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How to Track Time Spent on Tasks in Monday.com?

Evgeniya Ioffe - September 5th 2024 - 4 minutes read

In the fast-paced world of team management and project execution, keeping a meticulous track of time spent on tasks can be the difference between successful delivery and chaotic oversight. This article will guide you through the essentials and advanced techniques of tracking time on Monday.com, unraveling the secrets to not only set up and configure this feature but also to analyze and optimize your workflow for maximum efficiency. Dive in to discover the power of visual data with Monday.com’s Chart View, harness the potential of custom automations, and explore game-changing integrations that will revolutionize your time management approach.

Initial Setup and Configuration of Time Tracking in Monday.com

Begin by adding the Time Tracking column to your board. Navigate to the board you want to use and click on the + icon located to the right of your existing column fields. From the dropdown menu, select 'More Columns' and type "time tracking" into the search box. Click on the "Time Tracking" option and select 'Add to board' to include this new column on your board.

Once the Time Tracking column is added, you can initiate the tracking process. Simply click the play button in the specific cell that corresponds to the task or activity you are working on. If you need to take a break or complete the task, click the pause button. To manually log work time, double-click the time tracking cell and enter the duration of your work session.

For a more organized view, information can be displayed by groups, items, and sub-items. By effectively utilizing these options, you can ensure that your time tracking is both comprehensive and easy to navigate.

Advanced Configuration and Workflow Optimizations

To leverage Monday.com's advanced time tracking capabilities, utilizing the status column for automation becomes imperative. Create custom automations that trigger specific actions when the status of a task changes. For instance, set the time tracker to initiate when the status changes to "Working on it" and stop when it switches to "Done." This can be tailored further by duplicating and modifying automations for various statuses such as "Break" or "Pause." Such precise control eliminates the need to manually start or stop timers, enhancing accuracy and reducing human error.

Custom automations streamline task management by allowing you to map the entire workflow within the platform. For example, automatically assigning tasks based on status changes can optimize team performance. When a task is set to "In Review," it can automatically notify relevant team members or shift the task to another board for quality checks. This level of automation minimizes the reliance on manual updates and ensures consistency across all project stages.

Moreover, adjusting these automations to fit your unique workflow is intuitive with Monday.com’s flexible interface. The platform provides a user-friendly experience that empowers you to tweak time-tracking settings as your project requirements evolve. Whether you need comprehensive reporting or granular task-specific time metrics, custom automations can be configured to capture accurate, actionable data without interrupting your team’s workflow.

Analyzing Time Data

One of the standout features for analyzing time data in Monday.com is the Chart View and Time Tracking Widget. These tools allow you to visually understand how your team is using their time. By using the Chart View, you can create detailed graphs to see at a glance the amount of time spent on various tasks, projects, or even individual contributors.

With the Time Tracking Widget, you can filter data by different parameters, such as users, projects, or date ranges, to gain a granular understanding of time utilization. This customization helps you identify patterns, allocate resources better, and make informed decisions regarding project timelines and team performance.

For further analysis, Monday.com offers the option to export data to Excel. This is particularly useful for advanced number crunching or incorporating the data into larger reports. By exporting, managers can dissect the time data more thoroughly, combining it with other business metrics to derive deeper insights and foster data-driven decision-making.

Enhancing Time Tracking with Integrations and Apps

Enhancing Monday.com's native time tracking capabilities through third-party integrations and apps can significantly boost time management and reporting efficiency. By uniting with apps like Day.io, Tracket, and Everhour, users can achieve a more comprehensive and seamless tracking experience. Day.io, for instance, offers detailed progress views and the ability to compare performance across team members or projects, making it a robust choice for those who want to delve deeper into their time analytics.

Meanwhile, Tracket ensures smooth integration within Monday.com, providing permissions for various team members to track time on specific tasks or subitems. This not only helps in identifying bottlenecks but also provides insights into individual productivity levels, crucial for hitting targets and meeting deadlines. Everhour stands out by eliminating the need for tab-switching, enabling users to focus on their tasks while tracking time effortlessly. It is particularly beneficial for teams of all sizes, offering a user-friendly experience right within the Monday.com interface.

Integrations like these turn simple time tracking into a powerful tool for improving productivity. They offer real-time, precise insights into how time is being spent across tasks, projects, and team members, allowing for better planning, more accurate billing, and enhanced accountability. By leveraging these apps, teams can ensure they are not only working efficiently but also continuously improving their workflow and productivity.

Summary

This article explores how to effectively track time spent on tasks in Monday.com, a team management and project execution platform. It provides step-by-step instructions on setting up and configuring the time tracking feature, as well as advanced techniques for optimizing workflow. The article highlights the power of visual data with Monday.com's Chart View, the benefits of custom automations, and the potential of integrating third-party apps for enhanced time tracking and reporting. Key takeaways include the importance of meticulous time tracking for successful delivery, the ability to automate and streamline task management, and the value of analyzing time data for better resource allocation and decision-making.