Skip to main content
Documentation
Documentation
Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2025-04-18
Steps: Set Up Geofences for Mobile Time Entry

Steps: Set Up Geofences for Mobile Time Entry

  • Create time entry templates.
  • Security:
    Set Up: Time Tracking
     domain in the Time Tracking functional area.
You can create geofences to prevent workers from checking in or out of work while using the Workday mobile application outside of a defined location. When you use Workday Scheduling, you can ensure workers only check in and out on mobile from the location where they're scheduled to work. You can configure 1 or more geofences for each time entry template. Workers are assigned geofence locations based on time entry template eligibility.
Example: You want to configure geofences that apply to the IT Organization. On the IT Organization time entry template, you add geofences for the San Francisco and San Jose locations. Members of the IT Organization can only check in to work from their mobile devices when they are within the San Francisco or San Jose geofences.
You can't enable this feature when you enable worker edits to the
Check In
 or
Check Out
 tasks.
  1. Enable
    Standard Mobile Check-In
    .
    1. Access the
      Edit Tenant Setup - HCM
       task.
    2. In the Time Tracking section, select the
      Enable Standard Mobile Check-In
       check box.
  2. Ensure that you enabled mobile check-in and check-out in your tenant.
    1. Access the
      Edit Tenant Setup - System
       task.
    2. In the Mobile section, make sure that the
      Disable Check In/Out on Mobile
       check box is clear.
  3. Ensure that you enabled location services in your tenant.
    1. Access the
      Edit Tenant Setup - System
       task.
    2. In the Location Services section, make sure that the
      Disable Location Service
       check box is clear.
      When you enable geofences, Workday prompts workers to enable location services on their mobile device.
  4. Configure geofences.
    1. Access 1 of these tasks:
      • Create Time Entry Template
      • Edit Time Entry Template
    2. (Optional) To configure geofences by scheduled shift location, select the
      Enable Workday Scheduling
       check box.
    3. On the
      Noneffective-Dated
       tab, expand the
      Location Settings
       section.
    4. Add a new row to create a geofence for each location. Workers you assigned to this time entry template will be able to check in and out from all the locations you add.
      You can select from existing
      Location
       values that include latitude and longitude. When you select an existing location, the latitude and longitude fields aren't editable from the time entry template.
      To modify the latitude and longitude for an existing location, access the related actions menu of the
      Location
       and edit the
      Location Details
      .
      You can also create a geofence for a new geographic location by entering custom
      Latitude
       and
      Longitude
       values.
    5. Define the length of the
      Radius
       for each geofence.
      Workday recommends making each radius greater than 100 meters to improve the functionality of the geofence. The accuracy of geofences is dependent on device hardware and the core location API functionality in the operating system.
    6. (Optional) To configure geofences by scheduled shift location, select the
      Enable Geofences by Scheduled Shift Location
       check box. You can also set thresholds of up to 120 minutes for check-in and check-out.
  5. (Optional) Display a geofence map for workers on the
    Check In/Out
     task.
    1. Enable Innovation Services Feature and Machine Learning Data Contributions.
    2. On the
      Available Services
       tab in the
      Cross Application Services
       category, select the
      Third-Party Map
       service.
When a worker attempts to check in or out outside the radius for the geofence, they receive an error message. The error message instructs them to move closer to their work location before attempting to check in or out. If you enable the
Third-Party Map
 service, the worker sees a real-time map that displays their location relative to their work location.
You can use the
Time Clock History
 report to view successful check-in and check-out events for a worker. Workday doesn't store location information in the report.