Frequently Asked questions

No. Fingerprints are not stored as images. They are converted to a mathematical algorithm for smaller storage and faster comparison and cannot be changed back to an image. Fingerprints can be copied from one terminal to another.

No. All the machines we sell have battery memory reserve and are able to keep time and settings for up to three years with no power. Most of the machines also have full battery (rechargeable) back-up and maintain full function for several hours after the power has failed.

We try to keep most products in stock, but you can always contact us to check on the product you are interested in. Delivery time, we usually ship the day we receive your payment or the next day. Within South Africa we make use of a Next Day service and delivery in Major Centres is normally the day after shipment.

Yes. We have many satisfied customers who are using our products. We will send you contact details on request.

There is no simple answer to this. Mechanical time recorders have been around for many years and still have a use; this is why we still sell them. If you have a smaller staff that you can easily manage and trust, then a mechanical clock may be the correct solution for you. A fingerprint system removes the element of doubt. There is no question that ‘buddy clocking’ happened (one staff member clocking for another). Because the data is sent to a pc and not manually captured, there is less chance of errors being made with payroll. This also saves time for the person doing the wages. A large number of staff could lead to more money being lost through fraud and simple errors.

The reader is made with toughened and thick glass, depending on conditions and number of users it can last up to 5 years. After this only the reader needs to be replace, not the entire terminal.

How often depends on the environment and number of people using it. In dusty or dirty conditions, the reader should be cleaned frequently. Over time salinity from finger sweat collects on the reader and needs to be cleaned. Please use a clean soft cloth or tissue paper dampened with water or glass cleaner. Do not pour glass cleaner to the sensor directly or dip the sensor into any liquid.

Yes, if the finger is not too dirty or scratched. We always recommend that more than one finger be enrolled to avoid problems. A maximum of 3 fingers per person can be enrolled on ZKS T-23 terminals and 10 fingers on ZKS iColour7&8 and Timelog terminals.

Yes, you can have many terminals and only one software package. Staff can be enrolled and clock on different machines. The software will combine data and give a result.

Only Windows XP, Vista,7, 8 and 10 are supported at this stage. Installation on Linux, Apple, Android and mobile product is not possible.

Yes. Most terminals this is either standard or optional. The terminal needs to be assigned an fixed IP address. If you are not sure how to do this, you may need help from your IT department.

Yes. This is an option on our latest T-23 terminals and standard on our F3 Facial terminals.

All our fingerprint and facial time & attendance terminals have USB slots. Data can be downloaded to a flash drive, then the flash drive brought to the pc or the data can even be emailed.

Yes. The T-23 terminals can be portable. They come with full battery backup that can last for 3 to 4 hours. Both terminals are small and light enough to be carried (we have customers doing just that). The terminals can be set to ‘power down’ if inactive, to make the battery last even longer. We can also supply a charger that plugs into a car cigarette lighter.

Yes. But it must be in a weather resistant enclosure to be protected from rain and sun. We can supply one for you if needed.

Both systems have pros and cons. The fingerprint systems have been available for several years and are currently more economical. Some industries where staff are working with their hands, fingerprints can degrade, making it difficult to use. Facial readers do not have this problem. Facial readers have more issues with varying lighting conditions. Some people also have personal issues with touching a fingerprint sensor. A facial system is contact-less.

Access Control is a product that will unlock a door or gate (our fingerprint readers support this). Some devices will record the time that a user entered. Time & Attendances is a system that will record times and calculate how much time was spent onsite (working).

A siren or bell is used in a factory environment to let staff know when to start work and when breaks start and end. We usually recommend a warning bell (about 3-5 minutes) before work resumes. Staff should be at their work stations when work resumes. This system can save a lot of time (money) and shouting at staff.

No. We have had only one person using a mechanical clock and as little as five on a fingerprint.

No. The memory of the readers has been standardised to reduce costs.

A maximum of 1000 people can be enrolled on fingerprint terminals. Please keep in mind, if you have a large staff, the time it takes for staff to clock. If you have 1 000 staff and they were able to clock at a rate of one every 3 seconds, it would take 50 minutes for everyone to clock. This can become a problem at the end of a day when staff are trying to leave. We recommend no more than 100 employees per terminal. If staff are not arriving or leaving at the same time, this is no longer an issue.