QR code attendance — printable & rotating QR

QR code attendance is AttendFirst’s no-hardware replacement for a biometric attendance machine. Instead of buying a ₹3,000-15,000 fingerprint or face-recognition device per gate, you print a QR code on paper or display one on a spare tablet. Employees scan it with their own phones to check in. No wiring, no app install on their devices, no yearly service contract. It is the cheapest way to run a QR code attendance system for an Indian office.

This page shows you how to set up QR attendance for your company. For a deeper look at the cost and security trade-offs against biometric attendance machines, see QR attendance vs biometric below.

The Devices list

Open Admin → Settings → Devices. The list shows every device in your company with:

• Name - what employees see above the QR (Main Gate, Reception, Site 2).
• Type - Static QR for printable codes, Rotating QR for tablet-based stations.
• Location - the address you picked on the map.
• Checks - badges for Geofence (location verification) and Selfie (photo required).

Click Add Device in the top right to create a new one.

Add a device

The form has five parts:

1. Name (required). Shown on the QR display and on employee check-in records. Use the location, not the device model. “Main Gate” is better than “Samsung Tab S”.
2. Description (optional). A note for admins.
3. Type (required). Pick Static QR or Rotating QR. See the comparison below.
4. Location (optional but recommended). Search an address or click the map to drop a pin. Drag the pin to fine-tune. The blue radius is the geofence.
5. Checks (optional).
   • Verify location - tag scans outside the geofence radius as unverified. Never blocks a check-in.
   • Require selfie - ask for a photo with every scan.

Choosing the type

Use case	Pick	Why
Small shop or one-person site	Static QR	No tablet, no power, no extra hardware. Print once, stick it up.
Factory gate or reception with a spare tablet	Rotating QR	The QR changes every 15-60 seconds, so a photo of the code is useless after a minute.
Mobile or temporary site	Static QR	Printed paper travels.
Office where employees try to ghost-scan from home	Rotating QR with geofence	Rotation defeats photo-sharing. Geofence tags off-site scans as unverified.

Rotating QR asks for a Rotation interval (15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes). Shorter intervals are stricter but refresh more often on the tablet screen.

Click Add Device to save. The device appears in the list right away.

Print a Static QR

Open the device’s three-dot menu and click View QR. For Static QR devices you see:

• The QR code, full resolution.
• Print - opens a print-ready page with the device name and QR centered.
• Download SVG - save the code to reuse in posters, printers, or branded signage.
• Use a tablet as check-in station instead - opens the tablet setup flow (see below) if you change your mind later.

Print the QR, stick it near your entrance at eye level, and you are done. Employees open their phone camera, point it at the QR, tap the link, and check in.

Set up a tablet station

For Rotating QR devices, the View QR modal is the setup flow for the tablet that will display the rotating code. You have three ways to get the station URL onto the tablet:

Option 1: Scan a setup QR with the tablet’s camera

Open the tablet’s camera app, point it at the setup QR on the modal, and tap the link that appears. The station loads and starts displaying rotating QRs. Easiest if the tablet is already powered on.

Option 2: Enter a 6-digit code

On the tablet, open app.attendfirst.com/pair and enter the 6-digit code shown on the modal.

The code is valid for 24 hours or until used once, whichever comes first. Tap the refresh icon on the modal to generate a new code.

Option 3: Share the link

If someone else will mount the tablet, paste the URL to them:

• WhatsApp - opens WhatsApp with the link pre-filled.
• Email - opens your mail client with subject and body ready.
• Copy - drops the URL on your clipboard.

Whoever opens the link on the target tablet lands straight on the rotating display. No login needed on the tablet.

The live QR display

Once the tablet is paired, it shows a full-screen display with the device name, the QR, and a countdown timer. The QR refreshes on the interval you set (15s, 30s, 1 min, 5 min). If the tablet loses internet, the display flips to an Offline screen with a Retry button and resumes automatically when the connection returns.

Static QR devices use a similar display page if you opt in via the “Use a tablet as check-in station instead” link:

Row actions

Every device row has a three-dot menu:

• View QR - opens the modal described above.
• Edit - change name, location, checks. Type cannot be changed after creation.
• Rotate static token (Static QR) or Rotate display token (Rotating QR) - invalidates the current QR and generates a new one. Use when a printed QR leaks or a tablet is stolen.
• Delete - removes the device. Past check-ins stay linked to the device name in reports.

Both rotate actions ask for confirmation before they destroy the old token.

QR attendance vs biometric attendance machine

In India, the default attendance system is a fingerprint or face-recognition biometric attendance machine at the office gate. It works, but it is expensive, breaks often, and needs an electrician every time you move it. QR attendance is the same outcome at a fraction of the cost.

	Biometric attendance machine	QR attendance (AttendFirst)
Hardware cost per gate	₹3,000 - ₹15,000	₹0 (print a QR) or a spare tablet
Installation	Electrician, wiring, power outlet	Stick a paper on the wall
Software fee	₹2,000 - ₹10,000 per year	₹299 per employee per year (first 10 free)
Employee setup	Each person enrolls fingerprint or face	Scan once, log in, done
Works across branches	Separate device per branch	One account, unlimited QR devices
Location verification	No	Yes (geofence, optional)
Selfie audit trail	No	Yes (optional)
Hygiene	Shared sensor touched by everyone	No contact
Breakdown recovery	Call a technician	Reprint the QR
Remote / field staff	Not possible	Works anywhere with a phone

A 20-person office does the math like this. A biometric attendance machine costs roughly ₹6,000 upfront plus ₹3,000 per year in AMC. That is ₹9,000 in year one and ₹3,000 every year after. AttendFirst is free for the first 10 employees, so the same 20-person office pays (20 - 10) x ₹299 = ₹2,990 per year. Year one: ₹6,010 cheaper. Year two onwards: ignore the machine, it breaks anyway.

If you are shopping for a biometric attendance machine, try QR attendance first. If your team still prefers fingerprints after a week, you have lost nothing. If QR works, you have just saved ₹6,000 and every future AMC bill.

Frequently asked questions

Is QR attendance cheaper than a biometric attendance system?

Yes, by a wide margin. A biometric attendance machine costs ₹3,000-15,000 upfront per gate plus ₹2,000-10,000 per year in AMC. AttendFirst is ₹299 per employee per year with the first 10 employees free. A 20-person office pays ₹2,990 per year total and needs zero hardware.

Can QR attendance replace a fingerprint attendance machine?

Yes. Both record the same thing: who was physically at a specific place at a specific time. QR attendance adds GPS verification and selfie capture, which a fingerprint machine does not offer. And if the phone works, QR attendance works - no mechanical sensor to wear out.

Can QR attendance replace a face recognition attendance system?

For most small businesses, yes. Face recognition hardware is expensive, sensitive to lighting, and a privacy liability. QR attendance with the optional selfie check gives you the same audit trail (a photo of the person at check-in time) without the dedicated hardware or the biometric data storage.

What’s the difference between Static QR and Rotating QR?

Static QR is a single printable code. Paste it on a wall, and the same QR works forever (until you rotate the token). Rotating QR lives on a tablet or monitor and refreshes every 15 seconds to 5 minutes. Use Static for zero-hardware setups; use Rotating when you want to stop employees from sharing a photo of the code.

Can one device cover multiple locations?

No. Each device is tied to one name and one geofence. Create a separate device per gate, branch, or site.

Does the tablet need AttendFirst installed?

No. Any browser on any tablet, phone, or old monitor works. Open the station URL once and leave the tab open. Employees still scan with their own phones.

What happens if the tablet goes offline?

The display shows an Offline message and stops generating new QRs. It reconnects automatically as soon as Wi-Fi or mobile data comes back.

Is the 6-digit pairing code one-time use?

Yes. The code expires 24 hours after generation or immediately after the tablet pairs successfully. Generate a new code from the View QR modal whenever you need one.

What does “Verify location” actually do?

It does not block check-ins. If an employee scans from outside the geofence radius, the record is tagged unverified and admins can filter those entries in reports. This matters for field staff with weak GPS or remote work exceptions - nobody gets locked out.

Can someone fake a check-in by photographing the QR?

With Static QR, a photo of the code would technically work, but every check-in still needs an employee account to log in and will be tagged as unverified if location is off. Rotating QR defeats photo-sharing entirely: the code changes every few seconds, so yesterday’s screenshot is useless today.

How do I invalidate a printed QR that leaked?

On the device row, open the three-dot menu and pick Rotate static token. The old QR returns an error instantly. Print a fresh one from View QR.

Related docs

• Kiosk mode and the scan flow. What employees see after scanning a device QR.
• Check in and check out. The three check-in methods: GPS, selfie, and QR.
• Company settings. Configure timezone and work schedule that drives attendance rules.
• Reports and CSV export. Filter unverified check-ins and audit device usage.