Whether you’ve got 10 employees or 10,000, one of the biggest challenges you’ll face is managing them competently. No matter how many managers you have, overseeing an entire company can be overwhelming. But fear not. You’ll be happy to hear that there are many tools that you can adopt to guarantee an optimized workforce. Enter workforce management tools.
Workforce management is an integrated set of processes that companies use to strategically optimize the productivity of their employees. If an organization identifies the most suitable tools to support their business needs, then they can expect great success. Sounds easy, right? Below, we will break down the workforce management tools that generally help. First, let’s take a look at some key factors in optimizing your workforce:
- Employee Scheduling
- Planning
- Recruiting
- Reporting
If the necessary resources are in place to operate these effectively, then you’ll definitely be sleeping better at night. The truth is that many organizations work tirelessly to reach their goals. But they look beyond the strategies that make them more achievable. Recent reports have underlined this cause for concern. Asana’s research highlights that 7 in 10 workers feel they’d be better equipped to hit targets with clearer processes on managing work. Not only does this highlight a clear imbalance of strategic alignment. But also a lack of effort to make it right. For the sake of organizations seeking guaranteed success, this statistic needs to change.
Workforce Management Tools You Should Consider
Now let’s discuss the workforce management tools that can make the difference.
Employee Scheduling Software
The employee scheduling process is generally very complex. However, it doesn’t need to be. Managers spend hours a week trying to find the perfect schedule, which in reality doesn’t exist. As reliable as your workforce is, there will always be change. And with change comes the need for quick decisions. To optimize your workforce more effectively, we know just the tool.
Employee scheduling software is one of the most powerful workforce management tools you can have. And the facts don’t lie. MarketWatch reported that the global Employee Scheduling Software market is expected to grow from 307.1 million in 2020, to 683.9 million USD in 2027. A staggering growth rate of 12.1% annually! Today’s challenging workforce landscape is causing rising labor costs, change in worker expectations, and new regulatory compliances. This is forcing organizations to act. And quickly. Employee scheduling software helps in allocating resources to suit business requirements and work priorities. It also helps to lower labor costs and save time. Which makes it the perfect workforce management tool.
Celayix
At Celayix, we’re advocates of best-of-breed scheduling software. Many of our clients come from some of the busiest industries such as healthcare and hospitality. They have many success stories to tell. And we’re proud to say we support them. Our easy-to-use platform provides a simplified employee scheduling process, proven to save 95% of the time you’ve been spending. Celayix automates billing and payroll while minimalizing user error. Generating reports has never been more efficient and effortless. Our mobile app gives employees the autonomy over their schedules that they crave. And the power to instantly communicate with their supervisor. But best of all, our employee scheduling software is customizable to the point of operating exactly how you want it to.
The perks are endless. But the biggest perk is abundantly clear. Integrating employee scheduling software into your organization will prove to be the workforce management tool that you so desperately need. We did mention that our employee scheduling software can support your payroll. But now let’s take a look into the importance of having payroll software as a workforce management tool.
Payroll software
Without the support of payroll software, keeping on top of your pay run would be incredibly difficult. However, we can say this with great confidence. A computerized payroll system will provide great speed, efficiency and are very reliant.
Unless you have few employees, manual calculation is far too time-consuming. But it seems that standalone payroll software is no longer a business trend. A recent study from Kronos and the American Payroll Association found that only 29% of organizations are using a payroll system 10 years or older. This is largely due to a recent interest in all-inclusive systems that carry more than a singular purpose. One way or another, it’s essential that an organization used a method of support for their payroll.
A major advantage of payroll software is automatic and accurate calculation. No more room for manual error. Which means you’ll no longer be worrying about making that costly mistake. Not only are they time-saving, but cost-effective too. Equally as important, good quality payroll software will ensure that your data is totally secure. With the amount of personal information stored, this is imperative. Better yet, new payroll software comes with improved mobility and accessibility. Just like Celayix Mobile with your schedule, payroll software gives employees access to their paycheques. Offering a more flexible way of processing, the finance department are saving time, money, and manpower.
If we haven’t made it clear enough, payroll software is crucial to all organizations. Whether it be standalone or within an all-inclusive system, payroll support should be high on the priority list.
That leads us into analytics and reporting.
HR Analytics and Reporting
It’s near impossible to make successful decisions on gut feeling alone. This is why we need data as reasoning to back them up.
Luckily, most employee scheduling software comes with built-in analytics. Documented reports often give a great insight as to where your hours are being spent. But without being sure that it will bring the guaranteed success you’re in search of, then it’s a risky decision. Most organizations will demand calculated decisions. And calculated decisions only.
This may sound counterintuitive. But in order to implement successful workforce management tools, you need to interpret what the analytics and reports are telling you. In simpler terms, break down why it may be successful, or not. By measuring the optimization a tool will have on your workforce, you’re deciding the value it brings to you and your organization. Communicating this information throughout will ensure that everyone is aware of any new tools or understands how best to use the current tools. A more streamlined process is sure to guarantee more success.
Recruiting
Analytics can be instrumental if used purposefully. Recruitee made us aware that there are 75% more clicks for ads that feature salaries. For a company undergoing a recruitment process, this information could be vital. So what we’re saying is, if you have a concrete reason to ensure the way you’re operating will lead you to success, then you’re in a strong position. In this case, a company featuring the salary is likely to get way more hits than one that isn’t. And therefore, will have more chance of attracting top talent.
As we find ourselves in the “Great Resignation”, your HR team is likely in overdrive. They need all the help they can get. It may be a good opportunity to invest in HR software that helps your workforce planning. Plus, it helps to identify threats in the ever-changing economic conditions. Now more than ever there are huge decisions to be made and this is your chance to prepare for them.
Smartphones
Everywhere you turn there’s a smartphone. Whether you’re in a restaurant, on a bus, or eating lunch at the work canteen. Everyone has their head buried in one. There once was a time that these were just for recreational use. But not anymore. Now they’re an integral part of every successful business. A workforce management tool of communication and much much more.
The reality is that we can do almost anything with these clever pieces of technology. Accessing your schedule? There’s an app for it. Tracking your analytics? There’s an app for that too. The smartphone gives us the freedom to do just about anything, anywhere. And this is why they’re so important within your workforce.
According to reports, the average person picks up their smartphone 280 times per day. Long have smartphones been viewed as a distraction in the workplace. But now, they should be viewed as an asset. In accordance with TechCrunch, the rise of the smartphone can help to empower workers to be more efficient and productive. It could be as simple as using an app as previously mentioned. Or providing a tool for instant communication. Either way, it can be argued that it will make an employee feel more engaged. As reported by Smarp, organizations, where engagement is “high”, are actually 22% more profitable than organizations with “low” engagement. Employees are the beating heart of your organization. Give them the support to succeed, and revel in the results.
Got what you need to succeed?
It’s your turn to evaluate the workforce management tools that your organization uses. Are they outdated or are they efficient? Most importantly, are they guaranteeing success?
These questions should be asked, and frequently. More noticeably of late, times are changing. And however big or small, those changes will never stop. The recent unpredictability means that organizations must recognize the workforce management tools that make them successful. But also choose the ones that are flexible. If they’re flexible enough to be customized when dealing with change, then you can be confident that you’re guaranteed success. But if not, then maybe it’s time to revaluate.
Regardless of your current situation, it’s good to remember one thing. As the great American scholar, organizational consultant and author, Warren G. Bennis once said:
“In life, change is inevitable. In business, change is vital.”
Are you prepared for change?
