Compare the different ways to use Flexible Timekeeping with the ServiceTitan Field Mobile App

  • Updated on Apr 6, 2026
  • Published on Mar 19, 2026
  • 4 minute(s) read
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Overview

Depending on your account configuration, there are three ways time can be tracked with Flexible Timekeeping in the Field Mobile App: Manually, Automatically, or Continuously. Learn how each method works so you can determine the best timekeeping strategy for your business.

Who uses this feature

  • Administrators, managers, owners, and technicians

  • Applies to all business types

Feature configuration

Things to know

Manual Timekeeping

With Manual Timekeeping, technicians clock in to timesheets by tapping Time > Add Timesheet > manually filling out a timesheet entry form and tapping Add Entry. This needs to be done for each task that needs to be tracked, whether it’s job-related or non-job related, such as a meal break.

For more, see Use Manual Timekeeping in the ServiceTitan Field Mobile App.

Screenshots showing job details, timesheet entries, and adding a timesheet entry.

Automatic Timekeeping

To use Automatic Timekeeping, first turn it on from the office in Settings > People > Payroll > Timesheet Connection.

With Automatic Timekeeping, technicians are automatically clocked into timesheets when they open their job and tap Dispatch > Arrive.

Screenshots showing job status updates for maintenance sales visit in an app.

The start and end times are based on when an action is tapped:

  • Tapping Dispatch creates a Driving timesheet.

  • Tapping Arrive ends the Driving timesheet and creates a Working timesheet.

  • Tapping Close Out and then tapping Pause Appointment , Hold and Reschedule Appointment , Schedule Another Appointment event , or Complete Job/Appointment ends the Working timesheet.

If non-job related work or meal breaks need to be taken while on a job, technicians will need to tap Close Out > Pause Appointment and then add a manual timesheet entry for the non-job work. Tapping Dispatch > Arrive again creates timesheets for the remaining work.

For more, see:

Continuous Timekeeping

To use Continuous Timekeeping, first turn it on and configure from the office in Settings > People > Payroll > Continuous Timekeeping Settings.

Note: Automatic Timekeeping and account configuration is also required to use Continuous Timekeeping. Please contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) for details.

Continuous Timekeeping works the same as Automatic Timekeeping but also includes quick actions for common scenarios—like Meal Break, Review, and Waiting on Next Job—and custom timesheet activities—like Holiday, Jury Duty, or Bereavement—configured on the office side. This eliminates the need for technicians to enter manual timesheets for non-job or other tasks.

In addition to timesheets being created by Dispatch, Arrive, and Close Out actions, other activities, like Meal Break, Review Schedule, and Waiting on Next Job can be selected in Time > Add new entry/Current Activity. Each action automatically clocks the technician into a timesheet and clocks them out of the previous one, if an ongoing activity was present at the time.

Screenshots of a job management app showing job details and timesheet options.

Depending on how Continuous Timekeeping is set up in the office, tapping an action like Dispatch, Arrive, and Meal Break will either log time automatically or prompt the technician to choose an activity.

Job summary detailing customer information and dispatch options for service appointments.

For more, see:

Common timesheet scenarios

These are some common scenarios for Automatic and Continuous Timekeeping. These aren’t applicable with Manual Timekeeping.

What happens if I create a meal break without pausing the job and re-dispatching in Automatic Timekeeping?

If you’ve dispatched and arrived at a job, a Working timesheet is created automatically. While still in Working status, if you manually create a Meal timesheet, the Working timesheet ends with the start time of the Meal timesheet. When you enter your end time on the Meal timesheet the Working timesheet doesn’t automatically start again. You must manually add a timesheet for the remaining time you are working.

Tip: Use the Pause Job option when you want to take a meal break. You can then unpause the job, dispatch, and arrive and a new Working timesheet is created automatically.

What happens if I create a new timesheet while in Working status in Automatic Timekeeping?

When you create a new timesheet while you’re in Working status, the Working timesheet ends with the start time of the new manual timesheet. When you close out the job, the Working timesheet stays the same and doesn’t update with the end time of the job.

What happens if I dispatch and arrive at a job when I already have an existing timesheet in Continuous Timekeeping?

If the existing timesheet is ongoing from an earlier time and you tap Dispatch, a Driving timesheet is created and the existing timesheet is ended.

Tip: Make sure you have no active timesheets before dispatching yourself to a job.

What happens if a Dispatch/Driving timesheet overlaps with an existing timesheet?

If you have a timesheet created with an end time of 11:15 AM and you dispatch yourself to a job at 11:10 AM with an arrival time of 11:20 AM, a Working timesheet is automatically created with the arrival time as the start time. A Driving timesheet is not created because it overlaps with an existing timesheet.

What happens if I forget to close out a job or end an ongoing timesheet at the end of the day?

Based on your company’s configuration, timesheets may close based on the duration threshold. If a timesheet does not meet this threshold, the system automatically closes the existing time entry at midnight and creates a new time entry that starts at midnight.

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