Fully Integrated Web Based Software Modules for Workforce Management - Scheduling

Download the WorkPlace White Paper: Key Concepts of Scheduling Overview(PDF)

There are a number of different ways to build a schedule, such as:

• Demand-led scheduling
• Timetable-based scheduling
• Drag-and-drop scheduling

Demand-led scheduling uses an optimization algorithm to automatically calculate the times that employees will work and what work they will be doing. Demand-led scheduling uses a prediction of the demand for work together with the individual HR records (including contractual details, skills, competencies and preferences) in order to work out the right people doing the right activity at the right time. The optimization algorithm at the heart of the process will ensure that no rules (either legislative or company) are broken. Where any flexibility in employment contracts exists, its usage is maximized, ensuring a reduction in overstaffing (wasted labor cost) and a reduction in understaffing (reduced service levels).

Timetable-based scheduling mixes the idea of demand for work together with a timetable (e.g. in transportation, crewing and field workforce systems) to automatically calculate the right people doing the right activity at the right time. Travel time is also considered ensuring the schedule created is as balanced as possible.

Drag-and-drop scheduling allows resource planners to create schedules under their own control. Checking functions ensure that work is not placed that breaks any of the internally declared rules. Employees themselves can also get involved in self scheduling via a web kiosk.

The process of scheduling is standard across the different scheduling types, and involves creating a schedule a number of weeks out, and then collecting changes to those schedules, input either by departmental resource planner or by employees themselves using a browser.

As changes are collected, so other information is managed, such as planned absence values (vacations and sickness). In some circumstances automatic re-allocation of missing shifts can be accommodated.

Not only are working times scheduled, but also breaks and activities, so that when employees arrive for work they are then able to start immediately with the optimum plan of what they will be doing that day.

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