Tracking Application

Case Overview

Tracking App represents a milestone in employee monitoring technology, developed by Oski Solutions to address the growing needs of remote and hybrid work environments. The system goes beyond simple time tracking by implementing a comprehensive suite of monitoring tools that provide detailed insights into work patterns and productivity.

Our solution combines sophisticated screenshot capabilities with detailed input monitoring and extensive activity logging. This creates a complete picture of employee work patterns while maintaining the delicate balance between oversight and privacy. The system's flexibility allows it to adapt to various organizational needs while ensuring data accuracy and security.

The Goal

Our primary objective was to create a monitoring solution that would serve both employers and employees by providing transparent and accurate activity tracking.

We aimed to develop a system that would:

• Provide accurate time tracking for remote and in-office employees
• Create verifiable proof of work through periodic screenshots
• Monitor productivity through input device activity tracking
• Maintain data even during internet connectivity issues
• Offer flexible configuration options for different company needs
• Balance monitoring needs with employee privacy considerations

These goals were set with a clear understanding of modern workplace dynamics, where trust and verification need to coexist harmoniously. We focused on creating a tool that would enhance productivity tracking while respecting user privacy and maintaining transparency in its operations.

Challenges

The development team faced significant technical hurdles in creating a robust monitoring system:

• Developing stable cross-platform screenshot functionality
• Implementing accurate keyboard and mouse activity tracking
• Managing local storage limitations for offline scenarios
• Ensuring reliable data synchronization with the main CRM system
• Creating efficient data compression for screenshots

These technical challenges required innovative solutions, careful consideration of system resources, and consideration of performance impacts. Our team worked extensively on optimizing each component to ensure minimal system overhead while maintaining accuracy.

System Reliability

Ensuring consistent performance across various operating conditions required addressing:

• Handling various internet connectivity scenarios
• Managing local storage limitations
• Ensuring accurate timing for activity tracking
• Dealing with system sleep and hibernate states
• Maintaining tracking accuracy during high system load

Our solution needed to work flawlessly in all these scenarios while maintaining data integrity and user trust.

The Process

The development process focused on creating a robust and user-friendly monitoring solution through several key components:

Core Tracking Features

1. Screenshot Management:
• Configurable screenshot intervals
• Local storage management
• Deletion limit implementation
• Compression and optimization

This system was designed to be efficient and respectful of user privacy. Its storage optimization and user control over sensitive data were carefully considered.

1. Activity Monitoring:
• Keyboard press tracking
• Mouse movement and click monitoring
• Active window title logging
• Inactivity detection

The activity monitoring system was built to provide accurate insights while minimizing system resource usage and ensuring user privacy.

1. Data Synchronization:
• Offline data storage
• Automatic sync when connection restores
• Data compression for efficient transfer
• Error handling and retry logic

Our synchronization system ensures no data is lost, even in challenging network conditions, while maintaining minimal bandwidth usage.

Configuration System

We implemented a flexible configuration system that includes:

• Customizable tracking parameters
• Flexible screenshot intervals
• Adjustable inactivity thresholds
• Configurable storage limits
• Custom synchronization timing

This flexibility allows organizations to adapt the system to their specific needs while maintaining consistency and reliability.

The tech that we used

Our desktop application was developed using the latest .NET technologies, ensuring high performance, scalability, and cross-platform support:

• Core Framework: .NET 8.0 combined with MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) for building a cross-platform desktop application that runs seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• UI Development: Blazor was used for creating an interactive and dynamic user interface, leveraging C# and Razor components to ensure a smooth and modern user experience.
• Activity Tracking & Monitoring: C# 12.0 enabled the use of advanced low-level system hooks for accurate tracking of user activities and system events.
• Local Storage: Entity Framework Core with SQLite was utilized for offline data storage, providing efficient and reliable data management directly on the user’s device.
• Image Processing: C #- based libraries were implemented for screenshot optimization and processing, ensuring minimal performance impact while maintaining high image quality.

This tech stack provided a robust, lightweight, and efficient desktop solution that works consistently across different operating systems.

Backend Services

The backend infrastructure was designed with a focus on scalability, performance, and security to handle large volumes of data seamlessly:

• API Layer: Built using .NET 8.0 Web API, enabling high-performance RESTful services with fast response times and smooth data handling.
• Database: PostgreSQL integrated with Entity Framework Core for robust, scalable, and efficient relational data management.
• File Storage: Azure Blob Storage was used to securely store and manage user-generated files and media.
• Asynchronous Processing: Implemented a message queue system using Azure Service Bus for handling background tasks and ensuring smooth, non-blocking operations.

This backend stack ensures high availability, fast data retrieval, and seamless integration with the desktop application.

Result in numbers

Tracking Accuracy

• Time Tracking Precision: 99% accuracy in work time recording
• Activity Monitoring: 95% accurate representation of actual work patterns
• Screenshot Reliability: 99% successful capture rate

These accuracy metrics were achieved through rigorous testing and optimization across various work scenarios and environments. The high precision in time tracking has particularly benefited organizations with strict billing requirements.

System Performance

• Data Sync Efficiency: 92% reduction in data transfer size through optimization
• Offline Reliability: 100% data retention during connectivity issues
• Storage Optimization: 85% reduction in screenshot storage size

Our focus on optimization has resulted in significant improvements in system efficiency, reducing both storage costs and bandwidth requirements while maintaining data integrity.

These results were collected over six months across various organization sizes and types, proving the system's versatility and effectiveness in different work environments. The continued positive feedback and high adoption rates suggest that the system successfully meets the needs of both employers and employees in the modern workplace.