Time and attendance equipments have mechanisms for getting or collecting data. Basically, every software application or program has it. But this software is to collect data from the attendance information provided to them. This is for collecting the data of the employees while they come in and leave the office.

The introduction of new methods and techniques gave the employee an opportunity to enter the time manually. Nevertheless, this software is specially used in the clear-cut data records. Also it is used in the area where the employees can be trusted for entering correct data.

We can put time and attendance equipments and software under three basic categories on the basis of their data collection procedure.

1. Time clock oriented. It means that the system collects information through the time clock. Moreover, there is an interface to a time clock. And these kinds of systems fail to accept the elapsed time data.

2. Computer timekeeper oriented. This is a not full automated process. The employees record the time using a traditional or a sign-in sheet. A manager or a software program keeps up the time and attendance system. That's why, the collected data is then past on to him or it.

3. Computer entry-employee oriented. This system does not accept data in/out format because it depends on the honesty of the employees to report the time correctly. Various white-collar jobs use these modern systems widely.

4. This is the fourth one and it can include all the methods. These time and attendance systems are considered to be the best systems. They are the integral part of most modern organization and systems. Here, all the methods can be combined together and can be used accordingly. However, these systems also require three basic methods for collecting time.
a. A web interface.
b. A telephone interface.
c. Custom interfaces provided by these systems.