Overview
Geofencing lets you set up a virtual barrier using the Global Positioning System (GPS). Mobile devices will send notifications when users are inside or outside a defined area. You can set up areas as allowed or restricted. One way to use geofences is to set up clock-in restrictions based on whether or not a user is within their boundaries.
Before you start
Here are a few things you need before you can manage clock-ins with a geofence:
- Ensure you have the necessary permissions to create a geofence.
- Create a site.
- Create a geofence around the site.
Restrict clock-ins to within the boundaries of a geofence
Follow the steps below to force mobile users to clock in within the boundaries of a geofence. In your TrackTik portal:
- Select Sites (Client)
- Choose the site from List All Sites.
- Click the Security & Patrol tab.
- Select Mobile App Restrictions.
- From the Geofence Clock-in Restrictions drop-down, choose either:
- No GPS clock-in restriction
- Permit clock-in and open a system exception when not in range—This allows mobile users to clock in regardless of their physical location but advises you (by creating a system exception ticket) if they aren't within the geofence's boundaries.
- Block clock-in when not in range—This will prevent users from clocking in if their device's GPS location is outside the geofence's boundaries.
- Click SAVE DEFAULTS
Geofence clock-in restrictions are related to mobile app login restrictions. Learn more about them here.
Important Note: Clock-In vs. Clock-Out Behavior
Geofence restrictions and "Block when not in range" settings apply strictly to the Clock-In action.
Clock-In: The system will prevent a user from starting their shift if they are outside the designated geofence.
Clock-Out: The system does not prevent a user from clocking out if they have left the geofenced area. A user who leaves the site early can still successfully clock out from their mobile device (e.g., from home) at the end of their shift.
Quick Reference: Geofencing & Manual Edits
Geofence Clock-Out Behavior
Limitation: Geofence "Block when not in range" settings only restrict Clock-In actions.
Behavior: The system does not prevent a user from clocking out after they have left the site or geofenced area.
Detection: To catch users leaving site before their shift ends, enable Geofence Notifications for "Exiting an allowed area".
Auditing Manual Time Adjustments
Visibility: When an administrator manually edits a shift, the original data is preserved in the audit trail.
Verification: To see the original punch time before it was edited, go to Shift Details > Notes/History.
Data Points: Look for the "Manual Time Edit" entry, which displays both the Original End Time and the New End Time.
Pro-Tip: To monitor if a guard leaves the site before their shift ends, configure Geofence Notifications for "Exiting an allowed area." This will alert supervisors in real-time if a device moves outside the perimeter while the user is still clocked in.
Viewing Original Punch Data After a Manual Edit If a shift's start or end time has been manually adjusted by an administrator, the original punch data is not deleted. You can find the original timestamp by:
Opening the Shift Details.
Navigating to the Notes/History section.
Locating the "Manual Time Edit" entry, which will display both the Original End Time and the New End Time.
Note: This is the primary way to verify if a user clocked out at an unusual time before the record was corrected for payroll.