A Guide to the Latest Trends in Workforce Management Scheduling
Working nine to five, as Dolly opined, was but a way to make a living. But now times are changing. Businesses have adopted a new approach to staffing, one that embraces flexibility, technology, and a commitment to support staff.
At the heart of this change is workforce management scheduling. Read on about some trends driving recent changes in how companies manage their employees’ schedules.
AI-Powered Tools
AI technology has leaped into the mainstream in the last twelve months, including workforce management scheduling. It’s transformed business practices by creating the most advanced predictive capabilities ever.
That means a tool that can automate scheduling and predict staffing needs.
These AI-powered tools can analyze vast data sets to improve scheduling, like employee skills and availability. It helps to make an operating team more efficient and improve workplace satisfaction, all in a more streamlined fashion.
The Demand for Flexibility
Workforce scheduling was often about fitting into some rigid rules. That might be the hours scheduled or the working times. Businesses operated on an immovable daily calendar.
However, there has been a shift to a more flexible approach to the workforce. People nowadays want jobs that they can fit around their lives. That might be seniors wanting part-time roles or parents juggling work and the school run.
Workforce scheduling has adapted to this change. Many now offer a more fluid employee schedule to help attract talent to the workplace.
Tool Integrations
New scheduling tools are forever hitting the market, ready to tap into a need for a more efficient and organized approach. But as teams have dispersed remotely and grown, another challenge has emerged: integration.
These scheduling tools must link to other parts of a business’s IT setup. For example, you might want your workplace scheduling tool to connect to a time-tracking tool and your accounts software.
So, a big trend that will continue over the coming year is improved integrations between different platforms. Integration helps businesses create a more centralized setup.
Analytics
Modern technology gives businesses access to millions of data points. If companies can harness this data, it can provide an exciting advantage.
For scheduling, data-driven decision-making is one of the most powerful workforce management strategies. For example, a business can track historical scheduling and demand peaks to help with future staffing needs.
It reduces the likelihood you’ll overstaff and push up employee costs unnecessarily.
Real-time data is also valuable. It can mean a business responds rapidly to a staffing need instead of spotting it after the event.
Employee-Centered Scheduling
Scheduling used to be top-down, with the business driving the demand for when staff work. That’s beginning to change.
Companies want to improve how they support their teams – it helps attract talent and improve retention. So that means new scheduling practices driven more by what staff need.
It helps create a happier and more productive workforce.
Trends in Workforce Management Scheduling
If you want to attract talent to your team, you need to embrace these latest trends in workforce management scheduling. Focus on what your team needs, and invest in the best technology.
For a more productive team, get in contact with Xact to find out how our services can support your business.