn't digital time tracking just surveillance?

Nonsense. Digital time tracking creates facts between employer and employee. It makes sure that the few who fudge their hours at their colleagues' expense are found out. At the same time, it makes sure your overtime isn't quietly swept under the carpet. You can view and download your working hours at any time.

How is an app any better than paper?

With an app like clockin, you handle your working time tracking & documentation in a single tap. With paper, you first have to write down all your hours and documentation at the end of the day and hand the sheet to your boss or supervisor, who then has to type it all into a computer. Depending on how neat your handwriting is, they may even come back with questions and ring you after the end of your shift. While you are doing all that, with clockin you would long since be at home on the sofa.

Can clockin see my WhatsApp messages?

No! The clockin app records nothing beyond the app itself. You can minimise the app to the background at any time and time tracking keeps running. So you can show your colleagues the latest funny video without anyone finding out. But please during the break.

Where can I reach you if I still have questions?

Depending on what your question is about, you will find the contacts for our support team, sales and key account managers here.

Technical questions

What happens if the battery runs out?

In the past, employees had to make sure they had enough job sheets with them. Now the task simply shifts: from now on, they should make sure the battery is charged while driving. We also recommend keeping a power bank in the vehicle so the smartphone can be charged on site as well.

What happens if there is no internet connection?

clockin works offline too. The recorded hours and documents are stored on the device and transferred to the Office Center the first time it connects to Wi-Fi.

Can the times on the smartphone be manipulated?

Because the app works offline, working time is recorded using the smartphone's clock, so the time on the phone could be changed. If anything looks irregular – compared with the applicable world time, for example – you are informed of the difference by email.

Where is the data stored, and who is responsible for data security?

clockin relies on state-of-the-art cloud technology with TÜV- and ISO-certified German servers. clockin meets all German and European data protection requirements, complies with the rulings of the European Court of Justice and with the GDPR, and its expert team places particular value on data security to German standards. More on data protection

How many languages does clockin support?

clockin supports a total of 26 languages in the app and the Office Center: 

  • Deutsch (German)
  • English
  • Русский (Russian)
  • Română (Romanian)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • български език (Bulgarian)
  • čeština (Czech)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Français (French)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Slovenščina (Slovenian)
  • Hrvatski (Croatian)
  • Bosanski (Bosnian)
  • Srpski (Serbian)
  • Shqip (Albanian)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • Slovenščina (Slovenian)
  • Filipino (Filipino)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • فارسی (Farsi)

Technical requirements

Devices compatible with the clockin app

Supported web browsers

  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome
  • Opera
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Apple Safari

(We do not support Microsoft Internet Explorer because of its outdated (security) standards)