All businesses that rely on shift patterns and different numbers of workers at different times can benefit from auto-rostering software. Importantly, HR professionals or production managers, for example, can still enjoy human intervention in their rostering processes at any level. People are still in charge even if you are talking about auto-rostering or e-rostering. The major difference is that the logistics – often complex mathematical number-crunching – that needs to be completed to work out rotas, shift patterns and rosters, is taken care of for you automatically.
After all, it is vital not just to have sufficient numbers of workers on a shift but to also ensure you have the personnel with the proper skills and appropriate technical expertise. There again, you may need rostering software to help you plan which supervisors will be available on a shift or to determine which non-human resources might need to be available to coincide with a shift. If you are doing this work manually right now or trying to make use of a spreadsheet to visualise all of the competing demands on you when planning rosters or shift scheduling, then auto-rostering software will definitely offer you a number of distinct benefits.
To be clear, our cutting-edge automatic shift planning function has been created – very specifically – to cope with the demands of the most complex rostered organisation. It can also be just as useful for smaller firms that simply need to manage their workforce needs better on a seasonal basis. That’s why our auto-rostering system has been designed from the outset as a multi-platform smart scheduling app that will function perfectly in all industry sectors and for all types of roster or shift pattern requirements. Making even the most complex staff rostering easy, it will help businesses, government departments and not-for-profit organisations save time, money and resources. Indeed, the auto-rostering software we have developed optimises the allocation of the right sort of employees to the right kind of shifts by taking into account various constraints and regulations, the availability – or otherwise – of certain employees and the skills needed to get particular objectives completed.
Given that auto-rostering promises so much, what are the key commercial advantages you can expect over and above your current rostering system? Read on to find out.
One – Auto-Solving
To begin with, many firms are seeking technologies that will allow them to achieve more with their resources nowadays. Automation is often seen as the key in this regard, especially when it comes to repetitive tasks like shift management. Productivity will inevitably dip when planners spend hours and hours working on sorting out work rosters. However, many of the processes that go on when rostering manually are simply mathematical functions that can be digitised. Helpfully, the judgements you need to make for a roster can be handled with an auto-solve solution. Not only will this make the process of shift scheduling faster – and, therefore, more productive – but it will also mean greater accuracy can be maintained. In short, automatic shift allocation software isn’t prone to human error. It can also deal with last-minute changes much more effectively than people can, too.
Two – Rostering Templates
Many HR professionals rely on roster templates that they have used before. This makes sense when one month’s rota will be much like the next but it is important to underline that not all organisations work like that. Some require very different workforces depending on order volumes, the time of year and other factors. Therefore, the ability to create new templates quickly is a major benefit offered by auto-rostering software. With ours, you can use the same templates, abandon them or recall them when they’re needed in the future with ease, thereby helping to overcome the complexities of shift management processes from the outset.
Three – Skill Set Mapping
We know that finding adequate cover for a shift is something that isn’t always as simple as it may appear, especially if you use bank staff for certain rostering requirements. That’s why our software allows users to set specific certifications or skills so that the right conditions are set for every shift to be a productive one. Skills you can add include things like first aid training, fire marshal accreditation or having a forklift truck license. If an employee with such an attribute can’t make a shift for some reason – such as booking annual leave, for example – then the system will automatically update and find a suitable replacement. Of course, this doesn’t just help with productivity but also with accreditation rules and safety regulations, too.
Four – Employee Trade Boards
Our automatic rostering software can also provide a unique framework that means humans, not algorithms, can take charge of their own schedules. Our employee trade boards do this in an innovative manner. They can be actioned by managers, senior executives or supervisors as required. Essentially, they offer a forum for certain employees to switch their shifts with others. Of course, this is only possible with employer discretion and approval. This is an advantageous feature that empowers workers, making them feel more in control. Furthermore, it cuts down on administration by getting them to reorganise scheduling rather than putting in formal requests to HR executives.
Five – Regulatory Compliance
Auto-rostering prioritises compliance with every shift and rota pattern. If your organisation needs to ensure that certain numbers of specially trained personnel are available at any moment for health and safety regulations to be met, then our system will deliver with each roster it produces. Not only will it help to make sure all compliance matters are handled properly but managers can receive attendance notifications for important compliance staff, such as quality control operatives, for example. There again, you may want lone worker alerts to be generated at the appropriate moment. If so, our software system offers this beneficial level of functionality.
Want to find out more about our rostering software tools? Get in touch today.
