With Mendato, you can track working time in a legally compliant, transparent, and tailored way. Choose from six flexible options depending on the employee type and working model.

For all options, the employees must be set up in Mendato.

What Happens During Time Tracking?

When a time record is created in Mendato, the recorded times are assigned to the employee and prepared for payroll according to the framework collective agreement.

Which Method Is Right?

Method	Suitable for	Benefits
Manual time tracking	Object managers, spontaneous operations, freelance staff	Flexible, no planning required
App time tracking	Mobile cleaners with planned routes	Legally compliant, location proof, automated
Manual back-entry	Administration, retroactive entries	Quickly added after the fact
Take over planned times	Temporary staff, part-time without the app	Very fast, no app needed
Hours import	Companies with Excel timesheets	Fast, efficient, no app needed
Timesheet by photo (AI) BETA	Companies with paper timesheets	Just take a photo — AI detects the times automatically

1. Manual Time Tracking (Without Planning)

Manual time tracking (without planning) is perfect for spontaneous tasks or employees without fixed scheduled operations — e.g. floaters, special cleaners, or directed work.

Time tracking is performed without assignment to an operation, order, or object.

To use flexible time tracking (without planning), the employees must be set up under Master Data > Employees and must have user access for Mendato Operations.

Time tracking directly in the app without a scheduled operation
Object and activity can be chosen flexibly
Ideal for object managers, facility caretakers, or internal tasks
Must be enabled via the user role (toggle: Manual Time Tracking)

2. Time Tracking via Mendato Operations (App)

Time tracking via Mendato Operations is perfect for recurring cleaning at fixed objects, with fixed times and fixed employees.

For time tracking via Mendato Operations to run smoothly, a complete operation plan for the employee is required. That way, every time record is assigned to the planned object, order, and operation, providing a transparent and complete time record with journey, start and end of the operation, and breaks.

If an operation is not in the system, the employee can also start flexible time tracking.

Operations are started, stopped, or paused via the app
Location tracking provides legally compliant proof
Time data flow automatically into payroll preparation and billing
Ideal for cleaners, facility caretakers, or security staff

3. Manual Back-Entry (Individual)

Manual time tracking is great for internal entries or retroactive corrections. Actual hours worked plus breaks can be entered to the minute via Master Data > Employees > Time Records > Create Time Record > Individual.

Times can be entered after the fact directly in the admin area under Personnel → Time Records
Used for incorrect time records, missing app access, or simple corrections

4. Time Tracking Based on Planned Times (Bulk)

The fastest solution for pure payroll without using the app is to create time records based on planned times. The times scheduled via shifts and operations are taken over 1:1 and stored as the employee's actual hours worked for payroll.

Take over planned working times from the shift schedule or operations
Legally compliant working time records at the click of a button
Especially suitable for marginally employed staff or part-time workers
Requirement: planned times (clock times) are entered

5. Time Tracking via Timesheet Import

For companies with existing Excel timesheets or external systems, the Timesheet Importer makes it easy to transfer your own Excel sheets into Mendato — providing legally compliant time tracking under the framework collective agreement and preparing the data for payroll.

Import existing times via the Timesheet Importer
Only personnel numbers and times are required
No plan or operation needed
Ideal when times are recorded centrally by foremen or object managers

Details: Timesheet Importer in Mendato.

6. Timesheet by Photo (AI Recognition) — BETA

For companies whose employees still fill in paper timesheets, there is AI-powered photo recognition. Simply take a photo of the timesheet or upload it — Mendato automatically detects date, journey, start, end, break, and the employee (personnel number + name).

You review the detected entries in a table, correct individual fields if needed, and confirm them. Each confirmed entry creates a time record in Mendato.