Choose a machine by capacity, method, network and warranty, then confirm the exact model with EDUBase Support before you buy. EDUBase connects standard fingerprint and face terminals to its attendance records.
How do you choose a biometric attendance machine for a school?
Terminals that look alike can differ a great deal in what they do. Ask two or three suppliers for their terms in writing on the same specification, then compare like with like. The factors below explain why machines differ.
- Capacity: how many fingerprints, faces or cards the terminal can store.
- Method: fingerprint only, face recognition, or a mix with card or password.
- Network: whether it connects by LAN or Wi-Fi, which matters for sending punches to software.
- Build: casing, display, battery backup and suitability for a busy school gate.
- Warranty and local after-sales support, which matter more than they first appear.
- Number of gates and campuses you need to cover.
Which fingerprint attendance machines connect to school software?
EDUBase supports standard fingerprint and face attendance terminals. Their punches mark attendance in EDUBase, and you can see and remove the devices registered for attendance in the portal.
We have not published a list of approved brands or model numbers on this page. Brands such as ZKTeco are common in Pakistan, but do not assume any particular model works. Send the exact model name to EDUBase Support and ask for confirmation before you place an order.
- Ask the supplier for the exact model name and whether it can send punches over the network.
- Send that model to EDUBase Support on +92 306 9580389 or through the WhatsApp group.
- Buy only after the model has been confirmed as compatible.
What happens after a student or teacher punches in?
The punch is treated like any other attendance method. Time-in and out rules, such as automatic Short Leave when an employee clocks out earlier than the allowed time, apply the same way whatever the reader.
A gate scan can send an SMS, WhatsApp or app notification to the parent. Staff punches feed Employee Attendance, which in turn feeds the salary calculation in Payroll & Salaries.
- Student attendance appears in the same reports as register attendance.
- Staff late arrival, short leave and absence feed salary calculation automatically.
- Attendance can be locked once payroll has run.
Is a fingerprint machine the only option for a school gate?
No. Fingerprints suit staff well, but young children and busy gates can slow a fingerprint queue. EDUBase offers other ways to mark attendance, and all of them feed the same attendance records.
The QR Attendance App is a free Android scanner for student and employee QR cards. Face Attendance Gates run on an ordinary Android tablet, recognise enrolled people on the device and check for a live face. Staff can also mark attendance from the Teacher App, but only inside the campus map radius you set.
What should you check before buying a device?
Hardware is a small part of the decision. The software, the network and the support behind it decide whether attendance actually works every day.
- Compatibility: has EDUBase Support confirmed the exact model?
- Network: is there reliable LAN or Wi-Fi at each gate or office?
- Enrolment: who will enrol staff fingerprints or faces, and how long will it take?
- Devices: each registered device can be reviewed and removed in the portal.
- Support: does the supplier offer warranty and local repair?
- Alternatives: would QR cards or a face tablet suit younger students better?
Who do I talk to about setup and commercial terms?
For the machines themselves, speak to your hardware suppliers. For EDUBase commercial terms, speak to sales on +92 300 0148829 or write to [email protected]. Live support is available by WhatsApp group, phone and the in-app assistant from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on working days.
Ways to mark attendance automatically with EDUBase
| Method | What it involves | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint terminal | A standard terminal at the gate or office sends punches to EDUBase; model compatibility to be confirmed with Support | Staff attendance and older students |
| Face terminal | A standard face terminal feeds the same attendance records | Gates where touch contact is unwanted |
| Face Attendance Gates tablet | An ordinary Android tablet recognises enrolled faces on the device and checks for a live face | Busy gates and slow internet |
| QR ID cards | Print cards and scan them with the free QR Attendance App | Students and staff at the gate or in class |
| Geo-location attendance | Staff mark from the Teacher App inside the campus map radius | Staff attendance without extra hardware |
Related modules
- QR, Biometric & Geo Attendance — Automatic in/out marking from QR cards, biometric machines and phone location.
- Face Attendance Gates — A tablet at the gate recognises the face and marks the child or staff member in.
- Student Attendance — Mark attendance from the class register, the Teacher App, a QR scan or a gate device, and tell parents instantly.
- Employee Attendance — Daily or monthly staff attendance from the register, the app, QR or a device, locked once payroll runs.
- Payroll & Salaries — Salary plans, allowances, deductions, approvals, payslips and salary sheets, posted to the ledger.