SMARTATTEND PRO: IMPLEMENTATION OF BIOMETRIC ATTENDANCE SYSTEM WITH DATA ANALYTICS, PAYROLL SYSTEM, AND VIRTUAL ASSISTANT FOR HR MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Manual human resource management systems in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) present significant operational challenges, including attendance recording errors, payroll calculation inefficiencies, and fraud vulnerabilities such as "buddy punching." This thesis presents the development of SmartAttend Pro, an integrated IoT and AI-based attendance management system designed to address these challenges at Regatta Property, a representative SME facing typical HR management constraints. The research methodology involved comprehensive analysis of existing manual processes, evaluation of alternative solutions, and implementation of a cost-effective integrated system utilizing ESP8266 microcontrollers, AS608 fingerprint scanners, and machine learning algorithms. The system architecture incorporates biometric authentication, real-time data synchronization, automated payroll processing, and predictive analytics using TensorFlow LSTM neural networks. Key findings demonstrate significant improvements in operational efficiency through the elimination of manual attendance recording, reduction of payroll processing time from 2-3 days to automated real-time calculations, and implementation of streamlined approval workflows for leave, permit, and overtime requests. The system successfully integrates AI chatbot functionality using Google Dialogflow to reduce HR administrative burden and provides comprehensive analytics for strategic decision-making. The implementation results show exceptional cost-effectiveness with a one-time investment of Rp 253,000 compared to cloud-based alternatives requiring ongoing subscriptions of Rp 5-15 million. Qualitative testing with 95 potential users achieved an overall satisfaction rating of 4.46/5.0 with 88.6% recommendation rate. The system demonstrates robust security features including JWT authentication, PBKDF2-SHA256 password encryption, and fingerprint hash encryption. SmartAttend Pro transforms traditional HR management through automation, reducing human error, preventing attendance fraud, and providing intelligent insights for workforce planning. The system's modular design enables scalability and customization without vendor dependency, making it a sustainable solution for SMEs seeking digital transformation in human resource management. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on cost-effective IoT implementation in small business environments and demonstrates the practical application of AI technologies in HR optimization.