Category: FAQ
Excerpt: Manual personnel planning has its limits. When does it become inefficient and what are the risks? We show when companies benefit from WFM solutions to overcome planning difficulties.
When exactly does manual personnel planning become inefficient?
The complexity of personnel planning depends not only on the number of employees (see also our article “How many employees are worth using a WFM solution for?“), but also on several other factors, such as deployment models, legal requirements and the growing expectations of employees. While smaller organizations often get by with manually created shift schedules, the requirements in medium-sized and large companies are increasing considerably. If, for example, different shift models are required or flexible working hours are desired, planning quickly becomes confusing. There are hidden inefficiencies here that often only become apparent at a late stage:
- Increased compliance requirements: In the wake of working time laws and industry-specific regulations, such as compliance with rest periods or overtime limits, compliance with labor law requirements is becoming increasingly important. Manual planning processes increase the risk of errors here, which can lead to legal and financial consequences.
- Employee needs and shift preferences: Employees increasingly expect flexibility. Taking individual shift requests, preferences and absence planning into account requires planners who have a comprehensive overview of all employees and their wishes - a task that is often almost impossible to accomplish without digital support in order to harmonize employee wishes and company goals.
- Increase in administrative burdens: As the number of employees increases, so does the number of shift changes and substitutions to be processed. Without centralized recording and automation of these processes, the administrative workload increases exponentially.
- Data processing requirements: Modern companies expect data-based insights to underpin their decisions. It is no longer just about planning per se, but also about analyzing past developments to optimize future HR strategies. The automation of processes and support from analysis and reporting functions play an important role here.
Studies show that companies with around 30 employees or more benefit from a WFM solution to make planning processes efficient and transparent. From 100 employees and more, a workforce management system is almost essential to ensure planning efficiency and flexibility. However, it is not only the number of employees that is decisive – the company structure and requirements also play a role. Shift operations, companies with large fluctuations in workload and those with high compliance requirements should rely on digital planning tools at an early stage.
WFM in practice
Our digital assistant Oki demonstrates what such a planning tool can look like in practice in a non-binding on-demand product demo. The video is available immediately after registration.
