There are multiple moving parts to managing a business — people, finances, operations, technology, etc. Everything needs to function together to have a company that is functional and efficient. However, this can’t be done alone.
Workforce management tools are vital to a successful company, regardless of the company’s size, industry, or legacy. There are various kinds of workforce management tools in the market, but which are the ones that deliver the biggest bang for your buck?
Don’t stress out. We’ve got the answers. The following blog will give examples of various kinds of workforce management tools and give an overview of some of the top tools in the market.
Let’s begin.
What are Workforce Management Tools?
Workforce management tools are digital solutions like apps and softwares that streamline and organize work processes. The tools automate processes related to scheduling, calculating benefits and pay, tracking attendance, and performance management. Workforce management tools are designed to improve efficiency and productivity.
Various Types of Workforce Management Apps
There are several types of workforce management tools in the market. Let’s look at some of the most common ones:
- Employee scheduling & tracking: These primarily help with identifying talent and availability, making employee shift schedules, and then tracking progress. They minimize scheduling conflicts and allow employees to submit leave requests and take ownership of their schedules. Employee tracking apps also eliminate the need for manual data entry and speed up the absence management process and tracking of employee hours.
- Performance management: These apps streamline the performance management process by assisting in setting goals and providing a structured framework for getting employee feedback. They also provide managers and employees a chance to monitor their performance metrics.
- Communication tools: These softwares are designed to help people communicate efficiently and build collaboration. They facilitate the communication of ideas, viewpoints, and data between (file-sharing) team members, managers, vendors, and clients.
- Payroll management: These apps streamline and digitize employee compensation. A payroll software is equipped to calculate wages, benefits, employee expenses, overtime, and taxes. They also keep an accurate record of employee information.
How to Choose the Right Software?
Consider the following things as you decide on which workforce management software is right for you and your business:
Identify the Most Important Features and Functionalities
The beauty of technology is that now almost anything and everything can be measured and tracked. But, this doesn’t mean it is necessary to do so. For instance, one of the workforce management tools will provide insight into the length of virtual meetings between team members. This is a neat feature to have; however, is it the most important one?
Before going around and trying various tools and software, discuss internally which are the most important key performance indicators (KPIs) or main pain points that you’d need the tool to resolve. Identify what features and functionalities are necessary.
Some of the most common reasons for investing in a workforce management tool are:
- Accurate tracking of time taken per task
- Reducing scheduling errors
- Optimizing resource utilization and productivity
- Delivering projects on time
- Controlling project costs
- Eliminating administrative calculations of overtime and payroll
Stay Within Your Budget
As with any purchase, it’s important to know your budget and stay within it. Talk to the finance team to understand the purchasing bandwidth of your company. Then compare the costs of your top workforce management apps. The pricing schemes of apps might be different. While some charge by the number of employees/members a business would be managing, others charge a flat rate.
Sign up for Free Trials and Demos
There is no better way of figuring out whether a workforce management tool is the right fit than by doing a free trial. The majority of the apps and softwares in the market offer a seven to 14-day free trial. If they don’t, we recommend you request a demo. Get first-hand experience on the app’s usability, features, and benefits. The free trial will also give you insight into how supportive and helpful the customer service team is.
Examples of Workforce Management Apps
Let’s get into some examples of workforce management apps that can immediately improve your business. We even explain how and when to use the various apps and tools.
- If your pain point is making shift schedules or ensuring the right engineer is available for a high-priority task, then it’s advisable to invest in an employee management tool like eRS. For just $4 per user, per month, you’ll have the ability to effectively plan, schedule, and monitor all your resources (no matter where they are located). Let’s not forget that eRS’s reporting module will give you key insight into KPIs like resource utilization and time variance.
- Is employee communication and collaboration a problem? Then you can look into communication apps like Slack or ConnecTeam. Both apps make it easier to speak to team members and share important work/project documents.
- For payroll and benefits management, we’d recommend BambooHR or Gusto. Both platforms are easy to use and can integrate with 3rd party apps and systems.
The Future of Workforce Management Apps
As the business world continues to evolve, so will the workforce management tools. But, one thing is clear — workforce management apps are here to stay and they play a direct role in any organization’s success.
The apps cater to a wide range of needs, so it’s a matter of finding the “perfect” fit for you.
There’s no harm in saying this again, “What’s right for another company, might not be the ideal fit for you.”
Add eResource Scheduler to your workforce management toolkit for efficient resource management and on-time project delivery. Start your free trial and lead your company to success with ease and efficiency.