Understanding Benchmarks AI

Note: Benchmarks AI is available with Time Doctor’s Premium Subscription Plan and as an add-on to Basic and Standard plans. This feature is accessible by Owners, Admins, and Managers.

TL;DR:

Benchmarks AI helps compare users or groups against similar profiles or broader industry data to identify performance trends and gaps. Leverage insights to set realistic goals and optimize team efficiency using weekly metrics and percentile-based performance bands.

Benchmarks AI in Time Doctor help companies compare users against others with similar work behaviors and profiles, and companies within the same industry. This guide is a walkthrough on how to use the benchmarking feature, select comparison groups, interpret key insights, and apply best practices.

How to Benchmark Your Users

Note: Time Doctor analyzes data from over 250,000 users across 12,000+ businesses while keeping everything anonymous. For benchmarking to be meaningful, Time Doctor uses AI to group users with similar characteristics and work patterns. This way, a company can see how their users are compared not only within their industry, but also to those whose work is most similar within their sector.

For each metric, one can choose which group to benchmark the selected users against:

Similar Profiles (AI Matched)
- This compares the metrics set against user profiles that are most similar to the selected users (e.g., job role and work patterns). This option provides the most relevant insights.
All Profiles
- This compares the metrics set against the entire Time Doctor user base. This provides a broader perspective but may be less applicable to the company’s specific business context.

Understanding the Top and Bottom 25% Bands

Each benchmarked metric is presented with performance bands to help interpret how the team compares:

Top 25% – Represents the users who fall within the highest 25th percentile of performance in the selected comparison group.
Bottom 25% – Represents the users who fall within the lowest 25th percentile of performance in the selected comparison group.

These bands help identify where the team excels and where there may be opportunities for improvement.

Available Date Ranges

Note: Benchmarked data is available on a weekly basis, starting from January 2025.Due to processing time, there is a one-week lag, meaning the current week will not be available. Each week runs from from Monday to Sunday.

Use the date picker to select a specific week, month, or custom date range to analyze trends over time. By default, the past 60 days are shown.

For a longer date range, switching to the full-width view makes it easier to spot trends across time.

Benchmarking Multiple Users or Groups Separately

Compare the performance of up to five users or groups on a single chart by enabling the “Show Users/Groups Individually (Max 5)” option. When selecting the “Similar Profiles (AI Matched)” option, each user or group is benchmarked against profiles that are most similar to them.

User-Level Benchmark Details

Access detailed benchmarks for individual users by clicking on any data point in the chart or selecting “View User-Level Benchmarks.” This view shows aggregated values for each week for the selected users, along with the percentile they fall into within their benchmark group.

Click on any data point in the chart to instantly explore that week’s metrics in the side panel. Perfect for investigating spikes, drops, or standout changes.

When comparing groups (up to five at once), filter exactly which groups appear from the side panel.

Best Practices for Using Benchmarks AI

In today’s competitive landscape, businesses need reliable data to evaluate their performance. Benchmarks provide a valuable reference point, by allowing companies to compare their key metrics against industry standards or those of similar businesses.

How Benchmarking Helps Businesses

Identify Performance Gaps – Understand where the business stands compared to industry peers and pinpoint areas that need improvement.
Set Realistic Goals – Use benchmarks to establish data-driven targets that are both ambitious and achievable.
Enhance Decision-Making – Leverage comparative insights to refine strategies, optimize operations, and stay competitive.

Understanding how the team compares to the top 25% of benchmarked users can help identify best practices and areas for improvement, while insights from the bottom 25% can highlight potential risks and inefficiencies. Use this data to tailor strategies that fit the company’s unique operational needs.

Note: While benchmarks provide valuable context, it’s essential to interpret them in relation to the company’s unique business environment, considering factors like company size, workforce structure, and industry nuances.

Tips for Using Benchmarks AI

To make the most of benchmarking, consider these best practices:

Look at Trends, Not Just Snapshots – A single data point can be misleading; focus on trends over time to understand real performance shifts.
Use Benchmarks as a Guide, Not a Target – Benchmark averages provide context, but each business may have unique factors that require different goals.
Leverage Additional Reports for Deeper Analysis – Benchmarks AI highlight gaps, but diving into detailed reports within Time Doctor will help uncover root causes and solutions.

Next Steps

Now that you understand how Benchmarks AI works, explore the Time Doctor reports that provide deeper insights into your team’s productivity. Use these benchmarks as a guide to set realistic goals, optimize workflows, and improve performance.

Should there be any inconsistencies or concerns regarding this article, contact support@timedoctor.com for prompt assistance.