Types of Workforce Management Software

There are different types of workforce management solutions available, each designed to handle specific core HR processes and responsibilities. Many of these solutions also serve as core functions for full-featured workforce management platforms.

Time and attendance management software

Time and attendance management programs are designed to help HR managers and supervisors keep track of employees’ work time, manage and assess time spent by each employee on specific tasks, and optimize their workflows to improve efficiency and productivity. The software can record attendance and calculate salaries based on hours worked.

From the employees’ perspective, time and attendance management systems allow them to keep track of the number of hours they’ve worked in real-time, either through an integrated time clock feature or time tracking software. In most cases, they will also be able to access information from their mobile device or when working remotely. Additionally, staff members may also use the platform to submit requests for paid time off (PTO) or leave of absence, which managers can then approve in the software.

Employee shift scheduling management

Another type of workforce management solution is employee scheduling software. Shift scheduling can be very time-consuming for human resource and management teams, especially when you’re you’re in a healthcare, construction, or call center environment where you deal with a large number of employees and complex shift patterns.

Businesses and organizations across multiple industries can use WFM software to efficiently organize work schedules and shifts based on availability and ensure all shifts are manned with the appropriate personnel. They may also use the platform to send real-time notifications to staff members and employees to remind them when they are scheduled to work.

Talent management software

Talent management software is often used by medium to large-sized companies that manage a significant number of employees and can be used to organize, sort, and assign personnel to perform specific tasks based on their skill sets and qualifications.

With this platform, you can place the most qualified employee in the right position based on their skills, knowledge, and experience, which allows you to make smarter shift scheduling decisions based on your current employee base.

Talent management software also enables management and human resources teams to identify high-performing employees that may qualify for promotions with significantly less development.

Payroll management

Payroll software is a type of workforce management system that manages employee wages and salaries through automation, integration, and a variety of robust tools.

Payroll management software can facilitate core processes associated with worker pay, including managing detailed records of each staff member, calculating their salary and deductions, accounting for labor costs, as well as generating accurate reports of payroll information for tax and insurance purposes.

Payroll software also enables you to calculate statutory pay like sick pay or maternity pay. While there are standalone payroll software solutions available, many workforce management solutions come with integration capabilities or built-in payroll systems.

Human resources management software

Human resources management software allows HR teams to recruit the right employees for the organization, assess their qualifications so they can be placed in the right position, ensure easy access to all employee records, simplify the onboarding process for new hires, and ensure that the current employee base has everything they need to succeed.

HR management solutions can be a major time saver for your human resources department and your organization as a whole. They are designed to streamline virtually all aspects of the HR management process and also help to minimize the time spent on filing documents and other repetitive tasks to keep employee engagement high.

Employee self-service software

Employee self-service software provides self-service portals for your entire workforce. This type of workforce management software allows employees to access and manage their own HR and payroll information by logging into their individual accounts on the WFM platform through a mobile device or web browser.

This type of workforce management software empowers employees by giving them the ability to manage their own HR and payroll information, with security and monitoring provided by the system.

The platform also helps to increase employee engagement by letting them remotely manage their own schedules and available work times, configure shift availability and preferences without disrupting HR processes, as well as submit sick leave, pay advance, and PTO requests. Requests can be authorized in the software by the relevant team member.

How to Choose Workforce Management Software

One of the first steps to consider when choosing the right workforce management software is what you need from it and how it can help your business grow. Most CRM or ERP solutions already have some workforce management capabilities, meaning if that’s all you need to manage your workforce, you may not need to purchase a separate program for workforce management.

However, if you have a global workforce or a complex payroll environment, you may need a standalone, best-of-breed solution. The varying features and capabilities that are available with workforce management solutions can be a bit overwhelming to many buyers, especially those without previous experience with such systems.

There are many different service providers and vendors of workforce management solutions available, all offering different features and functions that your business can utilize. You should consider which of these features you need and make your decision from there. However, scalability and future growth must be taken into account.

Typically, the key functionalities of workforce management software include labor scheduling, forecasting, leave management, time and attendance tracking, time and work data collection, exception planning, and performance analysis. However, different products focus on different aspects of workforce management. You need to choose a solution depending on your priorities and goals.

For instance, if your main aim is to improve workforce productivity, look for advanced scheduling, task management, performance and training management features. On the other hand, if you are looking for cost reduction, you need a product with advanced features for absence management, demand prediction, and time-zone support.

Some other key features to consider when choosing the right software include time and attendance management, absence and leave management, shift or employee scheduling, talent management, self-service capabilities, mobile shift scheduling, customization, cloud-based solutions, workforce analytics, team communication capabilities and integrated API options.

Most workforce management solutions use cloud-based platforms, accessible through a mobile device or web browser. Software deployed, managed, and maintained via a cloud-based service allows you and your employees to access the software from anywhere. Also called software-as-a-service (SaaS), cloud solutions utilize mobile apps to provide access to authorized users and deliver services for employees to access whenever they wish.

Common Features of Workforce Management Software