The benefits of a digital sign-in system for rural properties

Keeping track of visitors to your rural property can be a challenge. You may find yourself with lists of paper sign-in sheets that get lost or misplaced, relying on people manually recording the names of visitors and their contact information, or just hoping that nobody falls through the cracks. 

In this article, you’ll learn about how a digital sign-in system can help you better manage and track visitors to farms and rural properties so that you never worry about who came, when they came, or whether they left. 

What is a digital sign-in system?

When it comes to managing visitors on your farm or rural property, keeping track of who is coming and going can be a challenge. That's where digital sign-in systems come in. 

A digital sign-in system provides a secure and efficient way to manage visitors, ensuring that everyone signs in and out correctly while improving security and promoting safety on your property. In addition to this, digital sign-in systems also help you keep track of visitors for billing or other purposes, making them an essential tool for keeping your property safe and organised.

What are the benefits of using a digital sign-in system over a traditional, paper-based system?

There are many benefits to using a digital sign-in system for farms and rural properties. 

Efficiency and Convenience

Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it is more efficient than a traditional, paper-based sign-in system. Often, it takes a lot of time to complete a paper-based sign-in and it requires visitors to physically travel to an office or location where this is kept. With a digital sign-in system, visitors can check in as soon as they arrive, for example by scanning a QR code sign at the front gate, or be prompted in an app to check in once they cross the property boundary using geo-fencing technology. This can be especially useful for security purposes, as well as for keeping track of employees or visitors such as contractors performing jobs.

It also saves a lot of time and hassle when it comes to reporting and meeting compliance obligations – you can access records quickly and easily, pull reports from the system and share health and safety plans digitally.

Improve communication on the farm

Another benefit is that it can help to streamline communication between different parties. For example, if you have a large farm with multiple employees, you can use a digital sign-in system to send out messages or updates to everyone at once. This can save a lot of time and hassle, and ensure that everyone is always on the same page and aware of developing situations, for example, updates to tasks or an incident being reported.

Modern visitor experience 

Finally, a digital sign-in system can also help to create a more modern, professional appearance for your farm or property. If you’re regularly dealing with customers or clients, then having a sleek and modern sign-in system can give them a good impression of your business and improve visitor experience. It shows that you’re keeping up with the times and that you’re willing to invest in technology to improve your operations.

How does a digital sign-in system work?

Digital sign-in systems like Onside work by having visitors sign in using their own personal device, such as a smartphone or tablet, or by interacting with a digital kiosk. 

Via a mobile app, visitors can scan a QR code on a custom-made sign placed at the property or they can receive a notification to check in once they’ve crossed the property boundary. Once they have signed in, their contact information is stored in the system and can be used for follow-up purposes, visitor reporting, managing biosecurity risks (visitor and vehicle movements), and speeding up future visits.

With Onside, property owners or managers can also customise the check-in process by asking visitors specific questions, uploading property rules and induction information, and requesting documentation such as a driver’s licence or a firearms licence. This is all stored digitally in an online portal where property managers can view visitor records, pull visitor reports, and manage multiple properties from a single dashboard.

Finally, when it comes to signing out at the end of a visit or work day, apps like Onside can notify staff and visitors to check out. This is especially important when you’re dealing with multiple visitors or contractors across a large area, saving time by alerting and reminding them to check out via the application. This also helps keep everyone safe and ensures no one is left unaccounted for – if the worst happens and someone is injured and hasn’t checked out, then you will know and you’ll be able to message or call them to check.

Switch to a digital sign-in system and remove the hassle

The digital sign-in system is a great way for farms and rural properties to keep track of their visitors. Not only does it provide a convenient way for visitors to sign in, but it also helps farms and rural properties to keep track of who is on the property at any given time. This can be helpful in case of an emergency, or simply to know who has been on the property.