There are several ways in which workforce management software can support a business – from rostering to compliance
Workforce management (WFM) refers to the processes designed to allocate resources, improve efficiency, forecast workloads and manage schedules within a business. And without effective WFM processes, customer experience can suffer and compliance breaches can escalate.
By implementing WFM software, employers can optimise how talent is used and keep their labour costs in check.
Humanforce’s report The essential guide to workforce management software outlines several ways that WFM can be used to strengthen business efficiency.
Understand the numbers: WFM software provides a wealth of data but its what you do with the data that matters. Analysing the data can help employers spot trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
“If you’re manually managing shift times and pay rates, its time to consider automation,” the Humanforce report said. “By automating time, pay and leave calculations, businesses can improve data accuracy, reduce data silos and free up time for HR and administrative personnel to focus on more strategic initiatives.”
Create demand-driven rosters: Employers should have a good idea of when peaks and toughs occur in their business – the busy periods of the day, month or year when more staff are needed to meet demand. Having well integrated software solutions can assist in managing these needs.
“The more data you have in your system, the more effectively you can predict your demand curve and create rosters to match demand,” the report said.
Avoid excessive overtime while maintaining compliance: Small amounts of overtime over a long period can quickly add up, especially with a large workforce. And whether your employees are paid at a higher rate of overtime depends on each organisation’s particular award or agreement.
Overtime often costs a business more if there is no additional revenue. And if staff are struggling with the workload, employers should consider bringing a part-time staff member on board or improving their internal business processes.
“Smart WFM solutions can navigate this tricky terrain to ensure your labour costs stay within budget, and just as critically, you remain compliant with pay, loadings and conditions,” the report said.
For the full list, check out Humanforce’s report The essential guide to workforce management software.
