EP1088287A1

EP1088287A1 - Multi-application time sheet

Info

Publication number: EP1088287A1
Application number: EP99929269A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ralf Krenzke; Georg Dopf; Stefan Hirschenberger; Ralf Dentzer
Original assignee: SAP SE
Current assignee: SAP SE
Priority date: 1998-06-19
Filing date: 1999-06-18
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Also published as: AU4613299A; JP5025850B2; IL139640A0; JP2002526819A; CA2332938A1; WO1999067749A1; IL139640A; US6338097B1; CA2332938C; AU765941B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-application time sheet system. Said system comprises a first interface for reproducing an employee identification query. In this system, a work list is checked to select a data acquisition image and verification is carried out to determine whether the time acquisition data is complete. Said system also comprises a data bank for storing the time acquisition data, a sub-system for obtaining authorisation for a part of the time acquisition data, and another interface for storing the time acquisition data in tables. In order to process the time acquisition data, the employee identification query is first reproduced and subsequently received. An input data mask is selected and represented according to the employee identification data. The individual time data stored for individual employees is accepted and verification is carried out to determine whether it is complete. The acquired time data is stored in a data bank and can be stored in tables after an access authorisation has been obtained, for instance for a part of the acquired time data. Said time acquisition data stored in tables is received for further analysis by means of known applications.

Description

To cross-end timesheet

General state of the art

It is becoming increasingly difficult for organizations to remain internationally competitive as the markets become more global. Increasing competition in many areas of manufacturing, trading, services and other forms of business leads to falling market prices, which in turn leads to a decrease in the profit margin. In the meantime, rapidly changing technologies lead to greater automation, which increases efficiency and enables companies to do more with fewer people. This also requires optimizing the use of human resources in order to reduce costs. Methods of demonstrating costs related to raw material, machinery, rental, shipping and the like exist and are constantly being improved. There is also a need to record and allocate the working time used by employees and contract workers in order to improve the procedures used for allocating, verifying, approving and planning human resources. Information about when an employee

Work done and for what reason are important for various areas of the organization, such as human resource management, logistics and accounting. A uniform record of the hours worked would greatly simplify the workflow in the organization.

Filling and processing of time sheets is currently done on a micro level. The time entries entered by the employee in a department are added by project or subdivision, and management receives a weekly or monthly report that actually only provides the totals for that particular department. If there are multiple departments involved in a project working on different aspects of the project, it is often difficult to determine the total time used by different individuals and the costs associated with that time. Very often, a particular individual spends a certain number of hours on a particular task that provides work for different projects, and it is then difficult to accurately determine the proportion of each project's performance. For example, a seller who works for a large company may make several trips to visit a customer. At first, it may be difficult to record the time spent on such trips, the time spent looking after customers, and accurately allocating them to different projects in which the customer is involved. Likewise, a researcher may discover a method to improve the efficiency of a manufacturing process that can be applied to various ongoing projects. As another example, an individual working in the organization's IT department may spend different time on different projects, such as system maintenance, upgrading computers for individuals in different departments, and visiting trade shows.

Furthermore, from the organization's perspective, it would be efficient if different departments in the organizations could see the time entries of the above individuals. For example, a project manager wants to determine whether enough people are working on the project and whether these people are devoting enough time to it. The HR department may want to demonstrate that workers have been properly assigned to different projects to determine if more workers with certain qualifications need to be recruited. Accounting would need to add the costs associated with different projects to ensure that the budget was not exceeded. There is currently a need for a system to track timesheet information and gather data for such diverse applications without using a complex network of connections to coordinate and distribute data. It would be beneficial to have an effective way of keeping track of time and compiling time sheet information to provide information about the working hours of internal workers and external service providers for a variety of applications.

Brief description of the invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for compiling time recording data in a general or shared data pool and delivering the data to a number of applications. By linking data and storing it in a central system, the data can be distributed either automatically or asynchronously as required. A transparent system allows additional processing, such as verification and approval, of separate parts of the data pool before the data is distributed. Corrections or updates to the data are automatically forwarded to the relevant applications.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel method for collecting time tracking data from a variety of sources in a data pool and delivering the data to multiple applications.

Another object of the invention is to monitor time entry data and the information derived from them. Another object of the invention is to improve transparency in sharing time entry data across applications. Another object of the invention is the automatic and asynchronous distribution of compilations of time entry data.

Another object of the invention is to apply asynchronous processing to time recording data to be distributed over several applications.

Another object of the invention is the automatic forwarding of corrected or updated time recording data to a number of applications.

Detailed description of the invention

Introduction The present invention allows over the

Centralization and subsequent distribution of relevant data to manage time entries efficiently.

The present invention was developed as a standardized, cross-application tool of the SAP R / 3 system. A brief description of the R / 3 System follows.

R / 3 can primarily be described as an online transaction processing system that is designed to provide integrated processing of all business routines and transactions. It contains cross-company integrated solutions as well as specialized applications for individual department functions. R / 3 reflects all of the company's business-critical processes: finance, manufacturing, sales and human resources. With various analysis options, it also supplements the function of transaction processing.

Recent paradigm changes have forced companies to optimize all business processes in the value chain by using modern data processing and cross-company information management. In order to be successful, companies often work with customers and suppliers in this way. that high quality products and services can be made available with the shortest delay in response to customer demand. R / 3 achieves these goals with the online integration of data in the company.

The R / 3 System is based on the client-server architecture, which separates the database, application and presentation components for greater flexibility. This allows companies to take advantage of various architectural merits, including the ability to run on various of the most popular UNIX-based hardware platforms currently available. The R / 3 System is designed so that the application systems and the system functions are decoupled from each other by a clear architecture layer, with an application layer and a base layer. The multi-tier architecture of the R / 3 System enables optimal load distribution even in larger systems with thousands of users. It has a modular structure with methods for controlling master-slave relationships between individual software components. Special servers connected by communication networks can be used for certain tasks without losing the integration of data and processes in the overall system. By implementing separate servers for special tasks, the performance potential and the different cost structures of the available hardware architecture are optimally used. As a result, applications can be divided into different services and run on different servers. The basic services of the R / 3 System (graphic presentation services, application services for processing the application logic, database services for storing and calling up business data, etc.) are divided and can develop separately while maintaining compatibility. The present invention is intended for use in connection with various applications of the SAP R / 3 system, namely controlling, personnel time management, service management, plant maintenance, project system and external services (part of materials management). The invention can also be practiced using other hardware and operating system platforms. The invention as described operates as a module of a larger system. The following description is the best mode currently contemplated for practicing the present invention. This description is not intended to be construed as a limitation, but is used only to describe the general principles of the invention.

overview

The system "Cross Application Time Sheets" (CATS) is a system that allows personal time sheets to be entered for individuals performing tasks for an organization. In a preferred embodiment, such timesheet records may be associated with the organization's own employees (internal employees) or outsiders, such as contractors or consultants (external employees), collectively referred to as "employees", with each employee in the system having one Employee number is assigned (the records of CATS data always concern individuals). Also in a preferred embodiment, administrators can enter the working hours of all employees assigned to them. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it: Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an overview of the process used by CATS.

Figure 2 is a flow chart that provides a more detailed representation of the acquisition of raw data in a database.

Figure 3 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of a request image.

Figure 4 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of a data acquisition image. Figure 5 shows another example of a preferred embodiment of a data acquisition image.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of a travel data acquisition image.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a preferred embodiment of a goods distribution picture.

Figure 8 is a flow diagram that provides a more detailed representation of permissions and approvals.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram that provides a more detailed representation of the transfer of data that initially requires approval.

Referring to Figure 1, flow chart 1 provides an overview of the process used by CATS. An employee's work time for a particular job 10 is recorded either directly in the system using the CATS interface 20 or via a time sheet 15 that is later is recorded in a recording office using the CATS interface 20. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the recording office can be physically in one place, or it can be a "virtual" office that is distributed over a network. A user accessing the system, not shown in the figures, can carry out tests with applications 30, for which in a preferred embodiment Personnel Time Management 31, External Services 32, Project Systems 33, Controlling 34, Plant Maintenance 35 and Service Management 36 count. These checks include checking the work list in the request mode and verifying information in the data collection mode described in more detail below. In a preferred embodiment, 40 customer-specific improvements can be applied using the user exit.

The data is then forwarded to a database 50 for storage. It is possible to report on the data from the database 50. Depending on the user-defined settings of the system, the approval of the data by an authorized individual may be required. If approval is not required, the data is forwarded to an interface database 70. If approval is required for any portion of the data, the business workflow selection process 60 determines the type of approval and authorization that is required, and the approval process or procedure 65 begins. If any changes or corrections are made to the data in the time sheet during the approval process or the authorization procedure 65, the changed or corrected data become the

Database 50 sent back. However, data that has been approved and does not require changes or corrections is passed to the interface database 70. The interface database 70 stores data that is forwarded via a data transmission 75 to one or more applications in the applications 30.

Collection, storage and release of data

The type of data entered includes working hours together with information that is used for further processing and evaluation of data in various different areas of the system are relevant. As an example only, the information may relate to documenting the progress of an order in the production department, or it may be relevant to payroll in Human Resources. At this point, additional information can be viewed, such as the reason why certain dates have not yet been approved.

As stated above, CATS data always relates to individuals. This means that either the person entering the data must provide an employee number or, in the case of rapid recording acquisition (the acquisition of similar or identical data for several employees), an employee number must be provided for the recording image.

An administrator can enter data for multiple employees during a session. One possible procedure is to choose a list entry format that allows the relevant data for all employees to be entered immediately. Another possible method is to select the employees from a list and enter the data as a single record. In both cases, the main task of the person entering the data is to enter working hours together with information that is relevant for the further processing and evaluation of the data in other applications, such as human resources. This information is known as the working time attributes. The working time attributes entered depend on the activities for which employees enter working times. Working time attributes can vary not only from one company to another, but also from one area of activity to another.

In a preferred embodiment, the work time attributes are entered in fields, some of which may have default values and some of which are pre data must be stored when an entry is saved. The period of time covered by data collection can be of different lengths, and in a preferred embodiment long periods of time, such as those in connection with leave of absence, can also be entered.

Referring to FIG. 2, flow diagram 2 provides a more detailed description of the collection of raw data in database 50. A user who wants to record work 10 directly in the system or over time sheet 15 does so through CATS interface 20, which contains a request image 22 (which indicates to the user that the CATS interface 20 is in request mode) and a data acquisition image 26 (which indicates to the user that the CATS interface 20 is in data acquisition mode).

An entry mask 300 is shown in FIG. 3 as an example of a request mask 22. The entry mask 300 permits the detection of a

Employee number and the desired data entry variant. In a preferred embodiment, for example, internal employees are assigned a data entry variant "1", while external employees are assigned a data entry variant "2". In alternative preferred embodiments, in order to differentiate between data acquisition variants, different categories are used, such as, for example, department, project, etc. A work list check 23 is carried out on the data which have been entered into the request mask 22. The worklist check 23 includes checking the data with one or more of the applications 30 to determine the correct worklist associated with the data. The work list in turn defines the data entry masks to be used. Thus, the data entry on the request mask 22 determines the appearance of the following data entry masks, and allows you to customize these masks for different employee data. In a preferred embodiment, additional customer-specific improvements can be applied using the user exit 24. Thereafter, at least one data entry mask 26 determined by the work list check 23 is reproduced. Referring to FIG. 4, the data entry mask 400 is shown as an example for the data entry mask 26. The data acquisition mask 400 permits the acquisition of the time worked on one or more days. Examples of the types of data that can be entered on the data entry mask 26 include the hours worked per day, start and end times of the work performed each day, activity type, activity price, an indicator of the final confirmation (a Boolean value that indicates whether a certain task is finished), the remaining work, simple text, type of presence or absence and trip number (related to a specific trip). This list is by no means exhaustive, but is defined for each individual data entry mask 26.

The data acquisition mask 26 can also be used to specify different target objects (i.e. recipients of the data). Target objects are entities that model different business objects. Examples of target objects used with SAP R / 3 include cost centers, order / network, activity / activity element / split (between activity and activity element), WBS element and sales order.

The data acquisition mask 26 can also be used to specify valid transmitters. Senders are cost centers that are responsible for performing some tasks or activities. Examples of valid senders used with SAP R / 3 include the objects cost center / activity type and Objects Purchase order number / purchase order item / service number.

In a preferred embodiment, administrative data, such as the details regarding who entered or changed the data and when they were changed or entered, are automatically supplied by the CATS system and need not be entered into the data entry mask 26 . Auxiliary functions make it easier to use the system by allowing certain tasks to be easily performed, such as copying data from a work list to a data entry line, copying data from a data entry list to a work list, copying data from one Data entry line into another, copying from one period to another and rolling along a time axis with function keys or by entering time information (eg a date or a week number).

In a preferred embodiment, a data entry mask 26 displays a spreadsheet or chart that is similar to a time record sheet with a horizontal time axis, as shown in diagram 410 of data entry mask 400 and diagram 510 of data entry mask 500 in FIG. 5. Depending on the user-defined settings, a data entry mask 26 can show the hours of an employee planned for the future (which may be laid down in a work schedule).

In a preferred embodiment, and again depending on the user-defined settings, a portion of the data entry mask 26 may display a work list. As described above, you can use. an auxiliary function, data from the work list are copied into a data entry line. For example, the data entry mask 400 shows the result of the execution a copy function in which line 420 has been copied to line 430.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a time axis displayed on the data entry mask 26 can be divided into flexible time periods for the acquisition of the data. For example, a period can be a day, a month, or some other length of time. Other features include the ability to enter the time of day at which work is performed and / or to distribute a specified number of hours over a given period using a distribution function and / or to be able to directly input work schedule data (the target times) as actual times and / or enter data for periods in the future and enter time data for absences.

It should be noted that the form of data acquisition used determines the appearance of the data acquisition mask 26. Various image fields can be hidden or displayed, and the user can have some control over the layout of the data entry mask 26.

In a preferred embodiment, it is possible to control from the data entry mask 26 to a travel expense data entry mask, an example of which is shown in FIG. 6. In the travel data entry mask 600, an original functionality of personnel time management 31 is available as a transaction call. References to trip numbers can also be entered for reporting purposes. However, in this preferred embodiment, no approval process or authorization procedure 65 is used to approve a business trip that has a separate approval procedure. In a preferred embodiment, it is also possible to control from a data entry mask 26 to a goods issue mask, an example of which is shown in FIG. In the goods issue bemaske 700, the original functionality External Services 32 is available as a transaction call. The number of the goods issue document is stored in the database 50. In a preferred embodiment, the actual cost can be determined based on the data entered. In this embodiment, three methods are available for determining actual costs: 1) Actual costs can be calculated from the rate of the type of service in question. This corresponds to the current standard procedure.

2) A rate (e.g. per hour) can be entered and this rate can be used to evaluate the actual time. All deviations are noted separately in the cost calculation document (separate cost document items). 3) The rate is determined via a user exit, and the actual hours can then be evaluated at this rate. All deviations are noted separately in the cost accounting document (separate

Cost document items). This technique enables the data to be obtained based on a calculation that depends on the user exit or a customer-specific formula.

Note that in this embodiment, if two different rates are used (e.g., normal wages and overtime wages), the time sheet must either fill in both lines and apply the respective rates for each line, or use two different types of activity with different assigned rates . A verification check 27 is carried out on the data entered in the data entry mask 26. The verification check 27 includes checking the data with one or more of the applications 30 to determine whether correct and sufficient data has been entered in the data entry mask 26. Data entered in the data entry mask 26 cannot be saved until it has passed a verification test 27. If it has been determined by the verification check 27 that correct and sufficient data has been entered, in a preferred embodiment additional customer-specific improvements can be applied using the user exit. The entered data is then stored in the database 50.

With reference to FIG. 8, flow chart 3 represents a more detailed description of authorizations and approvals.

Authorization checks distinguish between two types of users: those who enter time data and those who approve the entered data. It is the latter type of authorization check that applies to the data present in the database 50. As stated above, in the event that no approval or authorization is required, the data can be passed to the interface database 70. However, if approval is required for any portion of the data, the business workflow selection process 60 determines the type of approval and authorization that is required. After determining the type of approval and authorization required for a given record by the business workflow selection process 60, the data about the approval process or authorization procedure 65 is displayed on the approval screen. An employee who approves the data entered must also have transaction authorization. A particular individual's transaction eligibility typically depends at least in part on the identity of the employee whose time tracking data needs to be approved (e.g., a supervisor is usually authorized to approve the time tracking data of those reporting to him, but is not authorized to time record data from Approve employees who do not report to him). In a preferred embodiment, such authorization information is stored in an organizational model that contains relevant information, such as the organizational structure.

Authorizations can also be assigned on an object-specific basis (e.g. one or more specific individuals can have the authorization to only approve a specific order type). If desired by individual customers, can

Authorizations can also be expanded using user exits (customer-specific improvements).

In a preferred embodiment, the authorization can be granted by an authorized person in various levels of detail. For example only, an individual can view the time tracking data of an individual employee, a given period of time recording data of an individual employee, or a given period for an organizational unit

Approve (e.g. the time recording data of an entire department). Of course, the individual who grants approval must be authorized to grant such approval. If none for a specific data acquisition

If approval is granted, an explanation of the reason for the rejection can be attached to the data. In a preferred embodiment In the event that data is rejected, either the individual who entered the data or the employee for whom the data was entered is informed of the workflow.

A user-defined setting allows the system administrator or someone else with the appropriate authorization to activate and deactivate approval procedures.

Data Transfer Figure 9 shows flow diagram 4 for the transfer of data that must be approved. When data is newly acquired via the CATS interface 20 and the user exit 40 is used, the data are stored in the database 50 without approval. As long as the data has not been approved, changes 57 can be made to the data and the changes 57 are reflected in the database 50. Although changes 57 to approved data can still be made, these changes 57 to approved data cause a new, unauthorized entry to be created in database 50. The new, unauthorized entry must go through the same approval process or authorization procedure 65 as the original data, and both records are then transferred to the target application.

When the approval process or the authorization procedure 65 is ended, the data is written into the interface database 70. In a preferred embodiment, the interface database 70 contains interface tables for each of the applications 30 involved. The data in an interface table is retrieved from its associated target application 30 in predetermined periods of time and stored in the target application database 90. In a preferred embodiment after the data has been transferred to the target application database 90, the data is deleted from the associated interface table in the interface database 70. In a preferred embodiment, the target application 30 receives data according to the following rules:

1) If an operation number or an element number is entered, a completion confirmation is created and data assigned to Controlling 34 is written indirectly.

2) If a recipient is entered without an operation number or an element number, the data assigned to Controlling 34 is written directly. 3) When a purchase order number or a purchase order item and a service number are entered, data associated with the external services 32 and the controlling 34 are written indirectly.

4) If only the type of presence or absence is entered, only the data assigned to the personnel time management 31 are written.

In a preferred embodiment, the CATS system can be set by the user so that data in database 50 is copied to a second database 50a for the retention of master data records.

User-defined adjustments Settings can be changed via user-defined adjustments. For example, depending on the data entry variant used, the following settings can be changed on entry screen 26: field selection, checks, functions (e.g. branching off to a travel entry data screen or a merchandise distribution screen, display of the work list, display of the workflow plan, selection of recipients for the workflow (workflow) ).

As stated above, approval procedures can be activated and deactivated. As well As stated above, the CATS system can be set by the user in such a way that data in the database 50 are copied into a second database 50a for the retention of master data records.

Other embodiments

While fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the embodiments thereof have been shown, described and emphasized, it is to be understood that the person skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, in the form and details of the invention, as disclosed herein can make various omissions and substitutions and changes. It is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and / or process steps that perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. A limitation should therefore only apply as it is indicated by the scope of the claims appended here.

Claims

Claims:

1. A system with cross-application time sheets comprising: (a) a first interface for reproducing a request for employee identification and data collection variant information, for receiving the employee identification and data collection variant information, for reproducing a data collection image and for accepting employee time recordings comprising time recording data for at least one employee ;

(b) a work list check to select the data capture image based on the received employee identification and data capture variant information;

(c) a verification check to verify that the time tracking data for at least one of the at least one employee is complete; (d) a database for storing the time tracking data;

(e) a subsystem for obtaining approval for a subset of the time tracking data; and

(f) a second interface for storing the timesheet data in tables for applications to retrieve the timesheet data.

2. System with cross-application time sheets according to claim 1, wherein the choice of the data acquisition image is further based on information provided by the applications.

3. A system with cross-application time sheets according to claim 1, in which the database only contains time recording data which have been verified as complete by the verification check.

4. A system with cross-application time sheets according to claim 1, wherein the second interface only contains the time recording data that is approved.

5. The cross-application time sheet system of claim 1, wherein the subsystem receives approval for a modified version of the subset of the time tracking data.

6. The cross-application time sheet system of claim 1, wherein verifying that the time tracking data is complete is based on information provided by the applications.

7. The cross-application time sheet system of claim 1, wherein the first interface displays a travel expense data entry screen and a merchandise delivery screen.

8. Procedure for editing time tracking data, with the following steps:

(a) rendering a request for employee identification and data collection variant information;

(b) receiving employee identification and data collection variant information;

(c) choosing a data capture image based on the received employee identification and data capture variant information;

(d) rendering the data acquisition image;

(e) accepting employee time records that include time tracking data for at least one employee; (f) verifying for at least one of the at least one employee that the time tracking data is complete; (g) storing the time tracking data in a database;

(h) obtaining approval for a subset of the time tracking data; and (i) storing the time tracking data in tables for applications to retrieve the time tracking data.

The method of processing time tracking data according to claim 8, wherein the step of selecting the data capture image is further based on information provided by the applications.

10. The method for processing time recording data as claimed in claim 8, in which the database contains only time recording data which have been verified as complete in step (f).

11. The method for processing time recording data according to claim 8, further comprising the step of obtaining approval for a modified version of the subset of the time recording data.

12. A method of processing time tracking data according to claim 8, wherein verifying that the time tracking data is complete is based on information provided by the applications.

13. The method for processing time tracking data according to claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying a travel expense data entry screen and a goods issue screen.

14. A cross-application time sheet system comprising: (a) first interface means for rendering a request for employee identification and data collection variant information, receiving employee identification, and Data acquisition variant information, for displaying a data entry mask and for accepting employee time records including time recording data for at least one employee; (b) checking means for selecting the data entry mask based on the received employee identification and data collection variant information;

(c) means for verifying that the time tracking data for at least one of the at least one employee is complete;

(d) database means for storing the time tracking data;

(e) means for obtaining approval for a subset of time tracking data; and

(f) second interface means for storing the time tracking data in tables for retrieval of the time tracking data by applications.

15. A system with cross-application time sheets according to claim 14, wherein the selection of the data acquisition image is further based on information provided by the applications.

16. The cross-application time sheet system of claim 14, wherein the database means stores only time tracking data that has been verified as complete by the verifying means.

17. The cross-application time sheet system of claim 14, wherein the second interface means stores time tracking data only approved by the means for obtaining approval.

The cross-application time sheet system of claim 14, wherein the means for verifying that the time tracking data is complete is based on information provided by the applications.

19. A system with cross-application time sheets according to claim 14, in which the first interface means reproduces a travel expense data entry screen and a goods issue mask.

20. Computer readable medium with a plurality of instructions stored thereon, the plurality of instructions including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the following steps:

(a) rendering a request for employee identification and data collection variant information; (b) receiving employee identification and data collection variant information;

(c) rendering a data entry mask;

(d) accepting employee time records that include time tracking data for at least one employee;

(e) choosing the data entry mask based on the received employee identification and data collection variant information;

(f) verifying for at least one of the at least one employee that the time tracking data is complete;

(g) storing the time tracking data in a database;

(h) obtaining approval for a subset of the time tracking data; and

(i) storing the timesheet data in tables for applications to retrieve the timesheet data.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the step of selecting the data acquisition image is further based on information provided by the applications.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the database contains only time tracking data that has been verified as complete in step (f).

23. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the plurality of instructions further include additional instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the step of obtaining approval for a modified version of the subset of the timesheet data.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein verifying that the time tracking data is complete is based on information provided by the applications.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the plurality of instructions further include additional instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the step of displaying a travel expense data capture image and a merchandise distribution image.

26. Procedure for processing time recording data in an R / 3 system, with the following steps:

(b) receiving employee identification and data collection variant information;

(c) rendering a data acquisition image; (d) accepting employee time records that include time tracking data for at least one employee;

(e) selection of the data acquisition image based on the employee identification received and

Data acquisition variant information;

(f) verifying for at least one of the at least one employee that the time tracking data is complete; (g) storing the time tracking data in a database;

(h) obtaining approval for a subset of the time tracking data; and

(i) storing the time tracking data in tables for retrieving the time tracking data by R / 3 applications.