AXLR8 have launched a free eBook about GDPR in highly regulated staffing industries. Examples include guards and security officers, close protection services, airports and care services. It is also covered by a podcast for those with time to listen, e.g. whilst travelling. The eBook is full of check lists and references. You can cut and paste them straight out. Some may be reminders for experienced professionals but many will be new. Also, there are links and references to the legal sources and template “model” agreements and policies you can use.
Time and Attendance
Paxton Net2 Integration improvements coming up
With the arrival of the new football season and other stadium management challenges, we have a short window of dev time for major enhancements.
We will be using the new Paxton development and test kit we have purchased. This will speed the programming and testing cycles up enormously.
This is a mature integration. It has run at live high traffic staff check in locations for several years now. However, it needs to evolve with changing business and systems requirements. We have identified many areas for improvement.
We will be focussed on robustness, reliability, auto restart to heal problems caused by onsite systems maintenance, power failures, etc. Also, we are improving the alerts system telling us when something has gone wrong at a client site.
We have many new ideas including utilities to match up card data which is sometimes not the same in AXLR8 as in Paxton – a common problem we know happens in other stadium systems. So that will be a great step forward. A recent site visit identified 12 ideas that would make the system better for the end user both during the high pressure match day and also in pre- and post-match administration.
Thanks to our clients for their patience and diligent feedback and understanding.
Thanks also to our great partners like Computer Care, FSL and Paxton. Without your help and specialist expertise, this would have been tough. We really appreciate the open discussions and constant attention to detail and cooperative, problem solving approach.
Please read more on our specialist staffing website.
AXLR8 Checkpoints
As well as many other forms of Proof of Attendance (Check in/ Check out) systems: Geolocation, continuous tracking, Intergation to leading biometric and other hardware such as Almas and Paxton, AXLR8 Checkpoints are proving themselves year after year in different locations.
We have some exciting new videos about the popular AXLR8Checkpoints product on our Specialist staffing website.
Click here to head over and check out the article.
Clear new AXLR8 Portal interfaces
AXLR8 has been spending the last three years updating and improving the AXLR8 User Experience (UX). Many parts of the system are now being systematically added and seamlessly replacing exisiting client systems.
Staffing Agencies
Field staffing apps have been evolving for a while and are now customised to your company and also have all the functionality you would expect from AXLR8’s comprehensive staffing agency systems.
The staffing systems internal HQ Admin wokflows are being improved, functon by function, starting with the recruitment team using AXLR8 applicant tracking systems.
Dashboards
AXLR8 Dashboards are built internally at clients with knowledgeable accredited AXLR8 Super Users now. They can be built and placed any where in the system but the most popular place is the opening page with a management overview.
Finance
AXLR8 are growing in the commercial finance and loan management systems markets as a direct result of improving user interfaces.
Government
AXLR8 is updating the Information Request Management and Information Asset Register systems in use across central and local government and NHS.
Apps
AXLR8 have been delivering Apps on all major operating environments for seeral years for our clients to replace and complement our web apps and web portals.
The above maintenance app is a simple “see snap send” reporting mechanism as well as containing all the information requied for service, installation and other equipment management tasks for an engineer.
The comprehensive AXLR8 Staffing App is simpl for the staff member to use for shift information, work planning availability calendar, pay, expenses, field reporting and surveys (on and off line) updating personal details, Chat mechanism, proof of attendance and so much more. It is used by tens of thousands of staff every day.
Please email sales@axlr8.com or call us about your business systems requirement 01344 776500
AXLR8 Login Tips
Security is only going to get stronger in the world of business applications.
Therefore, some of your legitimate users will face occasional barriers to accessing your business applications including the one you have purchased from AXLR8.
Quick fixes
Assuming they are legitimate users, the quick solutions you can try are as follows.
| Common user issue | What to do about it |
| Forgot password (includes typing the wrong case e.g. “ABCD1234” instead of “AbCd1234”) | They should go through the password reset process. It sends them a temporary login and instructions on how to create a new secure password. A Super User can also kick off this password reset process. |
| Too many false login attempts | The users account will be disabled. A Super User needs to go to their User Admin area, select that user and take their account from the “disabled” to the “active” list. Don’t forget to check they are still legitimate users! |
| Not received password reset email | The email with the reset password instructions has probably gone into their spam folder.* The user must check their spam folder, retrieve the mail and follow the instructions. |
| User forgot login name (includes typing it wrong such as “JOHN SMITH” when it is actually “JOHNSMITH” without a space) | They can use the user name reminder process. You can send them the correct user name and explain the importance of typing it exactly. |
*If all go to spam, then your DKIM and SPF records a may not be set up correctly and you may need to ask assistance of whoever manages your DNS. AXLR8 can re-supply the correct values for these.
The above should solve it (and probably similar problems from any system you may use, from any supplier). If not, one of your company’s AXLR8 Super Users should follow the steps in the link below with your user (client, field staff, etc.) in order to resolve the matter.
Detailed help notes
For more detailed instructions about how to troubleshoot problems when users cannot log in, please click here.
AXLR8 SMS Pricing 2020
AXLR8 have reduced the prices again for 2020.
Text messaging is ever more used by companies to remind or alert people and organise activities quickly. It is more effective and faster than email.
The reason for this price reduction is the multi-million volumes now purchased by the AXLR8’s “buying club” of clients. Also, to a lesser extent, we reduced administration with small price rises for buyers of lower volumes that cause proportionately more admin. Prices now start at under 2p/unit for our very high volume clients. Very low volume clients buying 1000 occasionally for example pay more than four times that cost per unit but have a low entry point, a low MoQ (1000 for £85 plus VAT to cover admin) and “pay as you go” preference.
Most commonly, staffing agencies or businesses that need to alert clients or others to events, buy 10k units as “stock” for their AXLR8 Text Tank. The price for 10k texts if you are a buying club subscriber is £294 plus VAT from 1st December 2019 (instead of £323 plus VAT till end November 2019). Partly this is achieved by reducing admin costs. The minimum order quantity (MOQ) is 10k for these prices. This has a couple of implications. First, you are less likely to run out and secondly, we suggest you change your low units alert levels to 3000 and 1000 minimum reminder level so you have enough time to order a top up. You can log in to https://sms.axlr8.com to change these parameters and see the level of texts in your tank as well as many other facilities.
Hopefully , you will join other clients who are using AXLR8 apps for iPhones and Android devices so that AXLR8 Chat to reduce messaging conversation costs further.
Use cases
- Appointment reminders
- Tactical instructions for mobile workers
- Tracked assets moved to unexpected locations (usually outside geofence)
- Security alerts for night guarding
- Stock replenishment in FMCG, warehouses or medical supplies
- Informing BSL translators of work opportuities
- Power cut alert as UPS kicks in
- Refrigerated goods below a pre-set temperature
- Alerting staff to new work shifts you need to fill
- Staff booking confirmations
- Surveys for clients and staff
- work completion or pre-ordered item availability
- and may more
AXLR8 Checkpoints Rev 4
We are delighted with the field testing of revision 4.0 of this device following client feedback – mostly from the security and retail field marketing industries. More information on the dedicated AXLR8 Event Staffing website.
All weather
AXLR8 Checkpoints are weather resisitant even in a very rainy country like the UK. We will also test them in cold countries soon to see if they can get through minus 30 cold snaps in Canada or Scandanavia. Not sure we will bother testing at 10m under the sea – even if it would make a good picture! The AXLR8 Checkpoint would survive in high pressure salt water for around a year, we believe. We would need to research sealants for longer than that. However, if you had mobile guards or countercover staff down there, then the scanning device would also need military specification sealing. We think about these things so you don’t have to.
Surface Attachment
It seems that small seemingly insignificant changes are more expensive than you would imagine but also more satisfying for us when done. If your client does not allow you to attach your proof of attendance check in and check out devices on to the walls with screws (the original designs) then we have 100% back surface for adhesive or double sided tape or velcro. Too many options to list. The AXLR8 Checkpoints may be customer installed. Obviously, do a “patch test” on a single device first if you use glue with chemicals that may contain acids or other corrosive chemicals. This caveat applies to the client’s wall or other surfaces too, of course. Some of these devices are under counters and several are in cupboards.
No power or network cabling
These devices are passive and so they do not need electricity or any network cabling. Staff checking in, out or about, just need a BYOD device (reasonably up-to-date iPhone or Android device) which virtually all of your staff carry with them, anyway.
Low deployment costs
Live powered networked intelligent scanning devices are expnsive to install and maintain. Where you need an intelligent networked device internet and electric suply plus battery back up and plenty of local memory, the costs are normally £1000 minimum to purchase, install, wire up and connect to the net. They are then vulnerable to weather, power and internet interruption, vandalism, etc. So insurance and maintenance are necessary. They do help if you have hundreds of staff with swipe cards as the cost per staff check in is low. We have relationships with Paxton and Almas Industries if you need this sort of swipe/ biometric device installed and we keep up-to-date on new products on the market all the time. However, AXLR8 Checkpoints are around £150-£300 installed and maintenance is basically occasional replacement due to landlords or clients restrictions on adesion methods on their walls or other surfaces. There are also cheaper share survices where AXLR8 have identified, for example, that three countercover agencies and one security firm all have staff working at the same location and all need the same check in, out and about recording functionality when their staff are working.
AXLR8 Dashboard functions
We recently launched a new set of functions for building dashboards.
The functionality is being provided to beta clients and some new clients now. It will soon become widespread.
AXLR8 Dashboards will address two key UI issues we have been working through in the last four years.
Cx Dashboard
The CEO and Cx suite (board, VPs, etc.) will want different dashbards to the functional dashboards we have as standard in the project. A staff booker will log in to an overview of campaigns and a sales person may log in to their active deals. Howver, a CEO or COO may need a couple of graphs and two buttons to take them to some areas of P&L detail or other KPIs for the business such as client feedback scores. Previously, we have built these as custom developments and they have been expensive and mostly only applicable to one specific customer. Now AXLR8 can quickly model and deploy different dashboards for different directors/executive officers.
Functional Dashboards
These are the dashboards that would be used by specific staff and managers to achieve their job objectives on a daily basis. For example a warehouse manager may need to know tools availability and testing schedules for the purposes of kitting out vans during each week with safe, servicable tools. A talent manager may wish to see how many applicants came in over night and how the talent pool stands including whose SIA licence paperwork or work visas are coming up for renewal.
We will follow up with an article with some Use Cases in different industries.
AXLR8 Geofencing for Staff Attendance
AXLR8 have a proven reliable track record in the BYOD geo-location of staff using smartphones. However, geofencing has always been reserved for our asset tracking modules.
Now our staffing agency clients and others in construction, debt collection, and many other verticals want to be able to stop people checking in for work at remote locations unless they are actually there.
Unfortunately, there has always been a tiny minority of remote workers who check in on time but are actually a mile or more away from the place where they are being paid to provide a service. In a couple of cases, people have checked in for a work day at a retail outlet demonstrating products and it has been proven by the AXLR8 system they were still at home. Reputations take a long time to build in staffing agencies. Those guys wreck an agency’s hard earned reputation and they have nowhere to hide if they attempt to defraud an AXLR8 client using AXLR8 Proof of Location systems.
Please contact us for more details.
AXLR8 time and attendance integrated with Almas Industries biometric access control and Check-in/out systems
AXLR8 now have a fully developed interface using the leading Almas Industries systems and devices for biometric attendance and access control. Not only does it record attendance but also proves identity.
It allows you to use physical Almas Industries fingerprint and other biometric devices to check that the correct staff have arrived for their shifts on time and can record check in time, check out time, break time and other times such as tour locations and breaks. It also controls access into restricted areas.
Who does it help?
The systems are being deployed to check staff in and out and to record security and other tour paths in:
- building sites
- football stadia
- large secure residences and estates
- shopping arcades
- factories
- warehouses
- hospitals
and other large sites where staff attendance needs to be recorded. The physical Almas Industries hardware is installed at critical places on site This could be for, e.g. a fingerprint or facial recognition scan.
Please click to enlarge images
It is important to perform proof of identity for access control and T&A on site where your requirements include:
- Only qualified staff
- Only vetted staff
- Only the staff who have understood the brief or done the induction training for that site
- Only specific people may enter certain restricted rooms and areas
This is popular with staffing agencies and full time employed staff in:
- security
- stewarding
- inspection
- cleaning
- medical
- and many other areas.
How does this compare with the AXLR8 Proof of Location smartphone app?
Where you have staff attending sites just once or on an occasional basis – e.g. field marketing or once-off experiential or other services, naturally, you will still require the AXLR8 Proof of Location system using the staff’s BYOD smartphone and or web apps. This is based upon a selfie on site and the satellite geo data proving that:
- the specific employee you booked and trained for that job
- was actually there at or before the shift time and, if necessary
- standing in a prescribed uniform
- with (e.g.) their demonstration kit set up.
As they may be in any town, at another site on any day, you cannot install hardware for a fingerprint or RFID scan. Many of our clients have staff rotas at locations where they cannot or may not install or use T&M hardware for other reasons.
So the AXLR8 BYOD PoL solution for dynamic staffing locations is complementary to the Biometric T&M solution for permanent work places.