RosterElf Logo
Start trial

GPS & GEOFENCING

GPS geofencing that keeps clock-ins honest

Set a per‑site GPS radius so clock‑ins only work at the job location. Staff use mobile to clock in; the button is disabled until they’re inside the geofence. Pair with time tolerance for fair grace windows and photo proof for extra verification

  • Set GPS radius per site using Google Maps

  • Enable mobile clock-ins only within the geofence

  • Control with time tolerance and photo proof

Start free trial Book a demo
No credit card required
4.8 stars, 1570 ratings

Check out our reviews for yourself on Xero and Google

GPS GEOFENCING MADE SIMPLE

How GPS geofencing works

RosterElf uses smart GPS zones to ensure every clock-in is accurate and on-site — protecting your timesheets and keeping payroll fair.

Set GPS radius per site

Set GPS radius per site

Define a GPS zone around each work location using Google Maps or Plus Codes. Staff can only clock in when they’re physically inside the approved area.

Control mobile clock-ins

Control mobile clock-ins

The clock-in button stays disabled until the employee enters the geofence. No more off-site or early clock-ins — just verified attendance.

Add manager safeguards

Add manager safeguards

Combine GPS rules with time tolerance and optional photo proof to allow fair grace periods while maintaining accountability.

GEOFENCE PER SITE

Set your GPS radius once — enforce it everywhere

Precise Location

Pin the site, add a Plus Code, done

Define each site’s location precisely (address or Plus Code) and choose a GPS tolerance (radius).

Larger sites? Increase the tolerance slightly; small storefronts can be tight. The mobile Clock In button won’t enable unless the employee is inside the geofence.

See full Time and Attendance features →
FIELD‑READY

Mobile clock‑ins that just work

Smartphone Flow

On site, tap Clock In — otherwise, no dice

Staff open the Shifts tab, select Today, and tap Clock In.

If they’re late, they’re prompted to give a reason, and if photo proof is enabled, they take a quick selfie before the status updates to Clocked In with Break and Clock Out options available.

See the complete Time & Attendance overview →
FAIR & ACCURATE

GPS clock in tolerance without payroll pain

Time Tolerance

Set fair buffers by site

Use Time Tolerance to create a small early/late window per site, reducing queues without compromising approval accuracy later. You control the window; managers still approve exact times in payroll.Track live wage costs while you schedule and compare totals by site, day or week before you publish.

Built‑in break and rule checks help you stay aligned with your settings, and approved hours flow through to payroll via integrations—so multi‑location rostering stays accurate from roster to pay.

Discover RosterElf’s Time & Attendance suite →

VISIBILITY

Live geo-fence attendance across sites

Late / In / Break / Out

Track attendance within your GPS zones

The Live Time Clock gives managers a live view of who’s late, clocked in, on break, or finished across every site. Real-time GPS tracking confirms each clock-in happens within the set geofence, keeping attendance records accurate and transparent.


Enable smartphone clock-ins to automatically update web and mobile dashboards, so you can spot issues early and act before service is affected.

Explore more Time & Attendance features →
Key benefits

6 reasons businesses choose RosterElf for GPS & geofencing clock-ins

Prevent off-site clock-ins

Prevent off-site clock-ins

Set a GPS boundary around each worksite so staff can only clock in or out when physically on location.

Boost timesheet accuracy

Boost timesheet accuracy

Automatic GPS verification ensures every clock-in is tied to the correct site — no manual corrections needed.

Reduce payroll disputes

Reduce payroll disputes

Location-verified records mean fewer time disputes and faster approval of accurate hours.

Protect compliance

Protect compliance

Combine GPS tracking with photo proof and time tolerance to meet Fair Work and privacy standards.

See attendance live

See attendance live

View who’s clocked in, late, on break, or out — all in real time across sites via the Live Time Clock dashboard.

Easy setup for every site

Easy setup for every site

Add or edit GPS zones using Google Maps or Plus Codes directly inside RosterElf — no extra hardware required.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Questions on Open Shifts? We have the answers.

  • A geofence is a GPS radius around a site. The mobile Clock In button only activates when an employee’s device is inside that radius, preventing off‑site clock‑ins.
  • Set a smaller radius for compact locations (e.g., a shopfront) and a wider radius for large venues or outdoor areas. You can adjust the tolerance per site at any time.
  • GPS accuracy varies by building materials and local signals. If accuracy drops indoors, a slightly larger radius usually stabilises approvals while still preventing off‑site clock‑ins.
  • The app won’t allow the clock‑in. The employee sees that they’re outside the approved area and must move on‑site before the button enables.
  • The app can’t verify the geofence, so clock‑in is blocked. Staff must enable Location Services (and grant the app permission) to proceed.
  • Each location has its own geofence. Staff simply open the app at the correct site; the geofence for that location enables the clock‑in there and prevents it elsewhere.
  • Yes. Use geofence + Photo Proof for stronger identity and location assurance, and add time tolerance (a small grace window) to reduce queues without losing accuracy in approvals.
  • Location checks are lightweight and occur at clock events, not continuously. Normal battery/data impact is minimal when staff use the standard clock‑in/clock‑out flow.
  • Increase the radius slightly, ensure staff have good signal and location permissions, and consider a tablet kiosk at the entrance as a controlled fallback for that site.
  • Each clock‑in/out includes the timestamp and the location reading used to validate the geofence (and photo, if enabled). Data retention follows your account settings and legal obligations; managers can review events during approvals.

Start your free 15 day RosterElf trial today

Start free trial
4.8 stars by 1570 users
100+ countries
30,000+ users