Time Tracking for Sage Construction Customers

For most construction companies, labor represents the single largest variable expense, yet many companies still use antiquated methods to control what could potentially represent their largest exposure to lost profit.

If you are still tracking time on paper, using spreadsheets, or relying on end-of-week memory, you are losing control of your labor costs. Over the course of an employee's week, small inaccuracies compound and multiply, affecting the true cost of your labor.

Common symptoms include:

• Time errors and disputes
• Labor overruns that go unnoticed
• Inaccurate job costing and margin erosion
• Delayed payroll processing
• Compliance risks for certified payroll or union reporting

Modern mobile time tracking gives you the ability to connect labor hours directly to jobs, cost codes, and directly sends that information to your payroll system. When time is captured correctly on a daily basis, you have more visibility into labor costs and gain stronger control over project profitability.

Why time tracking matters in construction

Because labor represents such a large portion of project cost, time tracking affects far more than payroll. It influences how quickly issues are identified, how margins are protected, and how confidently decisions are made across the business.

How it impacts field crews and foremen

When time entry is slow or unclear, mistakes happen. Entering hours days later increases the chance of missed time, incorrect job codes, or rushed corrections.

Accurate field time tracking helps you:

• Enter time by job, phase, and cost code while the work is still fresh
• Reduce questions and corrections at the end of the week
• Create clearer expectations and accountability across crews
• When time is captured correctly in the field, less time is spent fixing errors later

How it impacts payroll and accounting teams

If you do the payroll or accounting for your company, you often feel the downstream effects of poor time tracking. Missing or inconsistent hours create delays to payroll processing, rewriting checks, and disputes with employees.

With reliable time data:

• Payroll runs faster with fewer corrections
• Job cost data flows cleanly into accounting
• Audit trails are easier to maintain
• Month-end close is less disruptive

Better time tracking reduces stress during payroll cycles and lowers the risk of costly mistakes.

How it impacts project managers and operations

If you manage projects, labor visibility is critical. Without timely data, labor overruns often appear only after it is too late to make adjustments.  

Improved time tracking allows you to:

• See labor costs as work is performed
• Compare actual hours against budget sooner
• Spot trends before they become problems
• Make better staffing and scheduling decisions

Time tracking becomes a proactive tool instead of a backward-looking report.

How it impacts executives and business owners

At the leadership level, labor accuracy directly affects profitability, forecasting, and risk.

Consistent time tracking supports:

• More reliable job costing and estimating
• Better margin control
• Reduced compliance exposure
• Greater confidence in financial reporting

If you are focused on scaling without losing control, accurate labor data is foundational.

Key benefits of construction time tracking

• Accurate payroll: Fewer errors, fewer disputes, and faster processing
• Stronger job costing: Labor costs are assigned correctly to jobs and cost codes
• Earlier visibility into overruns: Labor trends are visible before margins are impacted
• Reduced administrative effort: Less rekeying and fewer follow-ups
• Improved compliance: Better support for certified payroll, prevailing wage, and labor regulations

For many construction businesses, improved time tracking means fewer surprises and tighter control over labor costs.

What to look for in a construction time tracking app

Not all time tracking tools are built the same and are designed for different trades. Jobs, cost codes, travel time, premium time, shift differential, holidays, certified, union, and other reporting needs may necessitate a mobile time solution specific to your trade.

Before choosing a solution, consider how it fits your workflows today and what your future needs will be.

Common features to evaluate:

• Mobile-first time entry with offline capability
• Crew-based time entry, not just individual employees
• Approval workflows for supervisors and payroll
• Job, phase, and cost code accuracy
• Tight integration with accounting and payroll
• Scalability as crews, projects, and locations grow

Our top advice is simple: prioritize integration. A disconnected time solution can create manual double entry and reconciliation work that negates any efficiency gains.

Time tracking solutions that integrate with Sage Construction Accounting

Integration is essential. To avoid double entry and manual reconciliation, your time tracking solution needs to connect directly with your accounting system.

Sage offers a mature ecosystem of solutions designed for different company sizes and operational needs. Below are commonly considered options that integrate with Sage Construction Accounting systems.

Sage Field Operations (SFO)

SFO is a Sage-native solution designed to support field workflows such as time entry, service work, and job-related activities.

• Best for: Specialty contractors, MEP trades, and service companies
• Strengths: Field-focused workflows that streamline scheduling, work order management, and invoicing
• Integrates with: Sage Intacct Construction, Sage 300 CRE, Sage 100 Contractor

👉 5 ways Sage Field Operations elevates specialty contractors

Sage Construction Management (SCM)

SCM is a broader cloud-based construction platform that includes field time capture as part of a larger project and operations ecosystem.

• Best for: Any construction firm that also need project management capabilities
• Strengths: End-to-end preconstruction and project management capabilities
• Integrates with: Sage Intacct Construction, Sage 300 CRE, Sage 100 Contractor, and other accounting ERP’s

👉 Learn more about the integration key components and data mapping.

hh22

hh2 is a third-party construction time and field data solution with a strong focus on payroll accuracy and approval workflows.

• Best for: Contractors with complex payroll or compliance requirements
• Strengths: Robust payroll workflows and field approvals
• Integrates with: Sage Intacct Construction, Sage 300 CRE, Sage 100 Contractor

Hammr

Hammr is primarily a payroll that includes time tracking as part of a broader workforce management offering.

• Best for: Contractors between 50 and 250 employees
• Strengths: Simplified construction payroll with a complete construction suite including prevailing wage, certified payroll, and tax compliance
• Integrates with: Sage Intacct Construction

Important update for Sage 100 Contractor users

Sage has announced the retirement of the Simple Time app, which impacts customers currently using the app for Simple Time entry.

What is changing:

• The Time mobile app will be removed from the iOS and Android app stores on February 27, 2026
• After that date, Sage will no longer provide technical support for the app

If you have activated the app, you will receive an official notice instructing you to contact your Sage Partner to review available options.

FAQ: what happens if I keep using the app after February 27, 2026?

What may still work

• Existing installations may continue to function for a period of time
• Simple Time entry within Sage 100 Contractor will remain available

What will no longer work

• No bug fixes or performance updates
• No compatibility updates for new devices or operating systems
• No Sage technical support if issues arise

What happens when phones update

• Mobile operating system updates may cause the app to fail
• Reinstalling the app will not be possible once it is removed from app stores
• New phones or devices will not support the retired app

Who owns the risk

After retirement, the operational risk shifts to you and may include:

• Payroll disputes caused by missing or inaccurate time
• Compliance exposure related to labor reporting
• Disruptions to field operations and payroll cycles

Why acting early matters

Waiting until the app stops working can turn a manageable transition into an urgent problem. Evaluating alternatives early gives you time to:

• Choose the right-fit solution without pressure
• Plan a smooth transition for crews and payroll teams
• Avoid disruptions during payroll processing
• Take advantage of special pricing Sage is offering for customers impacted by the retirement

Find the right time tracking app for your business

Every construction company tracks time differently and the right solution depends on:

• Crew size and structure
• Payroll and compliance complexity
• Integration requirements
• Where your business is headed next

At Alta Vista, our CRE experts have direct experience in construction environments. If you want help evaluating your options or planning next steps, reach out and we will guide you through the process.