When manual processes begin to hold businesses back, it’s the perfect moment for digital transformation. That was exactly the case for SoftEmblems Web Agency, a development studio with a knack for building smart, custom solutions using JetPlugins.
Based in Peshawar, Pakistan, with a second office in Abu Dhabi, SoftEmblems is led by Abdul Muqsit, a self-taught web developer with over 15 years of PHP experience and a decade of WordPress work under his belt. You might recognize him from his practical JetEngine tutorials on YouTube, where he breaks down complex builds into hands-on examples.
One of his agency’s standout projects? A fully automated Timesheet Management Portal that replaced error-prone Excel sheets with a secure, dynamic web application.
The Challenge: Ditching the Spreadsheet Cycle
Before the transformation, the client was juggling employee timesheets using Excel – a system riddled with inefficiencies. Each week, employees submitted spreadsheets that traveled from Admin to Manager before reaching HR for salary processing. The workflow was manual, repetitive, and prone to human error.
The Solution: Fully Automated Web Portal With JetPlugins
Abdul and the team replaced the old method with a robust WordPress-based system built using JetEngine and JetFormBuilder, streamlining the process from start to finish.
🔹 Custom user roles: each employee got a unique WordPress account with access tailored to their role.
🔹 Multi-step approval workflow: timesheets flowed from employee to Admin, then to Manager, all managed through user-to-user relationships and JetFormBuilder automation.
🔹 PDF generation: finalized timesheets were converted into clean, repeatable-friendly PDFs (thanks to the JetFormBuilder PDF Attachment add-on and some expert tweaks).
🔹 CSV export for payroll: custom CSVs mimicked the original Excel format for easy system import.
🔹 Calculated fields: automatically totaled hours from repeater fields using JetFormBuilder’s math features.
🔹 Query builder mastery: displayed data dynamically based on user roles and permissions.
🔹 Secure internal app: built entirely with Profile Builder; no public-facing pages.
🔹 Security and maintenance: REST API endpoints were disabled, SEO indexing turned off, and a daily cron job clears outdated PDFs to keep things lean.
From Timesheets to Total Utility
Although the project began as a basic timesheet tool, it evolved into a comprehensive internal portal for the company. Today, it handles:
- employee profiles;
- payroll;
- training matrix (employee training records);
- forecast planning;
- overtime requests.
Tools of the Trade
- Hosting: Hostinger
- Native editor or page builder: Elementor
- Must-have WordPress plugin: JetEngine
- Wireframing tool: Relume
- Crocoblock plan: Lifetime
- Caching: LiteSpeed
- SEO: Rank Math
- Translation: Polylang
- Security: Wordfence
- Team Size: 5
Advice from Abdul for Newbies
“Master Query Builder, Profile Builder, and JetFormBuilder. With JetEngine, you can build nearly any web application. Occasionally, you might need to write a few lines of code, but these tools can handle most of the heavy lifting. Learn them well – they’re powerful!”
Bottom Line
SoftEmblems’ Timesheet Management Portal is a prime example of what is possible when powerful tools like JetEngine and JetFormBuilder are paired with real development insight. What began as a simple request to streamline timesheet approvals grew into a full-featured internal platform, handling everything from employee training to payroll forecasting.
For agencies and freelancers working on similar complex workflows, this project demonstrates that no-code or low-code tools can deliver serious results without compromising scalability or security.
And for those just getting started, Abdul’s advice is spot on: learn the tools, master the logic, and let JetPlugins do the heavy lifting. There’s a lot to take away from SoftEmblems’ approach: solve real problems, automate where it matters, and always build with flexibility in mind.
