When organizations think of timesheets, they often picture a simple approval process—an employee submits their hours, a manager signs off, and payroll processes the data. But in reality, collecting timesheets has evolved into a powerful multi-functional process. When companies use TimeControl, the timesheet system can simultaneously serve multiple masters: payroll, project management, finance, HR, and government compliance.

This post explores how you can modernize your workflow by leveraging TimeControl’s matrix approval model and multi‑purpose timesheet design. We’ll also provide practical tips to streamline and future‑proof your processes.

From Single Approval to Matrix Approvals

Traditional timesheet systems typically follow a linear approval path—supervisor reviews, then it’s sent onward. TimeControl takes a different approach: matrix approvals, which allow timesheet data to be reviewed and approved by multiple roles for different purposes at the same time.

Why is this a game changer:

• Project Managers can approve project-specific hours regardless of department.
• Department Managers can validate work allocation for personnel.
• Finance can verify cost codes and chargebacks before posting to the ERP.
• HR/Payroll can finalize time-off, overtime, or special pay categories.

Multi-Purpose by Design: Use Cases in Action

✅ Project Costing & Capitalization

Use rate-based rules to tag internal vs. capitalizable time and route for separate approvals. TimeControl can even export capital hours directly to financial systems like SAP or Oracle for asset tracking.

✅ Government Compliance (DCAA, SOX, etc.)

Enforce audit trails, justification fields, and retroactive change tracking to ensure compliance with federal or industry regulations.

✅ Time-Off Planning

Integrate TimeControl with your HR system to let employees submit vacation requests, which are reviewed and reflected in scheduling—while still feeding into HR and payroll.

✅ Billing Support

Consulting firms can set up client-specific billing codes and rules so billable hours flow directly into invoicing pipelines.

Modern Workflow Best Practices

Here are some best practices we’ve compiled from our experience of working with hundreds of organizations in both the private and public sectors.

🛠 Standardize Where Possible

Start with core timesheet fields and gradually add complexity. Avoid overwhelming users with too many entry types at first.

🛠 Automate Routing Logic

Use rule-based approval paths: if an entry is billable and over X hours, auto-route to finance for a second review. TimeControl supports this logic without the need for coding.

🛠 Keep Auditability Front and Center

Enable real-time audit logs and change tracking. Matrix approvals don’t just distribute accountability—they document it.

🛠 Visualize What Matters

Use dashboards or automated exports to deliver the right data to the right team—no need for everyone to wade through the full timesheet.

Wrapping Up

Multi-purpose timesheets are no longer a “nice to have”—they’re essential for agile organizations that need a single source of truth across departments. With TimeControl’s matrix approval engine and flexible workflow tools, you can move beyond “who signed off” and toward “who got what they need.”

If your organization is still relying on siloed timesheet workflows, now is the time to modernize. Let TimeControl help you turn your timesheets into a strategic asset.

👉 Ready to optimize your workflow?

Find out more about TimeControl’s Workflow and Approvals or Contact the TimeControl Team to learn how TimeControl can be configured to meet your exact business needs—or request a personalized demo today.