Within every business, staff performance plays an integral role in failure and success. For this reason, optimising the performance of employees should be a top priority. Cue the role of workforce management, aka WFM.
Defining workforce management
Used by both blue chip firms and SMEs alike, workforce management Australia describes a strategic and integrated set of in-house processes that are used to optimise the performance of individual employees, as well as teams, departments and the business as a whole.
Understanding the workforce management definition is one thing. But applying this knowledge in the context of a real life workplace is a whole different corporate ball game. In order to generate measurable results, workforce management cycles need to be calculated, bespoke and targeted.
So what does workforce management do, and what types of processes should an effective strategy encompass? Now you understand the workforce management meaning, read on for an overview of what areas WFM targets, and why they matter.
- Staff scheduling
This refers to the process of manually matching employees to available shifts. Often, factors such as availability, skills, employee preferences, salary budgets and other variables need to be taken into account. - Tracking time and attendance
Drawing up a roster is one thing, but ensuring employees turn up for shifts is a task in itself. Workforce management sees managers actively monitor the movements of employees, and hold them accountable for their attendance, or lack of! - Strategic rostering
More than simply filling shifts, strategic rostering refers to the process of assigning hours based on an employee’s strengths, or weaknesses. This helps to augment productivity, and optimise a business’s overall performance. - Predicting demand
A keynote part of effective workforce management optimisation is the insight to predict how many staff should be on the floor at any given time. This can be a difficult task, particularly for businesses that experience fluctuating peak hours. - Payroll administration processes
When it comes to reimbursing staff for their time, speed and accuracy are essential. Without an effective payroll process in place, you risk aggravating your staff, which sends satisfaction and performance plummeting. - Monitoring performance
Make staff accountable by actively monitoring performance of both individuals, and teams. This helps to maintain high standards, and ensures employees have a genuine interest in meeting expectations.
Is your business embracing modern workforce management?
So how can you determine whether or not your business is equipped for modern workforce management? One of the most effective ways to bring your WFM strategy up to par is to invest in purpose built software.
Over the past few years, WFM software has emerged as an umbrella term for purpose built programmes that help businesses manage their workforces. Specifically, the staff scheduling process. An art in itself, rostering employees can be complex and multifaceted. Particularly for businesses that employ large numbers of staff, paid on an hourly basis. Throw different pay rates, availability and skillsets into the mix, and staff scheduling can become chaotic.
This is where workforce management software has revolutionised modern business processes. Here’s how it’s helping businesses across Australia sweeten up their staff schedules …
- From a labour scheduling perspective, software helps managers factor in the unique skillsets of each individual employee. This allows them to meet compliance requirements, and ensure that every shift is staffed by the best employees for the job.
- When it comes to optimising performance and pinpointing areas of weakness, WFM software is an invaluable tool. Using built-in analytics, managers can capture highly detailed information about their workforce landscape. This includes what employees perform best on what shifts.
- Leave can be a headache for managers trying to draw up rosters that meet the needs of the business, as well as the requirements of staff. WFM software automates the process, and makes it easy to process time-off requests. Not only does software streamline the rostering process, but it also offers managers insight into the staffing and budget implications of both paid and unpaid leave.
- As aforementioned, getting employees to turn up on time isn’t always a breeze. WFM software helps to keep staff in check, and ensure rostered shifts align with clocked hours.
Ready to take your workforce management requirements to the next level? With smart solutions like Ento onside, you can take control of your business and build a happier, more productive workplace.
Today, Ento is used across a host of industries, from retail and hospitality to security and healthcare. Regardless of your size, niche or staff count, the value of an effective workforce management strategy is paramount. Whether you’re a locally owned independent café or a nationwide retailer, optimising your workforce is a guaranteed way to boost profit margins.