Finding the Best Workforce Management System for Your Business

Managing all your employees is an important duty, and can be made easier with workforce management systems. Read on to learn which system is best for you.

Here's a shocking figure: ineffective management costs the American economy over $320 billion a year.

Ask yourself: are you doing everything you can to manage your workers in a way that benefits everyone?

We know you want to be the best manager you can be. We know you want more effective HR strategies.

We know you don't want to cause your employees to be among the 70% of American workers who are miserable at their jobs.

But the reality is that sometimes, there just isn't enough time in the day for you and HR to do everything yourselves.

Plus, with 40% of managers and HR representatives say that poor data is impacting their ability to manage their employees' time at work effectively. You can't always get the reliable data you need to accurately evaluate performance.

What's the solution?

Workforce management software.

In this post, we'll tell you about the benefits of workforce management systems, what to look for, and where to find the best and most experienced software professionals for you, your company, and your employees.

What Is Workforce Management Software?

Before we launch into what makes for the best workforce management software, let's first make sure you know what it is, and what it does for your company!

Essentially, it's a computer and/or mobile-based system that makes scheduling and tracking the hours of your staff a whole lot easier.

Especially if you pay your workers by the hour, you know just how easy it is to make errors, lose time sheets, or deal with the anxieties that come with "clocking in and out" every day.

Workforce management systems can help you analyze the effectiveness of your current way of doing business. For example, it can tell you how much time it actually takes to make a single product or to complete a full transaction.

You'll also be able to manage compliance requirements with ease.

It can help you find out your busiest times and slowest times of the work day. Now you know how many employees to call in during certain hours.

It's designed to help you make the most efficient use of your employees' time. You'll be able to see exactly how, in detailed reports, your employees are using their time at work.

That way, you can be sure you're putting their skills to good use, and better evaluate their productivity.

Since your employees' salaries and benefits make up close to 70% of the total operating cost of your business, you need to know what they're up to - and how you can help them manage their time more efficiently.

It can also make handling requests for time off a lot easier. And can help cut down on your day-to-day task management.

Finally, it makes tracking your workers' hours much easier, which makes everyone happy.

What Are The Benefits of a Workforce Management System?

There are lots of benefits to workforce management systems! Some of the most popular include:

• Happier employees (because it ensures they get paid correctly and on time)
• Lowered Costs (because you won't have to hire people to handle payroll)
• Better Data Analysis (because everything is tracked and reported to you)
• Easier Compliance Communications (because your records will be automated)
• More satisfied customers (because you can use the collected data to see how your employees spend their time with customers)

What Are The Best Features Of Workforce Management Software?

There are lots of options out there when it comes to workforce management software - but we know you want to deal with the best.

If your software company doesn't have the following features, then it's time to find a company that does.

Scheduling

This can help you keep track of your employee training, and make sure it's up to date. It will also tell you when training is finished.

You can create schedules that are in line with compliance, company policy, safety regulations, and employee availability.

This feature will also make scheduling overtime a breeze and will make sure it's logged properly in your system.

Finally, you'll be able to take a look at how the skills, availability, location, and qualifications of your employees help or hinder your overall productivity - and schedule accordingly.

Leave Management

This workforce management software feature makes taking time off a snap. You'll be able to access vacation days and leaves of absence with ease, and will help you keep track of attendance.

It will let your employees know if they have entitlement balances, more time off, and available overtime.

You'll also be able to more clearly mark the difference between paid and unpaid leave.

Finally, this feature will provide your employees with clear, always-available reminders about the amount of vacation/leave they can take.

Absences and Disciplinary Actions

You can see who is coming to work late every day, and discipline them accordingly. You can also send out formal warnings and automatic alerts if needed.

You can catch issues like changes in the type of leave (like how PTO became a sick day). You can also make sure your employees give enough notice if they're going to miss a day.

Employees will clearly know where they stand in disciplinary action/performance because point-based systems are used. Alerts are sent when they are running late.

Timekeeping Features

This is one of the most crucial features of your workforce management software.

This feature should work directly with your employee's electronic swipe-ins, and automatically puts schedules onto a time card - no rekeying needed!

You'll also be able to automatically adjust pay levels based on the rate of a specific job and the hours worked. It makes things like rounding time much easier.

It helps to put an end to expensive pyramiding, while making sure you're always paying your employees fairly for the time they've worked.

Work Order Scheduling

This will make sure that you're always using your employee's available hours, and that you can plan out work order schedules every week, ahead of time.

You can also more easily assign certain jobs to the most qualified employees, and look at planned vs. actual work orders side by side. Finally, this feature will also let you know if there have been any sudden changes to your employee's regular schedule.

Self-Service For Employees

Look, no one likes being micro-managed. And you don't like losing work hours every week dealing with constant workforce management issues.

Self-service makes life easier for everyone.

Your employees will have access to their data. They can bid on available shifts for jobs they want or look at their available time off and request it, and clock in and out digitally.

They'll also be able to change shifts with other employees, make sure their daily timecard is accurate, and see their total hours worked.

No more repetitious questions. Popular information is shown digitally, on demand, and in an easy-to-read and manage interface.

Workforce Data and Analytics

You know it's difficult to accurately evaluate employees. You need to make sure that you're bringing the right people along as your business grows.

This data allows you to find ways to improve your performance, see how far you are away from your goals, and see progress in real time.

Information is easy to filter and find, so you don't have to waste valuable time wading through data.

Where Can I Find The Best Software For My Business?

You know the reasons behind benefits and required features to look for when you're deciding on your workforce management software.

But, you don't really have a lot of time to dig through different websites and listen to pitches from multiple companies.

Don't worry - we've got your back.

We offer all the software services listed above, and we're always on the lookout for ways to make your life and the lives of your employees and HR representatives easier.

To learn more about how our services will help streamline the daily operations of your business and save you time, contact us.

Stop losing valuable working hours to payroll problems, and stop inaccurately evaluating employees, which can cost you time and money.

Let's get the most out of every workday, and every employee, together. And let's make sure everyone in your office is happy, paid on time, and knows what's expected of them!

Check out our blog to learn even more about what makes us the best in the business, and to get valuable advice from our experts about how to be the most effective employer possible.