Clockware timesheet technology

Software assets that continually renew themselves to stay current with your business's technical and operational requirements.

What if you you want to migrate to Linux?
Change middleware?
Web servers?
Client browsers?

What if you could purchase software application assets that you would never have to throw away?

Interoperability and platform migration

Freedom of choice. Clockware's J2EE technology uses a set of standards that brings Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) to your servers. Simply put, Clockware applications can run on anything. And over time, should you change your operating systems, middleware or other key components, Clockware technology will be able to support you.

Clockware's time tracking solutions mean faster solutions and delivery time to market. Clockware's J2EEplatform uses "containers" to simplify development. J2EE containers provide for the separation of business logic from resource and lifecycle management, which means that developers can focus on writing business logic -- their value add -- rather than writing enterprise infrastructure. For example, the Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) container (implemented by J2EE technology vendors) handles distributed communication, threading, scaling, transaction management, etc. Similarly, Java Servlets simplify web development by providing infrastructure for component, communication, and session management in a web container that is integrated with a web server.

Simplified connectivity. J2EE technology makes it easier to connect the applications and systems you already have and bring those capabilities to the web, to cell phones, and to devices. J2EE offers Java Message Service for integrating diverse applications in a loosely coupled, asynchronous way. The J2EE platform also offers CORBA support for tightly linking systems through remote method calls. In addition, the J2EE platform has J2EE Connectors for linking to enterprise information systems such as ERP systems, packaged financial applications, and CRM applications.

By offering one platform with faster solution delivery time to market, freedom of choice, and simplified connectivity, the J2EE platform helps IT by reducing TCO and simultaneously avoiding single-source for their enterprise software needs.

Clockware timesheet technology history and development

In seven short years, the Internet has radically transformed the way corporate enterprises conduct business. Clockware has steadily grown throughout this period as a leading provider of web-based e-business software and Online ASP services. Clockware's applications do more than merely automate paper-based tasks, they facilitate the mobile workforce and allowed workers and management to track time, projects and work in ways unimaginable only a few years ago. These developments not only harness the power of the Internet but also enable management and employees to work and communicate about the progress of all work from everyday tasks to complex projects and work processes.

Clockware was a leader in moving beyond client/server technology beginning as early as 1995. As such, Clockware has a tradition of selecting and driving the most important technology standards. These include Java, J2EE, J2ME, browser-based user interfaces, online administration, remote import/export utilities, and flexible management reporting that can be accomplished from anywhere anytime. All of this is provided on a highly scalable platform that supports leading database, application server and web server technologies available today.

Web-based Technology/Network Requirements
Clockware's technology is driven by several important requirements:

A notifications engine that facilitates workflow and system compliance
Business rules that allow a company to configure a system to match its business and work requirements
Integration interfaces that allow the system to integrate seamlessly with major ERP and other major systems
Leading application server platforms that provide fail-over, load balancing and superior session management features to optimize system performance
Simple yet robust user interface (UI) that allows employees at all levels of access to get maximum use of the system with minimal training
Scalable systems that support tens of thousands of users anywhere in the world using any standard internet browser
Rapid deployment that serves the needs of a variety of users interfacing with the system.
A central record of user profile data that integrates with HRIS, payroll systems, and other directory databases
Software that is highly configurable to a particular company's business rules and procedures
Administrator interfaces and tools that allow technical administrators to maintain the system with a minimal investment of time
Reporting engines that produce accurate, real-time reports for use by management, supervisors and end users

Clockware Time and Work Tracking Software
Clockware meets these requirements and more with its time and work tracking applications and services. First, Clockware automates paper-based time and work tracking processes. Second, change and reminder notification engines provide system compliance features ensuring optimal utilization of the system. Third, user profile data and integration with HRIS and LDAP systems ensure that employee and organizational data are synchronized and up-to-date. Fourth, Clockware provides seamless integration other enterprise systems such as payroll to ensure maximum return on investment. Clockware has several enterprise web-based applications and modules:

Clockware Time and Work™
Clockware Time and Attendance ™
Clockware Timesheet ™
Clockware Exception Time™
Tock™ (mid-market edition)

Clockware's applications can be licensed and deployed several ways within one customer enterprise to meet the needs and requirements of a variety of user groups. For example, one set of users tracking time and projects or various output measurements of their work to track productivity would use Clockware Time and Work™. Another group of white-collar users not tracking projects but who need to track exception time would use Clockware Exception Time™. Clockware Timesheet™ is utilized for tracking a limited set of work items, and Clockware Time and Attendance™ is used for in and out time for nonexempt employees. A major difference with Clockware's technology is that a single enterprise can deploy several Clockware applications yet pay only for the functionality each user group needs.

Clockware System Architecture and Design
Clockware's software, from its earliest beginnings, was and continues to be written in 100% Java. Extending its development, in 2001 the company began its migration to utilizing J2EE standards. Clockware's development standards have created several benefits for its current and future architecture and design. First, Clockware applications can now run on any major J2EE-compliant application server such as Weblogic, Websphere, Tomcat, or iPlanet. Second, Clockware applications have always benefited from its highly scalable n-tier systems architecture. Clockware's application server manages and creates a connection pool with any relational database. As such, the number of database connections is managed closely by the application server. In general, the application server initializes a minimum of 8 connections per JRE (Java Run-time Engine). As such, there is currently no defined maximum number of concurrent users. Clockware supports MS SQL Server and Oracle, although support for nearly any SQL database is possible. For all these reasons, Clockware's open systems architecture allows for rapid yet stable development and retains the ability to leverage new technologies across all its applications and platforms.

Clockware's application architecture includes the following:

Clockware Application Server
Workflow Engine
Rules Engine
Notifications Engine
Data Model
Integration Interfaces

Clockware Enterprise Application Server
Workforce automation solutions need to be highly scalable in order to support many thousands of concurrent users. As well, the application server must provide fail-over and redundancy features that allow for continuous web service even when problems might arise. To meet the ever-demanding needs of our customers, Clockware utilizes BEA Systems' WebLogic Enterprise Application Server to ensure that our application is delivered on the most scalable yet stable platform in the industry. WebLogic is the most reliable, secure, and easily manageable architecture which has been tested and proven in over 11,000 companies worldwide. It is built using the latest distributed object technologies, including Java 2 Enterprise Edition and Enterprise JavaBeans, Enterprise Java (J2EE), XML, and CORBA. Clockware's development by leverages WebLogic's application integration server technology, business process management, and B2B integration functionality. This comprehensive, standards-based solution enables Clockware to to speed application development and deployment, minimize the pain of integration, and reduce the total cost of all product development and delivery. Additionally, this superior Application Server functionality enables Clockware to facilitate application connectivity to all platforms from mainframes to wireless devices, applications, and data.

Workflow Engine
An enterprise and time and work tracking system requires a system that can manage the automation and flow of time and work tracking, automated approvals, project tracking, and various steps that promote system compliance within the user community. The Clockware workflow engine defines system workflow for time and work tracking, approvals, notifications, reminders, work item lists, and list attribute lists. Clockware's workflow enables users to perform activities such as creating, editing and submitting timesheets, and creating timesheet reports. Certain system workflow is affected by configured conditional rules. For example, certain users might not be enabled to create timesheets, or add work items, others might be able to approve time and work but not record their own data.

Rules Engine
Rules are an important factor in designing system workflow and processes so that they match a corporation's business policies and procedures. Clockware's rules engine allows the application to be configured for particular policies. Clockware applications have default rules that can be modified by using standard menus in the Administration System. These rules automatically foster compliance: 1) Notices and notifications that a particular rule or deadline has been missed and suggested corrective action, 2) Screen messages that warn users of standard rules or policies that suggest the correct parameters for data entry, and 3) Prompts that advise the user of invalid data entry.

Notifications Engine
Clockware's notifications engine fosters systems compliance. First, automated reminders and notifications alert users and managers to upcoming and passed deadlines. Second, notifications and reports allow users and managers to monitor the progress of their work within the overall system. Automated email notifications can be sent to any user through any web-based email client to notify or remind a user of an event or work item due.

Clockware Data Model
Clockware's application data model supports data sets specific to each customer. Data sets include users, user profiles, project ID, and departments. Data type examples include time entries, customer name, work order, work item, project phase, or billable/non-billable classification. Clockware's data model is highly flexible and can grow with an organization as the application's use and reach with a company expands over time. Databases can be easily archived and accessed to analyze historical data and trends. In addition, the data model allows users to be organized, assigned and reassigned into an unlimited number groups or roles. These groups and roles control a user's application access, rights and system privileges. In all cases, these assignments allow complete control over information access and information views. For example, through the use of user roles, one manager can be precluded from viewing project data of a subordinate that reports to another manager on that particular project. Groups can be set up to companies, departments, divisions, or geographic regions. Roles can be configured for project managers, specialists, analysts, engineers, and other role types. Groups and roles can be governed by particular business rules and workflow privileges. In sum, groups allow highly complicated matrix, geographic, or other organizational schemes to be mirrored within the system to ensure optimal system performance.

Integration Throughout The Enterprise
Often, corporations have to suffer the pain of critical applications that cannot easily talk to one another. High performance enterprise solutions must provide seamless integration of applications between and among ERP and other key business application systems. Clockware's applications can be integrated with a variety of leading G/L, payroll, HR and other systems to ensure maximum return on investment from any and all workforce automation efforts.

Clockware Integration Interfaces
Clockware provides a standard set of interface tools for all integrations including an XML integration module. These interfaces import and export data and can provide support for flagging corrections and exception cases. Depending upon the other systems' integration requirements, these integrations can be completed using XML, various configurable interface tables, flat files, or bi-directional synchronization to outside systems.

Supporting Any Standard Platform
Clockware applications can support almost all client platforms such as desktop and laptop computers by using standard browsers or disconnected clients. Utilizing JDBC drivers, Clockware can support all leading relational database management systems including ORACLE and Microsoft SQL Server. Clockware's architecture allows thin clients to connect with application servers and RDBMS platforms through any corporate network, private network, or the Internet.

Disconnected Client
(New in 2002) Disconnected clients allow remote or traveling workers to complete data entry off-line now and connect to a centralized system later. Clockware provides a client that can operate independently in a disconnected fashion from the main server until synchronization.

Licensed Software and Online ASP Services
With Clockware, companies can deploy the Workforce Optimization Suite in the manner that most closely meets their business requirements - whether licensed software or a hosted solution. Clockware's hosted application service provides customers with the same productivity benefits of owning the applications, while enabling them to outsource all associated infrastructure, administration, and maintenance. This deployment model is ideal for growing organizations that want to deploy the applications immediately while managing the impact on IT.

Clockware Administration System
Clockware Administration System provides easy-to-use tools to manage and maintain applications with a minimum level of effort. In most cases, a non-technical administrator can complete standard maintenance procedures with no assistance from IT staff required. The strength of the Clockware Administration System is its industry-leading UI that allows easy configuration roles, rights and other user privilege. Rules, users, groups and other important data and list attributes can be created easily to enforce business policies and procedures.

The Clockware Administration System has the following features:

Creation of new users, work items, and restricted lists.
Creation of groups, departments and divisions.
Creation of user roles
Establishment of various rules such the length of a work week or overtime and double-time rules.
Editing, adding and reassigning user and group data through an export administration tool.
Administering Work Item assignments and privileges.The management of timekeeper functions, rights and privileges.
The establishment and completion of various imports and exports
The establishment of various reporting rights and privileges.
The management of the notifications and reminders engine settings.

Integrated Business Intelligence
Clockware's integrated business intelligence tools can create a variety of customized reports and financial and operational analyses to ensure an optimal return on investment and the most efficient allocation of internal resources. Senior managers can gain access to critical information real-time. Clockware can provide extensive customized reports with each enterprise engagement.

System Monitoring and Compliance
Clockware provides extensive reporting data that allows managers to monitor and manage system compliance within various user communities and groups. Clockware's standard reports provide extensive drill downs into data and performance by work item, list attribute, financial groups, project completion rates, and other important operational data. Reporting privileges and rights can be granted according to a user or manager's particular role and security privileges. In addition, Clockware's monitoring reports allow managers to track exceptions to policies or deadlines within the system.