Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday business operations, but what does that look like in workforce scheduling?
To learn more, we sat down with David Goodrum, Product Lead at Celayix, to discuss the inspiration behind Ask Celayix, how AI is helping schedulers save time, and where workforce management technology is headed next.
Q: David, let’s start with the basics. What is Ask Celayix?
David Goodrum: At its core, Ask Celayix is a conversational AI assistant built directly into the Celayix platform. Instead of navigating through multiple screens or searching through reports, users can simply ask questions in plain language and get the information they need.
Think of it as a faster, more intuitive way to interact with your scheduling data. Whether you’re checking staffing levels, looking for open shifts, reviewing employee schedules, or creating new assignments, Ask Celayix helps you get there more quickly.
Q: What inspired the team to build it?
David: We spend a lot of time talking with customers, and one thing we hear consistently is that schedulers are incredibly busy. They’re managing constant schedule changes, staffing shortages, employee availability, compliance requirements—you name it.
Many of the tasks they perform every day are repetitive but necessary. We saw an opportunity to simplify those interactions and help users accomplish common tasks with less effort.
The goal wasn’t to replace schedulers. It was to give them a smarter, faster way to work.
Scheduling Challenges
Q: What are some of the biggest scheduling challenges organizations face today?
David: Complexity.
Workforces are larger, more dynamic, and more regulated than ever before. Managers need to ensure they have the right people in the right place at the right time while controlling labor costs and meeting customer expectations.
On top of that, unexpected changes happen constantly. Employees call off, shifts need coverage, and priorities change. The faster managers can access information and make decisions, the better they can respond.
That’s where Ask Celayix can make a real difference.
Q: How does Ask Celayix help save time for schedulers?
David: One of the biggest advantages is reducing the number of steps required to get information.
Instead of clicking through menus or running reports, users can ask straightforward questions like:
- “How many open shifts do I have today?”
- “Who is available to work tonight?”
- “Show me upcoming schedules for this location.”
The Assistant quickly surfaces the information, allowing schedulers to focus on solving problems rather than searching for data.
Q: One feature generating a lot of interest is AI-assisted shift creation. How does that work?
David: It’s one of the most exciting capabilities.
Users can describe the shifts they need using everyday language, and Ask Celayix helps create them directly within the scheduling environment. . For example, a scheduler could simply request, “Create five security shifts for Saturday’s event from 6 p.m. to midnight,” rather than manually building each assignment.
It’s a great way to use AI to reduce administrative work while keeping managers in control of scheduling decisions.
Q: Can the Assistant help when staffing issues come up unexpectedly?
David: Absolutely.
Staffing disruptions are one of the most common challenges schedulers face. When coverage issues arise, managers need answers quickly.
Ask Celayix can help identify available employees and surface potential replacement options based on factors like qualifications, availability, and existing schedules. Instead of manually searching through employee records, schedulers can focus on resolving the issue.
Prevent Scheduling Conflicts
Q: What about preventing scheduling conflicts before they become a problem?
David: That’s another area where AI can provide immediate value.
. These alerts are powered by Celayix’s scheduling rules engine, which has been refined through more than 25 years of workforce scheduling experience. Catching those issues early helps organizations avoid last-minute surprises and maintain smoother operations.
For many managers, preventing a problem is just as valuable as solving one.
Q: AI is everywhere right now. How does Celayix approach it differently?
David: We try to stay focused on practical outcomes.
Our customers aren’t looking for flashy technology. They’re looking for ways to save time, improve accuracy, and make better decisions.
“Our customers aren’t looking for flashy technology. They’re looking for ways to save time, improve accuracy, and make better decisions.”
Every AI capability we develop starts with a simple question: Does this solve a real problem for our customers? If the answer is yes, it’s worth pursuing. If not, it’s just technology for technology’s sake.
Q: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Ask Celayix?
David: The potential to make workforce management even more proactive.
Today, we’re helping users find information faster and complete tasks more efficiently. In the future, we’ll continue exploring ways to provide deeper insights, automate routine work, and help managers make better staffing decisions with less effort.
The goal is simple: help organizations spend less time managing schedules and more time focusing on their people and operations.
Help Schedulers Meet Challenges
Workforce scheduling isn’t getting any simpler. Organizations are balancing staffing shortages, changing employee availability, compliance requirements, and rising operational demands.
Tools like Ask Celayix are helping schedulers meet those challenges by making information easier to access and routine tasks easier to complete.
As David puts it, “The best technology doesn’t replace people, it helps them work smarter.” And that’s exactly the vision behind Ask Celayix.
“The best technology doesn’t replace people; it helps them work smarter.”
