Creating employee schedules can be a juggling act. You need to understand your staff’s availability and fairly balance shifts. You also have to make sure that your business always has enough coverage without running into overtime issues. Do you want some help managing it all? In this guide, you’ll discover the best employee scheduling software solutions for 2024. We’ll share what you need to know to improve scheduling. Plus, you’ll get the details to find the best employee scheduling app that meets your needs and budget.
What is employee scheduling software?
Employee scheduling software streamlines shift management. It’s a digital tool for creating and coordinating staff schedules. Advanced features, such as applicant tracking, are essential for the best employee scheduling software. All while managers gain visibility into forecasts and costs. This makes it easier to avoid under or over-staffing.
Good scheduling software delivers a complete solution that small businesses benefit from. Businesses are figuring out how to do more with fewer resources while still staying in compliance. Scheduling software can help with that. You can use a free employee scheduling app or paid options.
Why your business needs an employee scheduling app
So now you know what an employee scheduling solution does, but what do some of the benefits look like in practice? Here’s what you can expect to see when you implement this type of software. The software can be configured to meet the unique employee scheduling needs of different industries, ensuring shift coverage while empowering employees.
Increased efficiency
Automated scheduling saves administrative time. Employee self-service reduces management tasks. When you schedule employees effectively, the right people cover the right shifts, allowing you to stress less about day to day operations. Smart scheduling helps businesses run more smoothly.
Reduced labor costs
Do you have trouble finding the right staffing levels as your needs fluctuate? Optimize coverage and eliminate overstaffing. You can also set budgets and get alerts for overspending. This helps keep labor costs in check.
Improved accountability
Centralized records promote transparency. Time tracking helps in managing staff availability and generating timesheet reports. Track employee clock-ins/outs and requests easily. Scheduling software puts all the back and forth in one place. That way, everyone on your team can be on the same page.
Better employee engagement
Not having a good scheduling process in place can be tough on the business. Employees who can’t easily check their schedule may get frustrated. Having employee scheduling software solves this problem by making information more accessible. The software also allows employees to swap shifts via the mobile app.
In fact, research suggests employees with better work-life balance are more productive and engaged. Work schedules that enable self-service according to workers’ needs contribute to this balance. That can lead to a more satisfied and efficient workforce.
Strong compliance
Staying in compliance is one of the most important priorities for any business. The software provides alerts for scheduling conflicts and ensures compliance with labor laws. Built-in checks for overtime and labor laws help avoid violations. This helps you stay compliant with meal breaks and predictive scheduling rules.
How to find the best employee scheduling software
With many options available, how do you make the right decision? The best employee scheduling software can manage multiple locations, allowing you to set up multiple schedules per region, location, department, and team. Consider these factors to find the best employee work scheduling app for your business.
List your must-have features
Start by listing must-have features. Shift scheduling is a critical feature to consider when evaluating software solutions. Think about current pain points in your scheduling process. For example, if your business is seasonal, you may have trouble measuring demand. This makes forecasting even more important.
Get feedback
Get feedback from your managers and employees. Time off requests are a valuable feature that allows employees to submit and manage their requests, while managers can track and approve them efficiently. What scheduling problems do they need help solving? Which features would make their jobs easier? Their input can empower you to choose a system that works for everyone.
Consider your budget
Determine how much you’re willing to spend. Remember, the right software can lead to cost savings in the long run. Many providers offer tiered pricing. So you can start small and scale up as needed.
Read reviews
Read case studies and reviews. It can be particularly helpful to hear from others that are in the same industry as you. Getting perspective from real customers can help you decide if a solution suits your needs.
Check integrations
Make sure the software can integrate with your existing systems. Integrating a time tracking tool can help manage work shifts and optimize staffing levels. This way, your team will have less administrative work to do. It also helps you avoid costly errors that can come with managing data across systems.
Evaluate customer support
Look into the level of customer support each solution offers. Will you have access to help when you need it? Consider factors like support hours and response times. It’s also helpful to have access to resources like a knowledge base.
Top 5 best employee scheduling software solutions to consider
Looking for the most effective options on the market? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at some of the most popular solutions.
1. Homebase
Homebase is a flexible and easy-to-use scheduling solution. You can choose between auto-populating your timetable, using unlimited templates, or letting staff self-schedule by claiming open shifts.
It lets you publish schedules on the Homebase mobile app and notify staff instantly. From there, employees can view their hours, request covers or trades, and read notes about their shifts. And when emergencies come up, you can quickly message custom groups, individuals, or the whole team to organize last-minute schedule changes.
Homebase has a free plan with all the essential features you need for one small business location. And unlike many competitors, an unlimited number of employees can access and use our app, no matter what paid plan you’re on.
2. Deputy
Deputy shines with data-driven scheduling. Its auto-scheduling considers sales patterns and demand signals. This optimizes staffing during busy periods. It also helps you control labor costs.
This software is good for dynamic scheduling. You can make changes to your timetable and let staff trade and cover shifts. All without creating extra administrative work. That’s ideal for businesses like bars and restaurants where your staffing needs can fluctuate.
Deputy doesn’t have a free plan, but it does offer a free trial. There are also three paid plans. If you decide this is the right scheduling option for you, it’s possible to scale up and get more features. Businesses with over 250 employees can also get a custom plan.
3. Sling
Sling software makes team scheduling simple. Free apps for scheduling employees are available, offering features like multiple schedules, shift tracking, and staff availability. And it improves the scheduling experience. You can filter and assign shifts in a few clicks. Then automatically remind employees of upcoming shifts. That can increase on-time arrivals and productivity.
This option offers a comprehensive employee directory. You can view and group team members based on many criteria, including position, location, and department. This could make it easier to manage multiple business locations. Especially if they share staff and customers.
Sling has a free plan with basic scheduling tools and templates. You can also upgrade to a paid plan to get more features. But its paid plans are priced per employee. That means you may end up paying more for those features than you would with a similar app.
4. Planday
Planday has features that work best for complex organizational structures. It’s perfect for businesses with multiple locations or departments. You can create custom views for each part of your operation.
This software offers a high level of flexibility. Set unique templates for different work environments. Manage them all from one central dashboard. That’s valuable for franchises or businesses with distributed teams.
Planday considers skills and compliance rules. Staff can also manage their own availability and shift trades through the app. There’s a 30-day free trial you can use to evaluate the software. As your needs grow, you can upgrade to more advanced features.
5. Findmyshift
Findmyshift stands out with its simplicity. The interface is clean and intuitive. You can create schedules quickly using shortcuts or drag-and-drop. This is ideal for businesses that want straightforward scheduling without a steep learning curve.
This software focuses on the basics but does them well. You can easily copy shifts and track time off. It also includes communication tools like group chats and message boards. But it does lack some advanced features.
There’s a free plan for up to 5 users. Paid plans are priced per team. This makes it one of the more affordable options. Especially for smaller businesses that are just starting with digital scheduling.
You can streamline scheduling for your business.
You have many choices when it comes to scheduling software for employees. Small business owners have to take specific steps to make the best call. Determine your must-have features and what will work with your budget before you make a choice.
The best employee scheduling software for small businesses will automate common tasks. It will also give you confidence you’re handling demand accurately. Plus, it helps to keep you compliant with all regulations.
With the right scheduling software in place, you can free up valuable time and resources to focus on what really matters: growing your business and achieving your goals. Don’t let scheduling be a source of stress. Embrace technology and let it support this part of your operation. The Homebase app is designed for small businesses like yours to make scheduling and other management tasks simpler than ever. So now that you can minimize stress and ensure that the business always has coverage.
Get started today.
