Time and Attendance Buyer's Guide - Choosing Vendors

Published: 04/16/2011

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Choosing Vendors

Time and attendance systems are sold directly from vendors or through resellers. Vendors will typically handle large accounts themselves and pass smaller companies to local value‐added resellers (VARs) who handle sales, installation and training.

 

 

Start the purchasing process by investigating manufacturers. Make sure the companies you are considering have the resources to support and continue building their business. Moreover, the company should be committed to sustaining the product line you are purchasing. This is the time to learn as much as you can about the company’s reputation and financial stability.

 

 

When you are comfortable with the company producing the product, focus on choosing a reseller with relevant expertise. Some will specialize in time and attendance software or human resource‐related systems, while others will take a more “jack of all trades” approach. While neither is inherently better, it is always better to work with a company that has extensive experience in the application that you want installed.

 

 

When considering VARs, ask how long they have carried the product that you are interested in, and how much of their business it represents. This can help you gauge their commitment to the package you are considering. To guarantee service in the event that your VAR drops the line, you may want to see how many resellers there are in your local area. Inquiring about the VAR’s opinion on how responsive the system manufacturer is to issues can also be helpful when choosing a system. When checking references, make sure to inquire about all phases of implementation including installation, training and support.