Odoo 17 tracks attendance with the Attendances app: employees check in and out from the web, from a phone, or from a shared kiosk device using a PIN or a badge, and each pair of timestamps becomes a record with the hours worked. Working schedules say what was expected, so the gap between logged and expected hours is visible without a spreadsheet. The app is part of Odoo Community.
To begin tracking attendance:
Apps → Install "Attendance"
This module allows employees to check in/out and logs attendance in real time. It integrates with HR, Payroll, and Scheduling modules.
Employee Check-In Methods
Employees can check in/out using multiple methods:
- 💻 From the web dashboard
- 🧾 Via kiosk mode at the office
- 📱 Through mobile apps (optional)
- 🔐 Integrated biometric device or badge
Each check-in generates a timestamp, and Odoo calculates the working hours based on defined schedules.
Setting Up Work Schedules
Work schedules define expected hours and shift patterns:
Employees → Configuration → Working Times
You can create schedules for:
- 🕙 Standard 9-to-5 full-time roles
- ⏰ Part-time or hourly-based employees
- 🔄 Rotating shifts and weekend coverage
Assign schedules to employees via their contract settings for accurate time tracking.
Tracking and Viewing Attendance Records
Managers and HR can view attendance logs in:
Attendances → Manager → Attendance Records
Each record includes:
- 👤 Employee name
- 🕒 Check-in and check-out timestamps
- ⏱️ Total hours worked
Filters help you monitor late check-ins, early departures, or absences.
Kiosk Mode and Biometric Integration
For physical offices, set up kiosk mode on a shared device:
- 🔢 Employees check in with their PIN or badge
- 📸 You can enable camera capture for visual verification
- 🔒 Optionally pair with biometric scanners or RFID
This reduces manual errors and ensures accurate logs — especially in high-footfall workspaces.
Attendance Reports and Analytics
Use built-in reports to track:
- 📊 Monthly attendance summaries
- 📅 Late arrivals or absences by employee or department
- ⏰ Average hours worked
- 🧾 Exportable logs for payroll processing
All data can be filtered, grouped, and exported in Excel or PDF format.
Conclusion
Odoo 17 gives you all the tools to monitor workforce attendance without spreadsheets or manual checklists. Whether you're managing an office, a factory, or a remote team, attendance tracking is just a few clicks away.
Need help setting up attendance systems or integrating biometric devices? Let our Odoo consultants assist you.
Questions we get asked
Is the Attendances app free in Odoo 17?
Yes. Attendances is LGPL-licensed and part of Odoo Community, kiosk mode, PIN and badge check-in and the attendance reports included. What needs a paid subscription is Payroll, where those hours would turn into payslips, and Planning, the Enterprise app used to build shift rosters ahead of time.
Can Odoo 17 talk to a biometric device?
Not on its own. Odoo reads a badge or RFID card as a barcode and the kiosk can photograph the person checking in, but fingerprint and face readers need a connector: either a third-party module from the Odoo Apps store or a small script that pushes punches into the attendance model through the API.
What is the difference between working hours and attendance?
Working hours are the expectation: a named calendar of days and times attached to the employee, also used by Time Off, planning and project deadlines. Attendance is what actually happened, recorded by check-ins. Odoo compares the two, and that comparison is what makes late arrivals, short days and extra hours visible.
Can employees correct their own attendance records?
Not normally. An employee can check in and out and see their own history, but editing a past record is reserved for attendance officers and administrators. Corrections are therefore made by a manager on the record itself, which keeps one person accountable for the figures that later feed payroll or billing.
Does check-in work without a network connection?
No. Both the kiosk and the employee dashboard run in a browser and need a connection to save a punch, so an outage means those check-ins have to be entered afterwards by a manager. On a phone the same screens work in a mobile browser or in Odoo's mobile app, with the same requirement.