The industry has welcomed restaurant workforce management software as a means to meet the challenges of expansion and operate in a technology-driven world. Whenever you have a team, you need a way of managing them.
Luckily, using this type of technology in restaurants is a great way to optimize operations. The software provides you with the tools to automate tasks like creating employee schedules and labor costing.Â
Let’s discuss what workforce management software is and why you need it.
What is Restaurant Workforce Management Software?
Restaurant workforce management software acts as the central command of a restaurant. With this software, you’ll be able to access and manage different aspects of your restaurant business.
These systems help to steer all aspects of workforce management. This can remove human error. It can also optimize everything from payroll planning to employee scheduling.
Different software options are structured in different ways. Some may have multiple dashboards, from which you can access information like payroll and scheduling. Others may have a single dashboard to work from. Whatever the build of the user interface, you’ll be able to view snapshots of your business.
While restaurant marketing strategies can bring in the customers, workforce management software can improve the overall customer experience by promoting efficiency within your business.
Some workforce management software options might have extra bells and whistles. However, all should have the same basic functions. Let’s discuss what these functions are, and what they mean for your business!
Employee Scheduling
Management software offers an employee scheduling option. Scheduling software allows employees and managers to see, request, and change employee shifts and schedules when needed.
Management systems accurately track employee hours and provide detailed reports that will prevent under or overpaying come payday.
This software can help you to optimize your employee schedule for busy and quiet shifts. This can prevent overstaffing, and save your restaurant from unnecessary labor costs.
Team Communication Tools
Management software provides team communication tools, like private and group chats. This makes it easier for employees to notify their manager about last-minute issues, shift swapping, or time-off requests.
Communication systems also ensure that employees have access to their managers, even if they oversee multiple locations.
Labor Law Compliance and Guidance
Accurate time tracking will also help your business and employees stay within labor law parameters. Workforce management systems integrate location-based labor laws into the software and send out alerts on any employees that are working more than the legal limit.
Task Management
Whether there is a to-do list to allocate, or you want to designate certain jobs to specific employees, you can do so with management software. If the software is advanced, there might even be data that suggests the best employee for the job!
Payroll Integration
Payroll software allows restaurant managers to connect payroll and shift tracking. The software will integrate data and automatically calculate accurate payroll reports. This ensures everyone gets paid the right amount, keeping your employees happy, and helping to save time. Â
Analytics and Forecasting
Workforce management software can provide employee analytics and forecasting data. This data can be used to track the busiest days of the year, the best employees and teams, and other insights that improve management and increase the revenue of the restaurant.
Other Features
Workforce software has a lot to offer. Besides the above features, many systems come with an array of other options that streamline the management process even further.
Here are a few add-on services that provide even more power:
- Inventory management
- POS integration
- HR management
- Mobile app and mobile tracking
- Tip distribution
- Restaurant industry hiring and training
These are just a few of the services that have become part of the workforce management package. With technological advancements, it’s clear that management systems will only improve in the future.
Why Do You Need Restaurant Workforce Management Software?
Many successful restaurants make use of workforce management systems.
Now that you know what restaurant workforce management software is, let’s talk about how it can benefit your business.
Reduce Human Error
Restaurant managers oversee all aspects of the business. Unfortunately, with so much to do and so much to manage, errors are inevitable.
These errors, such as overstaffing and incorrect time tracking, cost money. When you save money, you can reinvest it to improve your restaurant. Workforce management software can help you make the best decisions for your business.
Workforce Optimization
Workforce management software produces large amounts of data. This data is an unbiased view of your current system, which might not be working as efficiently as it could.
With the help of analytics, forecasting, and profit-driven guidance, you can optimize your workforce. Use data from the software to create a schedule and service that your employees work well with.
Reduce Labor Costs
When it comes to labor costs, human error can build up. For example, overstaffing might not cost that much over one weekend, but over a year, it can cause you to lose a lot of money. Data from restaurant workforce management software can help you to understand if your labor costs are what they should be.
Restaurant owners also need to comply with local labor laws for the health and benefit of the employees. However, you simply may not be aware of them! Having software that informs you of these laws, and when an employee is legally overworked, can be invaluable.
When the guesswork is removed from staffing, you can reduce labor costs and potential legal issues.
Increase Efficiency
With the help of workforce management software, you can automate tasks that usually take a fair amount of time, such as shift scheduling. This means that you don’t need to spend time planning out these activities.
Most modern systems do auto-scheduling. For example, if employees request to swap shifts, you only need to tap on the ‘approve’ button. What’s not to love?
Conclusion
Restaurant management systems can make tasks like scheduling, payroll planning, and labor law compliance a breeze.
A great restaurant workforce management software can make all the difference. Successful establishments make use of this software to optimize their operations, and your restaurant shouldn’t be too far behind!
If hosting events is one of your restaurant services, you need event management software to use alongside your workforce software. Organizing and managing events is easy with Perfect Venue. Start your 14-day free trial, and start streamlining your business today!