Building attendance application: Dropia vs traditional solutions - 2025 comparison guide

Traditional Time Tracking Systems

1. Paper Timesheets

Advantages:

• No technological costs

• Familiar to teams

• No electronic dependency

Disadvantages:

• Mandatory manual re-entry (2-3h/week)

• Risk of errors and losses

• No real-time visibility

• Burdensome physical archiving

• Inability to analyze precisely by project

2. Physical Badge Readers

Advantages:

• Direct digital data

• Automatic presence tracking

Disadvantages:

• Significant hardware investment

• One device per site required

• No automatic task/job assignment

• Maintenance and possible failures

• Rigidity for multiple projects

3. Shared Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets)

Advantages:

• Limited cost

• Customizable

Disadvantages:

• Manual entry still present

• Frequent formula errors

• No suitable mobile interface

• No automatic checks

• Difficult to maintain over time

The Dropia Building Time Tracking Application: Next Generation

Cloud Architecture and Mobile-First

Dropia is natively designed for mobile. Each worker clocks in from their smartphone in seconds. Data is instantly uploaded to the cloud, accessible from any device.

Advanced Time Tracking Features

Intelligent Tracking by Project The app detects the nearest project via geolocation (optional) and automatically suggests the correct site. The worker simply confirms.

Multi-tasks and Assignment A single employee can clock in for different tasks during the day. Dropia accurately records the time spent on each activity and assigns it to the correct analytical code.

Offline Mode In sites with limited network, time tracking works in offline mode. Synchronization occurs automatically once the network is restored.

Validation and Corrections Managers can validate, correct, or complete clock-ins from their interface. A notification system alerts in case of an oversight or anomaly.

Comparative Analysis: Dropia vs Traditional Solutions

Weekly Processing Time (team of 10 people)

• Paper Sheets: 3 hours (collection, entry, verification)

• Badge Readers: 1h30 (consolidation, project assignment)

• Shared Spreadsheet: 2h (entry, corrections, calculations)

• Dropia: 15 minutes (final validation and control)

Monthly Cost (team of 10 people)

• Paper Sheets: €0 in tools + ~€150 in administrative time (3h × 4 weeks × hourly rate €12.50)

• Badge Readers: ~€100/month (amortization + subscription) + €75 in time = €175

• Spreadsheet: €0 in tools + ~€100 in time = €100

• Dropia Business Package: €59.90/month (unlimited users) + €15 in validation time = €75

ROI over 12 months (team of 10 people)

Switching from paper sheets to Dropia:

• Cost of paper sheets: €1,800/year

• Cost of Dropia: €900/year (€75 × 12)

• Savings: €900/year + gain of 140h of administrative time

→ Calculate your savings with Dropia

Unique Features of Dropia

Automatic Reports Every period, Dropia generates complete PDF reports: hours per employee, per project, per task, related costs. These documents are directly usable for payroll and invoicing.

Integrated Profitability Analysis Unlike simple time tracking systems, Dropia automatically cross-references hours with projected budgets for each project. You see in real-time if a project is going off track.

Accounting Export Data is exportable in formats compatible with all accounting and payroll software on the market. No re-entry required.

Management of Supplies Tracking Beyond hours, track deliveries, invoices, and materials used for a complete view of the actual cost.

The Verdict for Your Company

Choose paper sheets if:

• You have fewer than 3 employees

• Your projects are very occasional

• You do not analyze profitability by project

Choose Dropia if:

• You have 3 employees or more

• You manage multiple projects simultaneously

• You want to save administrative time

• You want to analyze profitability in detail

• You are looking for a scalable solution

With an average gain of 13 hours per month and a flat rate including unlimited users starting at €59.90/month, the Dropia Building Time Tracking Application offers the best efficiency/price ratio on the market for SMEs in 2025.

→ Try Dropia for free for 30 days