What are Biometrics (Facial or Fingerprint)?

Science fiction shows first introduced biometrics. Movies showing facial recognition and fingers identification awed audiences from around the world. 

But over the past decade, we have seen the rise of biometrics in our everyday lives. It has evolved rapidly and we have come to interact with it very often. 

What exactly are Biometrics?

Biometrics are biological measurements based on physical characteristics that can be utilized to help identify individuals. 

Examples of biometric technology are fingerprint mapping, facial recognition as well as retina scans. 

According to scientists, the shape of an ear, even the way a person walks and sits down, the presence of veins in the hands and contortions of the face are other unique identifiers that further define biometrics. 

There is no denying that we are surrounded by biometric technology. From facial recognition in unlocking a phone and in opening a bank account to securely boarding a flight, biometrics is taking us into a whole new level. 

Why use biometrics anyway?

First, it is convenient. Authenticating yourself with the use of a body part instead of using a password means that it is convenient, quick and efficient. 

Second, it is secure. No one looks alike and the contours of one differs from the other, so impersonation is difficult to achieve. There is no duplication in fingerprints as well as facial features, hence security and safety is observed. 

The combination of both – convenience and security as primary benefits of biometrics would mean this technology will continue to grow and expand in the coming years.

In addition, it has been very significant during the onslaught of the covid- 19 pandemic. Up until now, it is gaining momentum. Contactless payments and ATM interactions as well as gaining contactless access to office buildings has been required like never before. 

Here are some examples of biometrics security applications:

• Voice Recognition
• Fingerprint Scanning
• Facial Recognition
• Iris Recognition
• Heart-Rate Sensors

At present, biometrics is being used by different companies’ Human Resource Departments. Although some still use the punchcards many of today’s businesses have adapted biometrics to identify and secure their employees. 

Nowadays, time and attendance is easy to record. Logging in and out of an office, recording tardiness and absences and most of all, keeping the company secure from outsiders is no longer daunting for the Human Resources department. Thanks to Biometrics. HR payroll concerns? No problem. They now have a dependable partner in doing payroll. 

Human resource managers are the responsible stewards of sensitive and personal information. Making sure that this information stays within the walls of the HR department is a big task. 

Keeping pay rates, addresses, Social Security numbers, investments, loans and insurance information are all important and safeguarding this information and ensuring the employees can be granted access to it is essential. 

Recording time and attendance are and other details are integrated together with biometrics. It can also help with several identity-related use cases for human resources departments and payroll purposes. 

With biometrics, there is more efficient and secure onboarding of incoming new employees, verifying their identities, managing time and attendance, preventing duplicate records and computing payroll and net take-home pay.

Uses of Biometrics in HR:

a) Time and attendance tracking

– HR can easily track time and attendance with biometrics. Using facial recognition, fingerprints and even voice biometrics, time and attendance get recorded in a  breeze. 

b) Identity proofing and prevention of impersonation

– New employees go through one heck of a process before finally reporting to work. It is a time-consuming process but with the use of Biometrics that is cloud-based, there is no duplication and the process is quick and easy. 

c) System integration

– A fully integrated HR system brings to the table a set of applications that offer a wide range of HR functions like recruitment, payroll, time and attendance, learning and development and many more HR related functions. 

HR can benefit from biometrics in more ways than one.

1. It promotes transparency. 

   Biometrics help make time and attendance and payroll completely transparent and prevent fraud.

2. It encourages punctuality.

   Employees tend to be on time since they do not want to see tardiness in their record. It prods them to wake up earlier and arrive the office on time.

3. It increases productivity.

   Employees are able to work the exact number of hours they are required in a day, hence they become more productive.

4. It saves precious time.

   Punchcards and manual recording of time and attendance is tedious and time-consuming, With the use of a cloud based biometrics, HR is able to save some time since the input in biometrics is automatically calculated. System integration also helps save time and makes the department more efficient.
   

5. It is cost effective.

   There is a one-time purchase and installation of a cloud based biometrics software. It caters to time and attendance and serves for years. This would mean the employer does not need to hire another personnel to work on time and attendance. 

Working in a system that is integrated can make life in HR happier and more convenient. System integration promotes accuracy, harnesses automation, minimizes duplication and repetition and makes certain that everything in HR is managed consistently. 

Biometrics is one tool that plays a pivotal role in HR system integration. It improves the company’s productivity and helps HR to give more value through more comprehensive, accurate and consistent reports. 

Why do it the hard way when you can have an HR software system that has system integration and is cloud-based? Manage with ease. Manage your Human Resources with EasyHR. EasyHR helps your HR team take care of your employees through robust record-keeping and payroll functions.

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• StartOn-line and Real-time Employee 201 File
• Automatic DTR (Daily Time Recording) Computation
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• Loan Management
• Leave Management
• Overtime and Tardiness Computation
• Employee Portal
• Multi-company and Multi-branch

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