Kiosk & Clock-In

How the Kiosk Works

A step-by-step walkthrough of how workers use the TempClock kiosk to clock in and out each day.

4 min read

What is the kiosk?

A quick introduction to the browser-based clock-in station.

The TempClock kiosk is a browser-based clock-in station that runs on a tablet, laptop, or any device with a screen and camera. It sits at your work site so workers can clock in when they arrive and clock out when they leave.

Each location gets its own unique kiosk URL, which you generate from the manage portal under Settings > Kiosk Setup. Simply open that URL in a browser, and the kiosk is ready to go.

Runs on

Any device with a browser and camera (tablet, laptop, desktop)

Internet required

Yes — to sync time entries to the server

Setup time

Under 2 minutes — just open your kiosk URL

Recognition

Facial recognition via camera, or PIN entry as a backup

Tip

We recommend using a dedicated tablet mounted near the entrance so workers can clock in as they walk through the door.

The Clock-In Flow

What a worker sees, step by step.

Worker approaches the kiosk

When the kiosk screen is idle, it shows a welcome message and activates the camera. As a worker walks up, the camera feed appears on screen so they can position themselves in frame.

Kiosk — Waiting for Worker

Welcome to TempClock

Please stand in front of the camera to clock in

Face detection finds a face in the frame

The system uses your device's camera to detect a face in real time. A green bounding box appears around the worker's face to confirm it has been spotted. This happens in less than a second.

If no face is detected, the kiosk continues scanning. The worker may need to move closer or adjust their position.

Kiosk — Face Detected
Face detected Matching...

System matches the face against known workers

TempClock compares the detected face against the stored facial data for all workers registered at this location. It calculates a confidence score to determine how closely the live face matches a known record.

This entire process is handled by UK-hosted Cloud AI — no images are stored, only mathematical signatures.

Worker's name appears on screen

Once a match is found, the worker's name and photo are displayed on screen along with a large "Clock In" or "Clock Out" button (depending on their current status). If they're already clocked in, the button will say "Clock Out".

Kiosk — Worker Recognised
JD

James Davies

98% match
Clock In

Not you? Try again or use PIN

Worker taps to confirm

The worker taps the Clock In (or Clock Out) button. A green success message appears confirming the time has been recorded. The kiosk then resets, ready for the next worker.

Kiosk — Confirmed

Clocked In Successfully

James Davies — 07:58 AM

Good to know

The whole process takes just a few seconds. Workers don't need to carry ID cards, remember passwords, or sign paper sheets.

What Happens Behind the Scenes

How the system records and syncs time entries.

When a worker confirms their clock-in or clock-out, the following happens automatically:

A time entry is created with an exact timestamp (date, hour, minute, second)
The entry is tagged with the location (based on the kiosk URL)
If facial recognition was used, the confidence score is stored alongside the entry
A snapshot image is captured for audit purposes
The entry is synced to the server so it appears in timesheets and reports immediately
If the worker has an assigned shift, TempClock checks whether they are early, on time, or late

You can view all clock-in and clock-out entries from the manage portal under Timesheets. Each entry shows the worker's name, the time, the method used (face or PIN), and the confidence score.

Break Tracking

How workers record breaks using the kiosk.

Workers can use the kiosk to record their breaks too. When a worker who is currently clocked in approaches the kiosk, they will see options to either Clock Out or take a Break.

Kiosk — Break Options
SM

Sarah Mitchell

Clocked in since 08:01
Clock Out Start Break

The break flow works like this:

Worker taps Start Break — the system records the break start time
When they return, they approach the kiosk again and tap End Break
The break duration is calculated automatically and shown on their timesheet
Break time can be deducted from total hours (configurable in settings)
Note

If your site has mandatory break rules (e.g. 30-minute lunch after 6 hours), TempClock can remind workers to take their break. Configure this under Settings > Break Rules.

Cost Code Selection

Optional: let workers choose a cost code when clocking in.

If your organisation uses cost codes (also called job codes or project codes), you can enable cost code selection on the kiosk. When enabled, after a worker is recognised, they will be asked to select which cost code they are working under before confirming their clock-in.

Kiosk — Cost Code Selection

Select your cost code, James:

CC-101 — General Labour
CC-204 — Electrical Works
CC-307 — Scaffolding
Confirm & Clock In
Tip

Cost codes are managed in the portal under Settings > Cost Codes. You can add, edit, or disable codes at any time. Workers will only see active codes on the kiosk.

Match Confidence Explained

What the confidence score means and how to read it.

Every time the kiosk matches a worker's face, it calculates a confidence score from 0% to 100%. This tells you how certain the system is that the detected face matches the stored record. The score is colour-coded for quick reading:

85%+
High Confidence

Strong match. The system is very sure this is the right worker. The clock-in proceeds automatically.

60–84%
Medium Confidence

Probable match. The worker is shown but should confirm it is them. Possibly poor lighting or a different angle.

Below 60%
Low Confidence

Weak match. The system is unsure. The worker is prompted to try again or use PIN entry instead.

Important

If workers are regularly getting medium or low scores, check the Facial Recognition guide for tips on improving accuracy — lighting and camera position make a big difference.

Ready to try TempClock?

10-day free trial. All features included. No hidden fees, cancel anytime.