AutoChain
Job Clocking

Technicians clock on and off each job, so you see how long it really took.

Technicians press Start, Pause and Done on the work item they are doing. The Live tab shows who is clocked on to what, with a running timer against the estimate, and AutoChain banks the time saved when a job comes in under its estimate.

Most garages know how long a job was booked for and how much labour went on the invoice. Few know how long it actually took. Job clocking in AutoChain fills that gap. Technicians press Start on the work item they are doing, Pause when they stop and Done when it is finished, from the job or from the Live tab on the Workshop screen. Each technician has one clock, so starting a new item pauses the last one, and a helper can clock on to a colleague's item. The Live tab shows everyone's clock with a running timer against the estimate, and a row turns red when a job runs over. When a job comes in under its estimate, the time saved is banked to the technicians who did it.

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Overview

Real job times, without a separate time clock

Clocking happens on the work item itself, so the time is recorded against the right job and the right piece of work. If the car is not checked in yet, the first Start asks to check it in, so the job's start time is recorded too.

Each technician's row on the Live tab shows the reg, the vehicle, the work item and a timer such as 1:20 of 2h, tinted by job type and turning red when it runs over. Technicians who are free show as not clocked on.

When a work item is completed under its estimate, the time saved is banked to the technicians who worked on it, shared by how long each of them spent. Overruns count against the bank. Technicians see their own bank, and managers see everyone's.

Start, Pause and Done on the job's work items, with the time clocked so far.
What's included

Every capability, at a glance

Everything on this page is in the core plan (£69.99/mo + VAT) unless it's marked as an add-on. SMS (£15/mo, 200 credits included) and HaynesPro (£49.99/mo per site) are optional add-ons. Prices exclude VAT.

  • Start, Pause and Done on each work item, from the job or the Live tab
  • One clock per technician: starting a new item pauses the last one
  • Helpers can clock on to a colleague's work item
  • Only MOT testers can start an MOT
  • The first Start checks the car in
  • Live tab: who is clocked on to what, with a timer against the estimate
  • Banked time when a job beats its estimate, shown as plus or minus for the day
  • Clocks still running at closing time are paused automatically
  • Clocked time shown on the calendar under each technician
  • Completed jobs show who worked on them and for how long
Start your free trial Book a demo First month free on the core plan. Add-ons are billed from day one. No card required.
How it works

Simple from day one

Setup takes about 10 minutes and there's no training course to sit through. Built for busy garages.

  1. Start the clock

    The technician presses Start on the work item. If the car is not checked in yet, AutoChain asks to check it in first.

  2. Pause and switch

    Pause for a break or while waiting for parts. Starting another item pauses the one before, so nobody is clocked on to two jobs at once.

  3. Watch it live

    The Live tab shows each technician, the car and work item they are on, and a timer against the estimate. Rows turn red when a job runs over.

  4. Done and banked

    Done completes the work item and stops every clock on it. If it came in under the estimate, the time saved is banked to the technicians who worked on it.

Ready to see Job Clocking in your garage?

Why it matters

The real impact on your garage

  1. Real job times, not guesses

    Clocked time shows how long work actually takes in your workshop, so you can check your estimates and labour times against it.

  2. Spot overruns while they happen

    A job that runs past its estimate turns red on the Live tab, so you can check on it before the end of the day.

  3. Reward efficient work

    Banked time shows how much time each technician saved against the estimates, day by day, which you can use for bonuses or coaching.

  4. Fair on shared jobs

    When two technicians work on an item, the time saved is shared by how long each of them spent on it.

  5. No clocks left running overnight

    Clocks still running at closing time are paused automatically, so a forgotten Pause does not count as a night's work.

  6. Nothing extra to buy

    Job clocking is part of the core plan at £69.99/mo + VAT, for every technician, with no per-seat fees.

FAQ

Job Clocking: common questions

Straight answers to what garages ask us about this feature.

How do technicians clock on?

They press Start on the work item, from the job or from the Live tab on the Workshop screen, then Pause or Done. Managers and advisors can also clock a named technician on or off.

Can a technician be clocked on to two jobs at once?

No. Each technician has one running clock. Starting a new work item pauses the one they were on.

What is banked time?

When a work item is completed under its estimate, the time saved is banked to the technicians who worked on it, split by how long each spent. Overruns count against the bank. Technicians see their own bank, and managers see everyone's.

What happens if someone forgets to clock off?

Clocks still running at closing time are paused automatically. Work started after closing time is paused after two hours.

Does clocked time show in the reports?

Clocked time shows on the Live and Completed tabs and on the calendar. Technician analytics compare hours booked with hours invoiced; clocked hours are not part of the analytics reports.

Ready when you are

Run your garage smarter from today

Join 100+ UK garages, from single-bay workshops to multi-site groups, already streamlining jobs, customers, MOTs and online bookings with AutoChain from £69.99/mo + VAT.

  • Set up in about 10 minutes
  • No long-term contract
  • Cancel anytime