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What is Workforce Management Software?

Berry van Waarden - April 2, 2023 - 5 minutes reading time
Contents
So, what is workforce management software? Workforce management software is a solution that helps businesses manage their employees' schedules, time and attendance, performance, and other related aspects of workforce management. It can streamline processes and improve efficiency because it automates lots of work whilst providing employees with more transparency and flexibility.

Types of workforce management.

There are two types of workforce management that are important within an organization: Strategic Workforce Management and Operational Workforce Management.

Strategic Workforce Management.

Strategic workforce management looks at system-wide strategies and issues with the aim of: 

  • Making sure the organization has enough capacity.
  • Supporting strategic plans within the organization. 
  • Addressing external workforce factors that affect the business. 
  • Reducing risk exposure.   

What management level to conduct in the workplace depends on the organization's size, how its structured, and how existing programs are managed and budgeted. It's most common that strategic planning is done at a senior-leadership level, depending on the size of the business. However, division, region, or program employers may also do important planning.

Operational Workforce Management.

Operational workforce management focuses on work-unit issues and occurs at the supervisor level. The goal is to maintain the organization’s ability to execute business strategies. When doing operational workforce planning, you will both carry out the workplace strategic workforce planning strategies and respond to external workforce factors that impact a particular unit.

Workforce management software components.

The best workforce management software typically contains a range of features and capabilities to help businesses manage their employees effectively. Some of the key features of top-rated workforce management software include:

  1. Employee Scheduling

  2. Time and attendance tracking

  3. Payroll preperation

  4. Performance tracking and reporting

  5. Workforce analytics

  6. Employee self-service

  7. Mobile capabilities

Employee Scheduling.

The ability to create and manage employee schedules efficiently, including tools for shift planning, time-off requests, and schedule changes.

Time and attendance tracking.

The ability to track employee time and attendance accurately, including features for clocking in and out, managing breaks and overtime, and monitoring absenteeism.

Payroll preperation.

The ability to provide the right information to do payroll, including calculating wages and supplements - preferably automatically. Ideally this can be exported from the workforce management software directly to the payroll provider.

Performance tracking and reporting.

The ability to track performance and generate reports on key metrics such as revenue, labor cost, attendance, and other performance indicators. Ideally, workforce management software uses this data to make forecasts that you can use to work most efficiently with your data. 

Employee self-service.

The ability for employees to access their schedules, time and attendance data, and other relevant information, as well as submit time-off requests and other requests.

Mobile access.

The ability for the whole team, both employees and managers, to access the software via mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets - allowing them to manage and access everything wherever they are.

What is mobile workforce management software?

Mobile workforce management software is used by companies to manage and track their remote or mobile workforce. It includes a range of tools and features that allow companies to monitor and optimize their field operations, including employee scheduling and dispatching, GPS tracking, task management, and reporting.

Mobile workforce management software allows managers to schedule and assign tasks to remote workers, track their progress in real time and optimize schedules to maximize efficiency and productivity. Employees can use mobile apps to receive and complete tasks, submit task reports and feedback, and communicate with their team and supervisors.

Overall, mobile workforce management software helps companies streamline field operations, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, and increase employee engagement and satisfaction. It is particularly useful for companies with a large remote or field workforce, such as those in the transportation, logistics, construction, and healthcare industries.

Why is workforce management software important?

Workforce management software is essential for businesses of all sizes. This is because it helps organizations manage their workforce better, streamline work/staffing and boost productivity. Here are some reasons why workforce management software is important:

Higher efficiency.

Workforce management software helps companies manage their workforce more efficiently. By automating manual tasks, such as employee scheduling, time and attendance, and payroll processing, companies can save time and resources.

Increased productivity.

By using workforce management software, companies can make sure their team is working efficiently and effectively. By using data, you can ensure that an ideal amount of employees are scheduled, allowing you to maintain an ideal level of productivity. This data can also help managers identify inefficiencies and act on them to improve productivity.

Cost savings.

Workforce management software can help companies save money by reducing the amount of time and resources spent on administrative tasks. By automating processes, companies can reduce errors and eliminate the need for manual data entry. Furthermore, not only does it save time, but workforce management software also helps you work smarter. Optimal staffing, higher levels of productivity, and increased employee retention all help to keep more pennies in the bank.

Compliance.

Workforce management software can help companies comply with labor laws and regulations. The software can ensure that employees are paid accurately and on time, and that they get proper breaks and time off.

Increased transparency and better communication.

Workforce management software increases the level of transparency and can improve communication between employees and managers. For example, information becomes more transparent for everyone, employees, for example, can easily see their shifts, hours, salary, and employment contract. Likewise, the software makes communication and sharing of information, updates, and employee schedules easier.

Manage your Workforce with Workfeed.

Workfeed is a workforce management software that helps you save up to 80% of the time you spend on employee scheduling, timekeeping, and payroll preparation. Our mission is to free you from tedious administrative work – so that you can spend all the time and effort on what you love and are passionate about.

FAQ

Workforce management is a way that companies organize and manage their employees to work more efficiently and effectively. It's all about making sure that the right people are in the right place at the right time to get the job done. Workforce management processes help companies plan and schedule their employees, track their work hours, and ensure that they're meeting business goals. Read more in our article: what is workforce management.
There are different types of workforce management software to choose from, all offering different qualities and tools. When searching for a system that fits your needs, you should look at the tools they offer and determine which fit your needs best. Read more about the best workforce management software.
Berry van Waarden
Head of Marketing
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