The TimeControl version 8.6.1 upgrade cycle is now complete with all TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial Online and TimeControl Project clients now upgraded for all clients with a small number of exceptions.  In some limited cases,  clients were upgraded only in their sandbox instances with their production instances scheduled to be upgraded in the next few weeks according to a set schedule by the technical department.

For all subscribers of TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial Online, TimeControl Project and users of the free TimeControl Mobile app, this update includes numerous new and enhanced features including:

• Links to Birdview PSA
• Links to Microsoft Planner
• Scheduled Shifts
• Start/Stop now available on Mobile
• Start/Stop now available on Crew Timesheets
• Material Debit/Credit
• Timesheet Sign-off for employees when entered by others
• So much more…

For a more detailed list of what is included in TimeControl 8.6.1, please visit TimeControl.com/features/latest.

It’s the start of year and time for the HR department to be sure that it has reconciled and reset if necessary all time-off banks.  This is a part of TimeControl’s Banks features.

Since the very earliest days of TimeControl, there has been an ability to track time off.  This was in keeping with our commitment that TimeControl be able to track not just project and task time but also non-project time.  A complete view of the week’s activities has to track not just the time spent on projects, not just the time spent on non-project activities but also the time not spent at all.  Time off.

In some organizations, a completely unique timesheet is created for HR to track this kind of time.  It is often called an “exception” timesheet as it tracks only the exceptions or only the time the employee wasn’t at the office.  TimeControl handles all that within the same system.

TimeControl’s remarkable flexibility allows for multiple individual banks of time to be tracked.  There can be time for vacations, time for sick leave, time for personal time off and as many more banks as might be needed. There are nine banks by default.  TimeControl can then be configured to load up that time in different ways.  HR departments can manually empty and reset the banks at the start of the year. Or, banks can be loaded over time using the TimeControl Accrual function to enter time earned fore each category.  As time is earned, time goes into the bank. As time is taken, time comes out of the bank.

The Banks Detailed View and Detailed View report lets HR managers and supervisors see all transactions in and out of the banks at any time.

Once a year though, right around now at the start of the year, most HR departments do a review of the bank to make sure it is accurate and, if needed, reset to meet the organization’s rules.  Some organizations let time be earned and saved over the next year.  Some make that time be used or expire.  Each organization is a little different.

So, as people start thinking of their upcoming holidays, making sure they know how much time is in the bank is critical.

For more information on managing banks, go to: the TimeControl HR Solutions page at: TimeControl.com/use-cases/human-resources.

For information on TimeControl Accruals go to: TimeControl/Features/Accruals.

For information on Vacation Requests, go to: TimeControl.com/Features/Vacation-Approvals.

We were delighted to see an article about HMS Software published just before Christmas in the International Business Times magazine.  Entitled “Built to Last“, the article highlighted the 40+ year history of HMS and the rise of TimeControl as a world-leading timesheet system.

The article is available online at: www.ibtimes.com/built-last-inside-hms-software-architecture-timecontrol-3793239.

We are very excited to announce the launch of TimeControl version 8.6.1.  This version of TimeControl includes a surprising number of exciting new features layered onto the already established TimeControl 8.6 architecture.  There are changes to be enjoyed in TimeControl on-premise, TimeControl Industrial on-premise, the free TimeControl Mobile App and as it is upgraded in the coming weeks TimeControl Online and TimeControl Industrial Online.

Here are just a few of the new and improved features to enjoy:

Included integration with Birdview PSA

We have an all-new integration with Birdview.  HMS and Birdview established a strategic alliance earlier in 2025 and the two development teams collaborated on adding a bidirectional link to Birdview from within TimeControl.  This allows this powerful project planning system from Birdview to integrate with the TimeControl multi-purpose auditable timesheet system making a powerful combination.  The TimeControl team was able to leverage the extensive Birdview API system to allow data to flow between both products.  As an added bonus, both Birdview PSA and HMS Software are Canadian-based so this is an all-Canadian solution. Find out more on the Birdview Solution Page.

New Integration with Microsoft Planner

With Microsoft announcing the end of life date for Project Online, we have several clients concerned about what direction to take for future integrations with TimeControl.  We support numerous project management systems of course. Microsoft is suggesting to its clients that one option is for them to migrate to Microsoft Planner.  TimeControl will now include an integration with Microsoft Planner.  We have supported every version of Microsoft Project since 1995.  So this update should be no surprise. Find out more on the Microsoft Planner Solution Page.

Increased Language Support

While TimeControl has been multilingual since its very first version in 1994 (We are headquartered after all in a bilingual part of the planet), we have not supported 2-byte characters in our translations in the past.  With this version that now changes and we will include Japanese, Chinese, Turkish and Arabic as new languages out of the box.

Start/Stop

There are numerous enhancements to the Start/Stop functionality.  First of all, it will now be available in both regular individual timesheets and TimeControl Industrial’s Crew timesheets. It will also be available in the free TimeControl Mobile App for both individuals and crews.

And there is so much more

Improvements in the link with Oracle Primavera, a new Sign-off module, a new Shift module to save default schedules, alternate users in the free TimeControl Mobile App, Material Debit/Credit in TimeControl Industrial and even more.

You can see the full list of new and enhanced features at www.timecontrol.com/features/latest.

Availability

The launch of TimeControl 8.6.1 will happen in phases.  The on-premise version for TimeControl and TimeControl Industrial is available now for all clients with an active TimeControl Support agreement.  Simply go to www.timecontrol.com/support/ and click on Updates.  You will need to log in.

For subscribers to TimeControl Online, TimeControl Industrial Online and TimeControl Project, updates will be scheduled automatically in mid-January.  Subscribers will be informed from inside the application of when the upgrades for their system will be scheduled.

For more information contact HMS at info@hms.ca.

Silicon Review Magazine has awarded TimeControl it’s Most Reliable Timesheet Solution Provider Award.  The magazine listed HMS Software, publishers of TimeControl as the top listing of their 2025 finalists.

We are delighted at TimeControl’s recognition and think of it as a testament to the TimeControl Team and our partnership with so many of our customers.

Along with the award, the magazine featured an interview with our President, Chris Vandersluis which can be found here.

You can download a PDF of the article, by clicking download.

We are very excited to announce a new Strategic Alliance between HMS Software and Birdview PSA.  Birdview is a Canadian-based project management software publisher and the Birdview and HMS teams have committed to creating a new link between TimeControl and Birdview in the upcoming release of TimeControl.

The link between TimeControl and Birdview would see the project, task, resource and assignment information transfer from Birdview into TimeControl and then the timesheet hours and estimate to complete transfer from TimeControl into Birdview.

Both technical teams have already engaged in the work.

Aside from another link with a global project management software supplier, there is an additional bonus in having both HMS and Birdview be Canadian suppliers, making an all-Canadian solution for our existing and prospective clients.

You can read the full press release on the Alliance here. To find out more about Birdview, go to birdviewpsa.com.

For more information on this link, contact HMS at TimeControl.com/contact.