PDKS Systems – Time and Attendance Control System

What Is PDKS and What Does It Stand For?

PDKS is the Turkish abbreviation for Personnel Attendance Control System. It records employees' arrival and departure times through a time attendance device and turns this data into reports on working hours, overtime, late arrivals, absences and leave via time attendance software. It is also commonly referred to as a personnel tracking system or a time and attendance system.

Paper sign-in sheets and manually kept timesheets are time-consuming and error-prone. A time attendance system collects records automatically and makes payroll preparation easier for HR and accounting departments.

How Does a Time Attendance System Work?

1. The employee presents their card or enters a PIN at the terminal at the entrance.
2. The device verifies the person and records the event with date and time; if connected to a turnstile or door lock, it grants passage.
3. Records are sent to the software over the network or by transfer from the device.
4. The software performs daily and monthly calculations based on the defined shift and working rules.
5. Managers view the reports and, if needed, export them for transfer to the payroll system.

Sensör Yazılım's in-house time attendance software is designed to manage shift, working-hours and leave calculations across different device types. For details, see our personnel tracking software page.

Types of Time Attendance Devices

Card time attendance (RFID/NFC) — the recommended method for attendance tracking

Works with RFID/NFC-based proximity or encrypted cards. It is fast, easy to install and, since it does not process biometric data, it is the method we recommend for attendance tracking. The risk of a card being handed to someone else can be reduced with measures such as encrypted cards, requiring card and PIN together, and supporting passages with cameras. To learn more, see card time attendance system.

PIN terminals

They work with a keypad and have no card cost. They can be used alone or as a second verification alongside a card; they are suitable for small teams and environments where cards are impractical.

Biometric terminals (fingerprint, face recognition)

They require the person to be physically present. However, the Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) principle decision No. 2026/921 of 29.04.2026 does not consider the processing of biometric data for attendance tracking to be proportionate (details below). Using these devices for other purposes, such as access to high-security areas, requires a separate legal assessment. For product information, see our fingerprint and face recognition systems pages.

Comparison of Time Attendance Devices

What Reports Can You Get from a Time Attendance System?

Well-designed time attendance software does not just list arrival and departure times; it turns this raw data into meaningful information for management. The most commonly used reports are the daily attendance list, late arrivals and early departures, overtime hours, staff with missing punches, working hours by shift, and annual and excused leave balances. Reports that can be filtered by department, branch or shift help managers quickly spot problem areas. Exporting reports in a format that can be imported into payroll software reduces manual data entry in accounting and the errors that come with it. A manager-approved correction workflow for missed punches also keeps records reliable.

Is a Time Attendance System Legal?

Recording working hours is a routine practice for businesses; however, because a time attendance system processes personal data, obligations under KVKK come into play. Biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images are considered special categories of personal data. The Turkish Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) principle decision No. 2026/921 of 29.04.2026 does not consider the processing of biometric data for attendance tracking to be compatible with the principle of proportionality, and states that, due to the employer–employee relationship, explicit consent is not regarded as freely given either. The decision recommends less intrusive methods such as encrypted cards, PINs, RFID/NFC cards or signatures.

For this reason, we recommend card (RFID/NFC) and PIN time attendance terminals for staff attendance tracking. The decision concerns attendance tracking; using biometric devices for other purposes, such as access to high-security areas, requires a separate legal assessment. We recommend seeking advice from a legal counsel for your specific business.

How to Choose a Time Attendance System

• Number of staff and branches: a single location or a centralized multi-branch structure?
• Shift pattern: fixed hours, rotating shifts or night work?
• Working environment: conditions such as dust, oil, gloves or open areas affect the choice of card reader and terminal housing.
• Personal data compliance: card or PIN methods that do not process biometric data should be preferred for attendance tracking.
• Access control needs: will the device only record, or will it also control a turnstile or door?
• Reporting: expectations for payroll export, leave management and manager approval workflows.
• Data security: user permissions, backups and access logs.

What Affects Time Attendance System Prices?

• Number of terminals and device type (card, PIN, card + PIN)
• Number of staff and software scope
• Number of branches and need for centralized reporting
• Integration with turnstiles, door locks or barriers
• Cabling, network infrastructure and installation conditions
• Expectations for installation, training and ongoing support

How Is a Time Attendance System Installed?

During the site survey, entry points, staff flow and network infrastructure are assessed, and device locations are determined. Terminals are mounted and connected to the network, the software is installed, and shift and working rules are defined. Staff cards are distributed and PIN codes assigned if needed. The rules are fine-tuned by reviewing the first month's reports together. Devices can be shipped outside Istanbul to all 81 provinces; installation is planned per project.

Maintenance and Support

The reading surface of terminals should be cleaned regularly, lost cards cancelled immediately, the software database backed up and the records of departing staff deleted. We provide technical service support for device or software issues. When choosing between time attendance providers, we recommend weighing software support and on-site service capability together. For a quote, fill in the form or message us on WhatsApp.