How to Choose a Time Registration System for Construction Sites

Choosing a time registration system for Belgian construction goes beyond clocking in and out: the right platform needs to handle CIAW compliance, subcontractor coverage across multiple sites, payroll export to your social secretariat, and audit-ready records — without adding friction for workers in the field. This guide gives you 8 practical criteria to evaluate any system against your real operational requirements, not just a marketing feature checklist.

8 criteria from CIAW compliance to ERP integration

You’ve decided to digitise time registration. But every vendor says they’re the best. How do you actually evaluate? For construction, the criteria are specific, and different from what office-focused HR platforms prioritise.

This guide gives you 8 evaluation criteria in priority order, plus red flags to watch for.

The 8 Criteria (In Priority Order)

#CriterionWhat to Test
1CIAW/NSSO integrationDoes one clock-in handle both time tracking and CIAW? Is NSSO transmission automatic or manual?
2GPS verificationCan you verify workers are at the correct site? Test at actual construction locations, not in a demo room
3Data integrityDoes the system require connectivity for every registration? Or can data be stored locally and synced later (manipulation risk)?
4Construction CLA rulesAre Belgian construction overtime premiums and shift allowances calculated automatically?
5Payroll integrationPre-built API to SD Worx, Partena, Acerta? Or CSV export that requires manual processing?
6Multi-method supportApp + site terminal + vehicle hardware? Or app-only?
7Subcontractor supportCan subs and Limosa workers register in the same system with the same dashboard visibility?
8Local supportNL/FR/EN phone support for compliance questions? Or English-only ticket system?

Red Flags

  • “CIAW is on our roadmap”, if it doesn’t exist today, don’t buy based on promises
  • No Belgian customer references, ask for construction companies using the same compliance features
  • Implementation takes 3+ months, core time tracking should be operational within 2-4 weeks
  • Separate pricing for CIAW module, check whether compliance is included or a premium add-on
  • No connectivity requirement for registration, local storage means timestamps can be manipulated

How to Run a Pilot

  • Choose 1 site, 5-10 workers, 2 weeks
  • Test GPS accuracy at actual site locations
  • Verify NSSO data transmission
  • Run one payroll cycle with the integrated data
  • Measure: clock-in time per worker, payroll prep time, error rate

Compare options: best time registration tools. Explore construction solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose the cheapest option?

Rarely. The cheapest platform usually lacks CIAW integration, GPS, or payroll API, creating hidden costs in manual admin and compliance risk. Evaluate total cost including implementation and integration.

How long does switching platforms take?

With Suivo: 2-4 weeks from contract to fully operational. Migrations from another platform: 3-6 weeks including data transfer and parallel operation.


Evaluating time registration for construction?

Use these 8 criteria to compare vendors, or talk to our team.
Time tracking →  |  Contact →

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