Re: biometric timeclock

Hi Jim,

> Looking for a recommendation for a biometric (hand activated) timeclock
> to connect to an iSeries. Would prefer ethernet & not to require a pc server.
> This is a small shop 80-100 employees with no onsite tech.
> Employee punches a number and places hand on device to clock in/out.
> (It keeps employees from punching in for each other).


My company (approx 400 employees) is currently in the process of
installing a system like this using Kronos products.. the "Timekeeper AS"
software goes on the iSeries...

The biometric device is a finger scanner... not fingerprint, but measures
the dimensions of a finger, etc.  You even register an "alternate finger"
with the system in case you injure the original, you can use the
alternate.

It does appear to need a PC, though I'm told that it's only needed for the
initial enrollment, and once that part is done it'll talk directly to the
iSeries without the need for the PC to be on.

I can't really "recommend" this solution, as we're just beginning the
process of installing everything, and haven't finished setting the system
up or run it in production yet.

If you like, I can let you know how it turns out once I know more -- but I
don't expect to know much more about it until we've been using it for a
few months (probably in April or May)

But hey, at least it's a mostly iSeries solution!  It was a hard fight to
get people to agree to use an iSeries solution -- and I don't think many
of them are convinced even now that this was the right choice.  They all
seem to feel that I'm making a colossal mistake by pushing an iSeries
solution on them, since they think PCs are the way of the future, that a
Windows system will be easier to use, more flexible, easier to integrate
with their office apps, have better reporting, etc.  It took a lot of
convincing on my part to get them to try an iSeries solution instead.