Purchasing resources for Workforce Management Software

A Guide to Workplace Management Software

Managing a team of people towards a common goal is a complex undertaking, and encompasses many elements that must work in concert for the work to be done effectively.  Accounting, time-keeping, forecasting, and performance are just some of the moving parts that can be streamlined with the use of workplace management software.  Let’s consider what kind of solutions you may need to improve your team’s mood, efficiency, and competence.

Benefits

A to-do list isn’t quite enough when executing a difficult task: there are many things to do by many different people at many different times by many different deadlines.  People need to be paid on time for the right amount of work; employees need to know what has to get done, when, and by whom; and your colleagues have to understand what they’re working towards, and know that they’re being properly acknowledged.  Workplace management software can make all this much easier.

There are a wide range of features available to you for every element of administration.  Accounting software like QuickBooks allows you to process payroll, benefits, and taxes for your employees.  Timesheet programs like Replicon helps compute man hours logged on a project.  Recruiting software like FastTrack can screen potential applicants for required background and skill sets.  Project schedules, with all requisite deadlines and assignments, can be managed by applications ranging from free programs like G Calendar to robust professional suites like Kronos.  Workflows can be constantly updated by all employees, even by smartphone in the field, allowing employees to log hours worked, accountants to transfer funds quickly and precisely, and project deadlines to be met efficiently.

Pitfalls

Education and training are important factors that are sometimes overlooked by managers.  Your staff needs to know how to use all the software you’ve selected, and their daily work schedule must be properly synched so that your team can work at peak capacity.  Many of these tools are designed to be user-friendly, but that can often depend on the friendliness of the user.

It’s important to remember the human element when planning a workplace management solution, because good employees should never feel stifled or overwhelmed.  These tools are designed to make projects easier to undertake, not harder; and if they become overly complicated or invasive you may risk alienating your staff.

Finding a Workforce Management Software Solution

You’ll likely want to explore the range of options available to you before settling on a suite of programs that match your needs.  Practically speaking, the science of project and resource management is still in its infancy, and many employers report being dissatisfied with their present systems.  No easy, comprehensive package is likely to meet your needs at this point, so be sure to have a strong idea of what you want before overhauling your workplace.  Be sure to work in conjunction with your accounting staff, as well as your IT and HR professionals before making any sweeping changes.  Everyone has to be on board, and the costs of new software and concordant training have to be worth your while.

Conclusion

While it’s important to be intelligent about which software you choose, remember that there’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel: having an effective project and human resources management system in place will put you ahead of the game and make all future undertakings much easier.  It’ll take time, but when you’re finished, you should have a lot more of it on your hands.