Choosing a workforce management system is really two decisions: what you need it to do, and how you want your team to use it day to day. At Computime we offer two systems built on the same three decades of UK experience, Syncro and Realtime. They share the same foundation, but they suit different businesses. This guide explains the difference and helps you decide which fits the way you work.

One platform, two ways to work

Both systems do time, attendance and absence properly, and both are backed by the same Leeds based support team. The real choice comes down to two things: how modern and simple you want the everyday experience to be, and how wide a feature set you need.

In short, Syncro is our modern, web and app based system, accessed through any browser or mobile device. Realtime is our most powerful option, an installed application with your data stored securely in the cloud, that adds a much wider set of modules for HR, documents and site safety.

Syncro: modern, mobile and fast

Syncro is built around ease of use and speed. Employees clock in and out from anywhere by smartphone, with GPS location captured at the point of clocking, and holiday requests and timesheets all in one simple app. It needs minimal training, works offline and syncs automatically when a connection returns.

Syncro is the right fit if your priority is a fast, modern system, you have remote, field or mobile staff who clock in by phone, and your core need is time and attendance software and absence management done well. If you want to see it in action, the mobile clocking in app is where Syncro really shows its strengths.

Realtime: the broadest feature set in one system

Realtime matches Syncro on time and attendance, then goes much further. It is an installed application that adds modules for HR and document management, fire roll call, visitor management and access control, all working together in one connected platform.

Realtime suits businesses that want the widest capability in a single system: a full HR software module with employee records and return to work forms, fire roll call and visitor management for site safety, and access control across single or multiple sites. If understanding the true cost of each job matters, the job costing module tracks labour against budget too.

What both systems cover

Whichever you choose, the core is the same. Both handle flexible shift patterns, automated rules to flag lateness and anomalies, overtime and lateness reporting, and real time tracking from any location. Both include self-service holiday requests with a team planner, manager approval workflows, Bradford Factor scoring and absence trends. Staying on top of these areas also helps you keep accurate records for UK working time regulations.

Hardware, or no hardware at all

Computime fits the way you already work. You can choose the clocking hardware that suits your sites, facial recognition terminals, fingerprint terminals, or RFID card and fob readers, all with backup RFID card and PIN as standard. Or you can go completely device free and clock in through the mobile app. You can browse the full range of clocking in machines to see which terminals suit your environment.

On payroll, both systems integrate directly with Sage and export payroll ready data for Pegasus and QuickBooks, with bespoke integrations available through our open API. That alone reduces payroll collation from hours to minutes. You can read more about how this works on our payroll software page.

A simple way to decide

Choose Syncro if:

• Your priority is a fast, modern and easy to use system
• You have remote, field or mobile staff who clock in by phone
• You want staff and managers running with minimal training
• Your core need is time, attendance and absence done well

Choose Realtime if:

• You want the broadest feature set in one connected system
• You need HR, document storage and sharing, and return to work forms
• Site safety matters: visitor management, fire roll call or access control
• You are happy to invest a little more in setup for greater capability

Built on three decades of UK experience

Established in 1989 and based in Leeds, Computime has spent more than thirty years helping UK organisations replace manual processes with accurate, automated workforce management. Our systems scale from 10 to 5,000 employees, we are rated Excellent on Trustpilot, and when you call you speak to someone in Leeds, not an overseas call centre.

The best way to choose between Syncro and Realtime is a short conversation about how you work today and where you want to get to. Our team will walk you through either system and prepare a tailored quote, with no pressure and no obligation.