Click here to download free Workforce Management reference materials.

Retail Solutions, Melbourne (September 19th, 2006) – WorkPlace Systems, a leading supplier of integrated Workforce Management solutions and gold sponsor of this year’s Retail Technology Expo (stand F6), is targeting retailers with the launch of WorkPlace ChangePlanner – a strategic Workforce Management tool which complements and extends the existing WorkPlace suite of operational Workforce Management software.

The new module allows central or regional resource planners to deliver store managers with optimal rosters to suit specific demand periods in the year reflecting the particular profile for each store. WorkPlace estimates that this can improve store compliance in the use of optimised rostering by at least 50%, plus it allows optimised rosters to be implemented across the entire estate within short timeframes, securing the financial benefits of reduced labour cost and improved customer service much faster than with conventional rostering solutions.

In addition, the new tool enables retailers to plan centrally for specific high demand periods such as Christmas, ensuring that stores are more accurately staffed with short-term or casual staff to meet actual customers’ demand. ChangePlanner is also able to create idealised rosters for new store openings increasing the suitability of new employee hiring plans. Different “what-if” scenarios can also be modelled using the tool to compare the effect of changing hours of employment or rostering rules on store labour performance.

To provide retailers with exposure to this new product and consulting services, WorkPlace are holding a prize draw during the Retail Technology Expo in which 5 retailers will receive the ChangePlanner rostering assessment for free. “WorkPlace has seen unprecedented interest from retailers for a strategic rostering tool to complement the conventional operational rostering products in the market,” says Nigel Garrett, Sales Director, WorkPlace. “ChangePlanner is the first product in the Workforce Management market to achieve this and will provide retailers with new techniques and quicker ways to improve the allocation of their in-store staff, significantly improving service levels and optimising operational budgets.”

Country Road is the first retailer in Australia to benefit from this new tool and have just completed a strategic realignment of rosters within 4 of their high profile stores, demonstrating an average saving of 1.5% of labour costs whilst also improving customer service levels. “WorkPlace Systems were able to uniquely redesign and create new rosters that were acceptable to staff, reduced overall spend on labour and assisted in improving customer service by ensuring specified service levels were met, more than justifying our investment in WorkPlace software and services,” says David Thomas, Business Development Manager, Country Road.

Nigel Garrett will be presenting at the Retail Forum on Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st on “Increasing Your Retail Performance Through Workforce Management” drawing on examples from WorkPlace’s retail customers around the world.

Click here to see this press release as a downloadable PDF.

Press Releases | In the Press | Analyst Coverage | Trade Shows | Workshops | WorkPlace TV | Webinars