Automatic shift scheduling vs. Scheduling in Excel: Which option is better for your business?

In the context of an ever-evolving society, managing shift work schedules can be a challenging task for human resource (HR) professionals and managers. With so many variables to consider, such as employee availability, skill sets, and workload, creating and managing a schedule can be a time-consuming and error-prone process.

Fortunately, there are various solutions that can greatly simplify this process but the challenge is to discover which ones are also ideal based on the requirements and strategy of each individual business.

What does shift scheduling in Excel involve?

Excel is a popular spreadsheet tool used by many organizations to manage shift schedules and human resource planning. The process involves creating a template in Excel that lists the shifts needed and the employees available to work those shifts. The template can then be populated with the necessary information, such as the start and end times of each shift and the name of the employee assigned to that shift.

Advantages and disadvantages of scheduling shifts in Excel

One of the main advantages of scheduling shifts in Excel is that it is easy to use and does not require special training or special software. It is also very easy to customize, allowing organizations to create a schedule that suits their specific requirements. However, shift scheduling in Excel is error-prone and can be very time-consuming, especially for large organizations with a high volume of shifts and employees.

What does automated shift scheduling software entail?

Automated shift scheduling and implicit HR scheduling software, such as shiftin, uses algorithms to create and manage shift schedules based on a variety of factors, including employee availability, skill sets, and workload. Such software can provide an objective overview of capacity gaps and overstaffed business units, based on expected performance indicators, and can suggest resources needed to support growth opportunities in various industries.

Advantages and disadvantages of automated shift scheduling software

One of the main advantages of automated shift scheduling software, and hence human resource scheduling software, is that it can save time and reduce errors. With automated scheduling, HR professionals and managers can spend less time creating and managing schedules and more time focusing on other aspects of their work. In addition, automated HR scheduling can improve employee satisfaction by ensuring accurate and consistent scheduling practices. On the other hand, such automated HR scheduling software can be expensive and may require specialized training to use effectively.

What is the best shift scheduling solution for your business?

The answer to this question depends on the unique needs and resources of each individual business. If your business has a relatively small number of shifts and employees, Excel shift scheduling can be a cost-effective and efficient solution. However, if your business has a large number of shifts and employees, an automated shift scheduling and therefore HR scheduling software may be a more practical and far more efficient solution.

In addition, automated shift scheduling also helps organizations save money. With manual scheduling, managers can over-schedule employees during off-peak periods, leading to a waste of resources. By using automated workforce scheduling software, managers can optimize schedules based on historical data, ensuring the right number of employees are scheduled for each shift. This reduces labor costs and helps organizations stay profitable.

How can we help you?

shiftin, can accompany you on this journey by digitizing your current scheduling process, so we can provide you with:

A team with business and HR expertise to accompany you through the stages of defining the human capital scheduling framework and strategy, as well as change management.

A software tool, shiftin, has been created from the same conscious needs, to help you digitize and automate your employee scheduling process to support your business performance.

Identify levels of optimization within your process and human capital with shiftin by requesting a free demo.

Contact us to find out more!

2 essential steps to automate scheduling and maximize employee satisfaction.

In today’s fast-paced environment, organizations need to optimize their operations to remain competitive. One segment that can greatly benefit from digitization is work shift scheduling. Optimizing shift work can not only improve employee satisfaction but also increase productivity and reduce costs.

In this article, we will detail two essential steps to automate shift scheduling and maximize employee satisfaction.

Step 1: Digitize the work schedule planning process

Digitization is the first essential step in automating the work schedule planning process. With technology, organizations can simplify and streamline their planning processes, leading to increased efficiency and accuracy. By implementing automated scheduling software, organizations can reduce the time and effort required to create a shift schedule.

shiftin is one such automated shift scheduling software that accompanies organizations to digitize their current scheduling process. It is an innovative solution that reveals the potential for optimizing their capacity distribution and identifies levels of optimization within the process and human capital. 

With shiftin, you can create work schedules in minutes and manage them in real-time.

Digitalization also helps eliminate human error, leading to fewer scheduling conflicts and more accurate shift distribution. This, in turn, can lead to better employee satisfaction and reduced turnover rates. By implementing digitization, organizations can also reduce costs associated with scheduling, such as overtime pay, by optimizing shift allocation.

Step 2: Optimize shift work by involving employees

The second essential step in automating shift scheduling is involving employees in the scheduling process. By giving employees more control over their schedules, organizations can increase employee satisfaction and reduce turnover. Optimizing shift work can be achieved by giving employees access to their schedules via a mobile app or web portal, allowing them to view and manage their schedules from anywhere.

Another way to involve employees in the scheduling process is to allow them to submit their preferred schedules or shift preferences. This can help ensure that employees are assigned shifts that fit their lifestyles and preferences, leading to increased job satisfaction. In addition, informing employees in advance of their schedule can help them plan their personal lives and reduce the stress associated with last-minute changes.

Effective communication is also key to ensuring employee satisfaction. By using a centralized scheduling system, organizations can communicate with employees about upcoming shifts, schedule changes, and other important information. This can help reduce miscommunication and ensure that employees are always informed and up to date.

Optimizing shift work through digitalization and employee engagement can have a significant impact on employee satisfaction, productivity, and costs. By implementing an automated shift scheduling software solution such as shiftin and involving employees in the scheduling process, organizations can create more accurate work schedules, reduce conflict, and increase employee satisfaction.

How can shiftin help you in this process?

First, we digitize the current planning process together – we bring all the key elements for scheduling into shiftin. After that, we optimize, we accompany you in identifying tracks to optimize the scheduled hours so that an increase in profitability in relation to productivity is achieved.

Contact us to find out more!

Best practices for scheduling work shifts

Shift work is a key requirement in many industries, including healthcare, transport, manufacturing, retail, and hospitality. While it allows companies to operate around the clock and meet customer demands, it also presents challenges such as employee fatigue, staff turnover, and safety risks. Therefore, scheduling shift work effectively is crucial to maintaining employee productivity, safety, and well-being.

Analysis of company needs and resources for shift scheduling

Before developing a shift work schedule, managers must first assess their company’s specific needs and resources. This includes analyzing demand for production and services, identifying peak hours and slow periods, and assessing the available workforce and skills. By understanding these factors, managers can create a schedule that optimizes staffing levels, avoids overtime costs, and ensures quality and safety standards are met.
Scheduling shift work is a complex process that requires careful planning and analysis. Effective scheduling can help ensure a smoothly running organization with a happy and productive workforce.

Establishing clear policies and procedures for work shifts

Establishing procedures for scheduling shift work is essential. These should include clear rules for shift duration, work breaks, overtime, and time off. Having clear policies and procedures in place will help ensure that employees know what is expected of them when they work and can help minimize confusion and disputes about shift work.

The process of planning shift work should be fair and transparent

Shift work planning should receive input from both management and employees. Employees should be able to request preferred shifts and days off and managers should make every effort to accommodate these requests. Using a fair and transparent scheduling process will help build trust and goodwill among employees.

Employees should be given plenty of notice of their appointment, ideally two to four weeks in advance. Providing adequate notice allows employees to plan their personal lives and can help reduce stress and absenteeism.

Use dedicated software for employee scheduling and monitoring

The use of scheduling software can help simplify the scheduling process and reduce errors in shift work. Scheduling software can help you automate the process, track employee availability and preferences, and ensure you schedule the right number of employees for each shift.

Strategic scheduling of work breaks

Scheduling work breaks strategically can help reduce fatigue and improve employee productivity. Breaks should be scheduled at regular intervals during the shift and employees should be encouraged to take them.

A shift scheduling tool such as shiftin helps employees achieve a better work-life balance, improve job satisfaction and reduce work scheduling stress. By providing workers with predictability, flexibility, fairness, time savings and improved communication, shift scheduling tools can make a significant difference in every employee’s life.

Contact us to find out more!

How do you prevent employee burnout by streamlining human capital management?

Overview of burnout and human capital management

Burnout is a condition that has a physical, mental and emotional impact and is caused by long-term or excessive stress. It is a serious problem that can have a negative impact on both the employee and the organization.

On the other hand, human capital management is the process of managing a company’s human resources to maximize the value of its employees. Streamlining human capital management can help prevent employee burnout.

According to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, 77% of employers believe that streamlining human capital management can help prevent burnout.

Causes of burnout

There are several causes of burnout.

Employee overload

This is one of the most common causes. When employees are asked to do too much in too little time, they can become overwhelmed and exhausted.

Lack of autonomy

Another cause of burnout occurs when employees are micromanaged and not given the freedom to make decisions, they can become frustrated and demotivated.

Lack of recognition

Also, when employees do not feel appreciated or valued, they can become disillusioned and burnt out and lack of recognition of their merits is another factor contributing to burnout.

It is important for employers to recognize the signs of employee burnout and take steps to prevent them. This can include providing clear expectations, giving employees control over their work, providing reasonable workloads, promoting work-life balance, creating a supportive work environment, recognizing employees’ efforts, and ensuring they adapt to the workplace.

Optimizing human capital management to prevent burnout

Optimizing human capital management can help prevent burnout by reducing the number of administrative tasks employees have to perform.

This can be achieved by automating processes such as payroll, benefits management and performance evaluation.

Process automation

Automating these processes can help reduce the time employees have to spend on tedious administrative tasks, freeing up time to focus on higher-impact tasks.

Using an automated work scheduling solution

An automated scheduling solution can simplify human capital management by providing employees with an easy-to-use platform for managing shift work schedules. This can help reduce the amount of time employees have to spend manually creating and managing their shift schedules, freeing up time to focus on more meaningful work. In addition, automated shift scheduling solutions can help ensure that employees are not overworked, which can help prevent burnout.

Implementing flexible working hours

Such implementation can give employees more control over their work-life balance. In addition, streamlining human capital management can help ensure that employees are fairly rewarded for their work, which can help reduce feelings of burnout.

Setting clear objectives and expectations

Setting clear directions can help employees stay focused and motivated. Human capital management can help provide more accurate and timely feedback to employees on their performance, which can help motivate them and prevent burnout.

How can we help you in this process?

Shiftin, our software solution for automating the shift scheduling process can help prevent burnout by reducing the time employees have to spend on repetitive administrative tasks, such as manually creating and managing shift schedules.

Contact us to find out more!

What is a HRIS and how it helps you in employee planning

HRIS stands for Human Resources Information System. It is a type of software designed to help organizations manage their HR data and processes.

Pwc estimates that 58% of companies now use HRIS to find, attract and retain valuable employees.

Collecting, storing and processing data is an essential part of HR. Streamlining processes in this area is possible with HRIS software. An HRIS analyst, who ensures the efficiency of the system and proper analysis of performance indicators, plays an important role in managing this data.

Scheduling employees using HRIS systems

HRIS systems can be used by HR professionals to automate many of the tasks associated with employee management, which can save time and reduce the possibility of errors. They can also help organizations make more informed decisions about hiring, compensation and other HR issues by providing access to real-time data and analytics.

Overall, an HRIS is a valuable tool for any organization looking to streamline its HR processes and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its HR department.

An HRIS can help plan employee shifts by providing a centralized platform where managers can create and manage their employees’ schedules.

Here are some ways an HRIS can help with shift planning:

Automated scheduling

With an HRIS, managers can create schedules for their employees based on their availability, job responsibilities, and other factors. The system can also automatically assign shifts based on employee preferences and availability, reducing the time and effort required to create schedules.

Real-time updating

As employees request time off or swap shifts with their colleagues, HRIS can update the schedule in real-time, ensuring everyone is up to date with the latest changes.

Shift exchange via HRIS

Employees can request shift swaps through HRIS, and managers can approve or deny these requests depending on the needs of the business. This can help ensure shift coverage while giving employees the flexibility to manage their schedules.

Attendance tracking

An HRIS can also track employees’ hours worked, overtime and leave requests, making it easier for managers to ensure employees are working the right hours and getting paid correctly.

How can we help you with the digital transformation of your HR processes?

We have a team with HR expertise ready for your business needs, to be by your side during the framework and strategy stages of human capital planning and change management.

We provide you with a software tool – shiftin – built on the same conscious needs to help you digitize and automate your employee planning process to support your business performance.

Request a free demo.

How do you integrate your payroll system with HR management software?

Overview of the benefits of integrating HR & payroll software

Integrating a payroll system with human resource management software can be a time-consuming process, but it’s essential for organizations to stay organized and in an efficient flow. HR payroll systems are used to process employee salaries and benefits, while HR management software is used to manage the human resources aspects of an organization.
By combining the two systems, organizations can benefit from streamlined HR payroll processes.
According to a study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, organizations that integrated their payroll system with HR management software experienced greater accuracy of HR payroll data, greater efficiency of HR processes, and improved employee experience.

Steps to integrating payroll with HR management software

1. Research different HR management software options & choose the right solution for each type of business

The first step in integrating a payroll system with HR management software is to research the different options available. There are a variety of software solutions that offer different features, so it is important to analyze the capabilities of each software to determine which solution is best suited for each type of business. It’s also important to consider the cost of the software and the level of service and support provided to customers.

2. Setting up the software and connecting it to the payroll system

Once you have chosen the right software in line with your business strategy, the next step is to configure the software and connect it to your payroll system. This process can be complicated, so it is important to follow the instructions provided by the software supplier and make sure that all the necessary steps are completed. It is also important to make sure that the software is compatible with the payroll system and that all necessary data is transferred correctly.

3. Integration testing to ensure correct functionality

The final step in integrating your payroll system with your HRM software is to test the integration to make sure it works correctly. This is an important step to ensure that the data is correct and that the system is secure.

The benefits of integrating your payroll system with HRM software

Integrating a payroll system with HR management software has many benefits. The biggest benefit is a streamlined payroll process. By integrating the two systems, organizations can save time and money by automating many of the tasks associated with HR payroll.

In addition, integrating the two systems can improve the accuracy of payroll data as well as increase the efficiency of HR processes. On the other hand, integrating the two systems can improve the employee experience by providing employees with more accurate and timely information about their salaries and benefits.

How can we help you?

shiftin can help you in this journey by offering a number of valuable benefits. Through automated employee attendance tracking, you can reduce the time spent on manual data entry and have the ability to reallocate this time to activities that have a business strategy perspective.


shiftin simplifies automated shift scheduling, attendance management and workflow synchronization, eliminating the need for a paper spreadsheet or complicated template.

Request a free demo to learn more!

Digitization of HR processes and shift work

Digitization has brought significant changes to various industries, including the HR sector. With the increasing use of technology, HR processes have become more efficient.

Digitization of HR processes

When it comes to digitization, it has streamlined HR processes by automating repetitive tasks, reducing manual work and providing real-time data. With digital tools such as cloud-based HR software and mobile apps, HR teams can easily manage various functions needed in their processes.

For example, through digitization, scheduling and timekeeping can be automated. Another functionality is monitoring employee attendance, tracking employee performance and generating real-time reports.

Shift work management

Shift work is prevalent in industries such as healthcare, trade and hospitality. Managing shift work schedules can be challenging, especially when employees work multiple shifts and these change frequently. With digitization, shift work is easier to manage and more efficient.

With digitization processes, such as employee scheduling software, HR teams can easily create and manage shift schedules. These tools allow them to define shifts, assign employees to specific changes and track their attendance. They can also use predictive analytics to forecast employee demand and optimize shift schedules to ensure that there are always enough employees on shift.

The benefits of digitization for shift work

Digitization processes related to human resources have numerous benefits for shift work management. Here are some of the main advantages:

A clearer perspective

With the help of digital tools, HR teams can ensure that schedules are compliant and up-to-date. This can prevent scheduling conflicts, reduce absenteeism and improve employee satisfaction.

Increase productivity

When HR departments decide to adopt digitization processes, improvements can be seen quite quickly by reducing the administrative burden, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks. This, in turn, can improve productivity and lead to better business results.

Increases employee engagement

The decision to digitize can make shift work more transparent and predictable, which can improve employee engagement and satisfaction. Digital tools can give employees real-time access to their schedules, allowing them to plan their time more efficiently.

Reduce costs

Automating HR processes can lead to significant cost savings for organizations. For example, it can reduce the need for manual work and processes based on standard, paper-based formats.

When adopted, the decision to digitize has a profound impact on shift work management. As technology continues to evolve, digitization is likely to become even more important for shift work management.

How can we help you?

A team with business and HR expertise to accompany you through the stages of defining your human capital scheduling framework and strategy, as well as change management.
A software tool – shiftin – built around the same needs you are aware of, to help you digitize and automate your workforce scheduling process to support your business performance.

Contact a specialist now! 

The importance of a digitization plan for employee shift scheduling in 2023

Overview of the importance of a digitization plan for HR in 2023

In today’s changing work environment, the digitization of human resources (HR) processes has become an essential tool for organizations to maximize performance and streamline costs. The importance of an HR digitization plan for employee scheduling in 2023 is obvious.

According to a McKinsey study, using technology to automate certain processes to improve performance and streamline costs is essential in any organization’s HR digitization plan. Also, the importance of having a comprehensive data-driven approach to employee management is necessary as this can help organizations make informed decisions when it comes to employee shift scheduling.

Organize around the employee experience by taking a similar approach to how retailers define customer journeys – in this case, by identifying the moments that matter most to employees and allocating resources accordingly. For example, critical moments for employees might include the recruitment process, onboarding, employee shift planning, and performance reviews and promotions.

Benefits of an HR digitization plan for employee shift scheduling

Digitizing shift work through an automated shift scheduling software solution offers better employee engagement, greater efficiency, and cost savings..

Improved employee engagement

One of the most notable benefits of an HR digitization plan for employee shift scheduling is improved employee engagement. Using a shift calculator, employees can easily view upcoming shifts, swap shifts with co-workers, and request time off.

Increased efficiency

This increased transparency and flexibility leads to greater employee satisfaction and engagement. In addition, the digitization of shift work leads to greater efficiency.

Cost efficiency

By automating the employee shift scheduling process, organizations can quickly create and edit employee schedules, eliminating manual errors and saving time. This improved efficiency can lead to cost savings as organizations can operate more efficiently with fewer resources.

Despite the potential challenges, organizations should begin the digitization journey to remain competitive in an ever-changing work environment.

How can we help you?

A team with business and HR expertise to accompany you through the stages of defining your human capital scheduling framework and strategy, as well as change management.
A software tool – shiftin – built around the same needs you are aware of, to help you digitize and automate your workforce scheduling process to support your business performance.

Contact a specialist now! 

How do you increase employee retention by digitizing HR processes?

The importance of increasing employee retention

Employee retention is an important factor for any business, as it helps ensure that an organization has a stable workforce and can maintain its operations. Increasing employee retention rates can have several benefits, such as reducing costs associated with hiring and training new employees and increasing employee motivation and productivity. One way to increase employee retention is to digitize human resources (HR) processes.

According to a 2022 Statista study, more than half of organizations that have digitized their HR processes reported an increase in employee retention rates. In addition, the survey found that these organizations experienced a decrease in employee turnover rates and an increase in employee engagement. Furthermore, digitized HR processes are being used to reduce the time and cost of recruiting and training employees, as well as improve the overall quality of the hiring process.

Digitization of HR processes

Digitizing HR processes can help automate administrative tasks, streamline performance appraisals, and improve communication.

Automation of administrative tasks

Automating administrative tasks can help reduce time and effort spent on repetitive tasks, freeing up HR staff to focus on more important tasks.

Streamlining performance appraisals

Streamlining performance appraisals can help to ensure that employees are assessed fairly and consistently and can help to identify areas where employees need additional training or support.

Improve communication

Improving communication can help ensure that employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities and help promote a positive work environment.

Implementing digitization in HR processes

To implement digital HR processes, organizations need to invest in the necessary technology and train their employees to use it.

Investing in the right technology can help ensure a smooth and efficient process flow and help reduce costs associated with manual processes.

Training employees to use the technology can help ensure that they are comfortable with the process and can use it effectively. In addition, organizations should establish clear policies and procedures for the digital HR process so that employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities.

In conclusion, digitizing HR processes can be an effective way to increase employee retention. Automating administrative tasks, streamlining performance appraisals, and improving communication can help reduce the costs associated with hiring and training new employees and can help increase employee motivation and productivity. Investing in the right technology and training employees to use it can help ensure a smooth and efficient process, and establishing clear policies can help ensure that employees are aware of their responsibilities.

How can we help you?

A team with business and HR expertise to support you through the framework and strategy stages of human capital planning and change management.
A software tool – shiftin – built around the same needs you are aware of, to help you digitize and automate your employee planning process to support your business performance.

Contact a specialist now! 

How would an automated workforce shift scheduling help you optimize your business in the Retail industry?

The retail industry is facing great challenges in the social and economic context of recent years. The customers’ behavior has changed – they are more cautious when spending their money or have limited their visits to physical stores in favor of online shopping. The competition in the Retail market is increasing and one of the best opportunities for differentiation is cost efficiency and especially optimizing the workforce cost of hours.

Optimizing the workforce hours does not always mean reducing the capacity of the workforce, as is often understood, but rather redistributing them so that they are aligned with the staff shortages to be as profitable as possible.

For team managers in the Retail industry, the challenges are even greater, as they have to fulfill multiple issues, such as unpredictable fluctuations in staff shortages and sales, increasingly demanding daily workforce requirements, workforce retention, sustaining business growth, controlling expenses, and the monthly time commitment to the scheduling process. And above all, all these aspects must be well framed by compliance with labor legislation.

Here are some best practices that you can implement immediately to optimize your workforce scheduling:

1) Use a Retail software tool

Such software can digitize and subsequently optimize your scheduling process. Choose one that allows you to integrate all processes, from HR administration to scheduling, attendance, timesheet and payroll. The information will circulate traceably and automatically, the effort put into each of these steps will be optimized to the maximum for your HR teams.

2) Schedule shifts based on sales forecasts or expected staff shortages

Whether you use templates created according to the business curve of the day or directly the business objectives for the period you want to schedule, an intelligent algorithm of scheduling software can propose the optimal shift structure adapted to your business. In seconds, just a click away. This way, you will have a good overview of the required capacities in relation to your business ambition. At the same time, you will make informed decisions about over-structured or under-structured teams.

3) Flexible time schedule has a positive impact on several important aspects of the business

Flexible time is beneficial from several perspectives:

  • It can support your better availability at key times of the day or month, such as peaks in staff shortages or filling shelves with products in line with delivered volumes.
  • It will support reduced absenteeism because workforce scheduling can be agreed with the employee according to personal life priorities
  • It will be a good differentiator for recruiting varied and diversified workforce’ profiles
  • Increase workforce engagement and satisfaction

4) Keep workforce overtime under control by using a varied structure

By having part-time profiles and a full-time workforce in your team structure, you can manage shift coverage on staff shortages or activity much faster and more dynamically. Scheduled hours in fixed shifts for full-time employees can often be unproductive.

5) Agree with the workforce structures whether labored hours can be used as polyvalent or to cover open shifts in other locations or departments.

The workforce structures may be interested in mobility and flexibility when their personal lives allow it.
Optimizing the distribution of labored hours often means reusing them in the right place at the right time. This can also mean that an employee in one store may be available and interested in working punctually in another store closer to home or their child’s school. You can also use incentives for the employees who perform difficult open shifts. Costs will certainly be greatly optimized and your employees can round up their income as and when they decide.
An automated shift scheduling software can give you the best suggestions of eligible and available people and they can provide their availability in real-time using a mobile app.

6) Use cyclical template scheduling according to a set pattern

The employees will appreciate the predictability of their working time and as long as they have been consulted in its development, the monthly work dedicated to scheduling will fundamentally decrease, helping you to reuse time for business purposes, for example.

7) Consult your employees about their preferences and availability for work

In today’s job market, the workforce has many options to choose from. And they will choose the job that brings them the most satisfaction. This can mean consideration, quality of life, variable income, and control of their time, when or where they work.
After all, workforce shift scheduling can be the best lever towards job satisfaction. And the quality of life also means control over work-life balance.

How can we help you?

We can help you:
• A team with business and HR expertise to accompany you through the stages of defining your human capital scheduling framework and strategy, as well as change management.
• software tool – shiftin – built around the same needs you are aware of, to help you digitize and automate your workforce scheduling process to support your business performance.

About the author:

Alina Raicu-Vitan

Product Owner shiftin

Expertise in Human Resource and Operations Excellence, Change Management and Scheduling Strategy