Time attendance only saves time if the numbers reach payroll without retyping. ZKTeco terminals record when each employee arrives and leaves; BioTime turns those punches into worked hours, overtime and absences; and your payroll system pays from that summary. This guide explains how to connect the three, with notes for SAP, TallyPrime and Zoho, which are widely used in the UAE.
How attendance data flows from the device to payroll
- Terminals record punches. Fingerprint, face or card terminals store each clock-in and clock-out with the employee ID and time.
- BioTime collects and calculates. Network-connected terminals send punches to BioTime, which applies shifts, breaks, overtime rules and leave to produce worked hours per employee.
- HR reviews and approves. Missing punches, late arrivals and overtime are checked and corrected before the cut-off.
- Payroll imports the summary. The approved period summary is exported from BioTime and brought into payroll, manually or automatically.
Step 1: Set up BioTime correctly
Most payroll problems start in the attendance setup. Before connecting anything, configure:
- Employees and IDs: use the payroll employee number as the ID on the terminals and in BioTime.
- Departments and branches: mirror the structure you use in payroll, so reports group the same way.
- Shifts and schedules: fixed, rotating and split shifts, with break rules and grace periods.
- Overtime rules: when overtime starts, how it is rounded, and which hours count as night or rest-day work, according to your contracts and the UAE Labour Law.
- Leave and holidays: public holidays and reduced working hours during Ramadan, so they are not counted as absences or short days.
BioTime 9.5 includes shift, overtime and leave management and produces attendance and payroll reports. BioTime Cloud offers the same as a hosted service, which suits companies with several branches.
Step 2: Choose how data reaches payroll
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Export and import (CSV or Excel) | HR exports the approved period summary from BioTime and imports it into payroll | Small and medium companies; works with any payroll system |
| Scheduled file transfer | The export runs automatically and the payroll system or an integration tool picks up the file | Regular payroll cycles with a stable file format |
| Direct integration | A connector or custom integration moves data between BioTime and payroll automatically | Larger companies and multi-branch groups |
Start with export and import: it works with every payroll system and the data is easy to check. Automate once the file format and approval process are stable. BioTime supports integration with third-party applications; ask us which method suits your payroll system and version.
Step 3: Map the fields
Whichever method you use, agree a simple column layout with your payroll team. A typical monthly summary contains:
- Employee ID (identical in both systems)
- Pay period start and end dates
- Days worked, days absent and paid leave days
- Normal hours and overtime hours, split by type if your payroll pays them differently
- Late arrivals or early departures, if your policy deducts for them
Test with one department for one month and compare the payroll result with a manual calculation before switching everyone over.
Notes for SAP, TallyPrime and Zoho
SAP
SAP payroll environments usually receive attendance as time data through an import interface or an integration rather than manual entry, for example time events in SAP HCM or time data in SAP SuccessFactors. Your SAP consultant normally sets this up; we provide the BioTime side and the export format they need.
TallyPrime
TallyPrime payroll records attendance as attendance vouchers for each employee. Smaller companies enter the BioTime monthly summary directly; others use an import utility from their Tally partner. Keep the attendance types in Tally (for example present days and overtime hours) aligned with the columns in your BioTime export.
Zoho People and Zoho Payroll
Zoho's HR and payroll tools can import attendance from a file, and Zoho offers APIs for automated transfers. Many companies export the approved BioTime summary and import it before running payroll; larger teams automate the step.
Features change between versions, so confirm the import options in your edition with your payroll provider.
UAE payroll tips
- Close attendance before payroll: set a cut-off a few days before the payroll run, so corrections can be approved in time.
- WPS: UAE salaries are paid through the Wages Protection System, so payroll needs final, approved figures. Attendance errors flow straight into salaries.
- Ramadan and public holidays: update schedules in advance so reduced hours are not recorded as short days.
- Several sites: connect every branch's terminals to one BioTime installation or BioTime Cloud, so payroll receives one consistent summary.
- Audit trail: keep the raw punches and approved corrections. They answer most employee questions about deductions.
Need help connecting BioTime to your payroll?
We supply ZKTeco attendance machines and BioTime, set up shifts and overtime, and prepare the export your payroll team needs. Tell us your payroll system and the number of employees and branches, and we will propose a setup.