Hardware Buying Guide
Choose a clocking method for your teams and find out where to buy compatible hardware.
Use this guide to choose a clocking method for your employees, understand its practical limits, and arrange the right hardware. You can use different methods for different teams: there is no single option that works best in every situation.
All clocking hardware is sold by our approved partner, Bio3G (Biometrics3G). AllWage no longer sells clocking devices. AllWage continues to sell RFID wristbands.
Already bought a device from AllWage? We continue to support the hardware we previously sold. Contact AllWage for support and repair assistance for those devices; the change applies to new hardware sales.
Where to buy
Approved locked Android devices, biometric devices, or hardware for the facial-scanning app
Bio3G
Advice on compatible hardware, device quantities, installation or turnstile integration
Bio3G
RFID wristbands
AllWage support, your Onboarding Specialist or Customer Success Manager
Support and repair assistance for hardware previously purchased from AllWage
AllWage support
Contact Bio3G for a hardware quote. Confirm the device model, locked configuration, connectivity arrangements, installation, training, support fees, warranty and repair terms before ordering. Device pricing and supply terms come from Bio3G; the AllWage wristband order process below does not apply to devices.
Choose a method for each team
Start with two questions: how will you verify who is clocking, and how will you establish where they are? Then consider whether you need a supervisor, offline capture, or measurement of units of work.
Trusted employees working independently across many locations
Each employee uses their own phone
No
No dedicated hardware purchase, but personal-device and WhatsApp limitations remain
Teams working together, especially where you measure piecework or units rapidly
Android app with RFID wristbands
Supervisor scans each employee's wristband
Yes, for up to three weeks
Choose locked hardware or accept the additional risks of a personal device; wristbands can be exchanged
Mobile teams needing facial verification for attendance
Bio3G facial-scanning app on Apple or Android
Supervisor scans employees' faces
Yes
Clock-in and clock-out only; no unit measurement
Regular locations where many employees gather
Fixed facial or fingerprint device
Employees clock themselves
Yes
Known installation location and biometric verification; can link to turnstiles
Locked hardware or a personal device?
BYOD (bring your own device) means using a supervisor's personal phone for the RFID or facial-scanning app. This can avoid purchasing a separate device, but the supervisor retains control over the hardware. Device settings can be changed, and tools may be used to alter the reported GPS location. Date and time changes are also a concern: the AllWage Android app records the device's time when capturing a clock.
Approved locked hardware from Bio3G restricts changes to settings and applications. Ask for the locked configuration appropriate to your chosen clocking method. A rugged device or a phone with a clocking app installed is not automatically a locked device.
Locked hardware addresses device-settings risks. With RFID, it does not prevent employees exchanging wristbands or a supervisor cooperating in false capture. Facial verification strengthens identity checks, but using it on a personal device does not remove the separate risks of that device being altered.
Android app with RFID wristbands
A supervisor uses the AllWage Android app to scan each employee's RFID wristband. This supports attendance and rapid capture of piecework or other units of work. Employees do not each need their own phone.
You can use a locked device purchased from Bio3G or a compatible supervisor-owned phone. For BYOD, you need an Android phone with NFC (Near Field Communication) that can read the 13.56 MHz RFID wristbands. The AllWage RFID app does not run on iPhones. Confirm compatibility before buying a phone for this purpose.
Team size and offline work
One device per team is a practical starting point for teams of fewer than 80 employees. Larger teams can use one device, but scanning everyone at clock-in or clock-out can take more than 10 minutes. Consider additional devices and supervisors if this would delay your team.
Attendance and piecework capture work fully offline for up to three weeks and sync once the device regains connectivity. Records captured offline become available centrally after they sync.
Identity and location checks
The wristband identifies the employee linked to the tag; the supervisor checks who is wearing it. Device GPS supplies the capture location. This makes trust in the supervisor essential: employees can exchange wristbands, and a supervisor who cooperates with them can undermine the process even on a locked device.
This method is a strong fit for supervised teams working together in remote areas, particularly when you need repeated unit capture. It is less suitable for individuals working independently without someone present to scan them.
Bio3G facial-scanning app
A supervisor uses the device camera to scan employees' faces. The partner app runs on Apple and Android devices and supports offline clock-in and clock-out. It does not measure piecework or units of work.
Facial verification addresses the transferable-wristband risk of RFID while keeping the clocking device mobile. This suits teams moving between work locations where a supervisor can perform the scans.
You can use a compatible personal device or approved locked hardware. BYOD retains the date, time and location-tampering concerns described above. Confirm supported models, offline duration and device capacity with Bio3G; the RFID app's three-week offline duration is not a stated limit for this app.
Fixed facial or fingerprint devices
A device fixed to a wall provides a regular clocking point. Employees clock themselves using facial or fingerprint verification, without a supervisor operating the device.
The biometric scan verifies identity, and the installed position establishes the clocking location. Hardware settings are password-protected; keep that password restricted to authorised people. This protects settings from unauthorised changes, rather than guaranteeing protection against physical damage.
Fixed devices work offline and can also be linked to turnstiles for access control. Confirm the installation, offline duration and number of devices needed with Bio3G.
This is a strong fit for workshops and other places where many employees gather regularly. It is less suited to teams that move between temporary locations without a regular clocking point. Bio3G handles biometric-device installation, training and maintenance.
WhatsApp self-service clocking
Employees clock themselves using their own WhatsApp-enabled phones. This avoids dedicated clocking hardware and can suit trusted employees, such as drivers, who move between many locations. Employees need a working phone and mobile data or Wi-Fi throughout the clocking conversation. WhatsApp clocking does not work offline.
How identity and location are checked
The employee's identity number and personal cellphone number are recorded on their AllWage profile. The employee verifies the registered number using their identity number and can clock only from that registered number. This authenticates the account; it does not independently prove who is holding the phone. For example, an employee could hand their phone to someone else to clock on their behalf.
During clocking, the employee shares their current location, rather than selecting a place on the map or sharing a live location. AllWage uses the coordinates supplied through WhatsApp. This is a location submission during clocking, not continuous tracking throughout the day.
What the location check can and cannot establish
AllWage can distinguish a current-location submission from a selected map location using information supplied by WhatsApp. Under normal conditions, the check works as intended and selecting or changing the location is not accepted.
We have encountered specific edge cases when someone deliberately tries to force a selected or altered location through the check. Results depend on the WhatsApp version and phone hardware: repeated attempts may occasionally succeed on some setups, while on others we have been unable to reproduce a bypass. This does not describe incorrect locations during ordinary clocking, and it is not a measured bypass success rate. WhatsApp does not provide enough information for AllWage to reliably establish when a bypass has happened within its app.
A phone may also supply an inaccurate location without deliberate interference, or be manipulated to report an artificial GPS location. AllWage controls neither WhatsApp nor employees' personal phone settings. A location discrepancy alone is therefore not proof of employee dishonesty, and receiving coordinates is not independent proof of physical attendance.
Where employees regularly attend one site and you need stronger identity and location verification, consider a fixed biometric device. For mobile teams with a supervisor, consider facial scanning or RFID on locked hardware, depending on whether you also need unit measurement.
These location and attendance limitations concern clocking. They do not make WhatsApp unsuitable for accessing payslips, requesting leave or viewing timesheets, which do not require proof that the employee is at a work location.
WhatsApp clocking concerns and how the alternatives address them
Choose an alternative based on the concern you need to address. Switching methods changes how attendance is verified; some options still depend on a trusted supervisor or a controlled device.
The registered account does not prove who is holding the phone. An employee could give their phone to someone else to clock on their behalf.
Fixed biometrics and the Bio3G facial-scanning app verify the employee's face or fingerprint, as applicable. RFID puts a supervisor in charge of checking the person presenting the wristband.
RFID wristbands can be exchanged. Its identity check depends on the supervisor being diligent and honest; a locked RFID device does not remove this risk.
Deliberate attempts can bypass WhatsApp's current-location check in specific edge cases. This depends on WhatsApp version and hardware, and AllWage cannot reliably detect every such case from the information WhatsApp provides.
Fixed biometrics establish the clocking location through the device's known installation position. The RFID and facial-scanning apps perform capture within their own apps, removing the dependency on WhatsApp's location-sharing step.
A mobile app on BYOD still relies on an employee-controlled device. Use approved locked hardware when you also need to address device-setting and GPS-spoofing risks.
The employee controls their phone. They may alter its behaviour to report an artificial GPS location. AllWage cannot control their personal device settings.
Approved locked hardware from Bio3G restricts changes to settings and applications. Fixed biometrics use a known installed device with password-protected settings.
Installing a clocking app on a personal phone does not make that phone locked. Facial verification alone does not protect the device's reported location or time. Keep fixed-device settings passwords restricted to authorised people.
An inaccurate location can occur without deliberate tampering. Receiving coordinates does not independently prove attendance, and a discrepancy alone does not establish dishonesty.
Fixed biometrics use the known clocking point instead of a phone-submitted GPS location. Supervisor-operated options add a person overseeing the team and the capture.
Mobile options still use device location information. Locked settings address tampering, but should not be treated as a guarantee of perfect GPS accuracy.
Clocking needs internet access throughout the WhatsApp conversation. Employees cannot complete it offline.
RFID, the Bio3G facial-scanning app and fixed biometrics all support offline clocking. RFID also supports offline piecework capture for up to three weeks.
Offline records are not immediately available centrally. Confirm the offline duration and synchronisation arrangements for the biometric option with Bio3G.
Each employee needs a suitable, working phone and connectivity. The business cannot guarantee the availability of employees' personal hardware or data.
RFID and the facial-scanning app use one supervisor-operated device for the team. Fixed biometrics provide a shared clocking point. Employees do not each need their own phone.
Shared hardware must still be available and operational. Mobile options require a supervisor; fixed devices require employees to attend the installed clocking point.
For employees regularly attending one workplace, fixed biometrics combine a known location, biometric identity verification and employee self-service without a supervisor performing scans.
For mobile teams needing stronger identity verification, consider the Bio3G facial-scanning app on approved locked hardware. A supervisor performs the scans, and the locked configuration addresses the personal-device concerns that remain with BYOD.
For mobile teams measuring piecework or units rapidly, consider RFID on approved locked hardware. This supports the capture requirement and protects device settings, while still requiring a trusted supervisor to prevent wristband sharing and false capture.
For trusted employees working independently across many locations, WhatsApp remains a flexible option when they have suitable phones and connectivity and you accept the verification limits described above.
Example: different methods in one business
A business can use fixed biometrics at its workshop, a locked RFID device for a field team measuring piecework, and WhatsApp for trusted drivers working independently. Each group gets a method suited to its work and supervision arrangements.
RFID wristbands — purchased from AllWage
Contact AllWage for current wristband pricing.
What is included
Silicone adjustable wristband with embedded RFID chip. These wristbands are used to identify each employee on the platform.
Warranty
Due to the nature of the product, any physical damage to wristbands will not be replaced.
Faulty RFID chips in wristbands will be replaced at no extra cost.
Repairs / Returns Policy
Please provide the relevant information to your dedicated Onboarding Specialist or Customer Success Manager for any returns on faulty wristbands.
Wristband order process
Please contact support to place a wristband order and indicate what product and the amount you would like to order.
Once your order is placed, you will receive a confirmation email as well as a Quotation Estimate stating the full amount payable.
Make a payment to the banking details provided on the bottom of the Quotation and forward your proof of payment to support@allwage.com.
Please use your company name and quote number as a reference for the payment.
Using the wrong reference number will result in a delay in processing your parcel.
Only after we have received a proof of payment will we start processing your wristband order and send you a tax invoice.
We make use of The Courier Guy for all our deliveries and collections. To ensure the most cost-effective shipping fee, we encourage clients to provide the address of their nearest Courier Guy Hub for drop-offs or collections.
Once your order is processed, you will receive an email with a waybill number.
We will follow up with the courier company to make sure that the parcel is delivered safely.
Happy clocking!
Wristband lead time
Wristband orders will be processed upon receipt of payment confirmation sent to support@allwage.com or once the payment is reflected in our bank account. Preparation of orders commences upon receipt of payment. Orders are dispatched within 2 working days after preparation, and delivery typically takes 2-5 working days depending on location.
Should stock shortages or unexpected delays occur, we will inform you promptly and provide updates as necessary. We are committed to delivering the best possible service and endeavour to minimise any potential delays.
Devices previously purchased through AllWage
AllWage continues to support hardware we previously sold, including repair assistance and managed-SIM support where applicable. Contact our support team using the process below. New and replacement device purchases are handled by Bio3G.
Existing-device warranty information
Devices previously bought through AllWage carry a 12-month warranty from the date of purchase, directly with local suppliers. Refer to your original purchase terms for your device.
Warranty does not apply to the following
Damage due to accident, misuse, abuse, alterations or vandalism
Improper or inadequate maintenance
Unauthorised modification
Damage in transit
Device Repairs
One of our services is assisting you in repairing and maintaining all broken devices purchased from us.
Submitting a repair request:
Please reach out to us on one of our support channels and provide the following information:
Describe the Issue: Please provide a brief description of what is wrong (e.g., "cracked screen," "won't charge," or "GPS signal lost").
Visual Evidence: You are welcome to send a short video or a screenshot showing the error or the physical damage. This helps our technicians diagnose the problem much faster and reduces back-and-forth communication.
Identify Your Device: To process your request, we need specific identification details. Depending on whether your device is functional or not, please provide the following:
If the device powers on:
You can find these details directly within the app. You can either type these details out or simply send us a screenshot of the info:
Open the app on your device
Tap the Menu icon (three horizontal stripes) in the top left corner.
Send us the IMEI, Phone number, and Device name that is displayed there.
If the device does not power on:
Check for a sticker on the back of the device containing the IMEI number and Model.
If labels are missing or unreadable, send a clear photo of the SIM card currently inserted in the device.
Repair Process
After submitting a repair request you will receive an email with instructions on the repair process and a device repair booking form of the local supplier that will carry out the repair
When packaging the broken device/s ensure the repair form is included with the package. Failure to send the package with this information will result in delays.
Once the parcel arrives at the repair centre, you will receive a confirmation email
Customers are responsible for courier costs
An initial assessment fee per device may be charged before the repair quote is issued.
After the device/s are diagnosed, you will receive a quotation with the amount payable for repairs
If the device is still under warranty and damage is determined to be a factory fault, repairs will be free of charge
The payment must be made directly to the repair facility
Customers are responsible for the repair cost
Once the repair is completed, the device/s must be returned to AllWage for software installation
Devices will be inspected and configured for data capturing
After inspection, the device/s will be couriered to the customer
Customers are responsible for courier costs
If a device is deemed beyond economical repair, or if you do not wish to proceed with repairs, please notify our support team so that managed SIM cards can be deactivated to avoid further monthly management fees.
Related documentation
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