Workforce Management - Not Just another Marketing Gimmick

Workforce management software“Workforce management” sounds like one of those terms thrown out by newly minted MBAs who have little  or no real grasp of the practical realities of running a small or midsize business.  The truth, however, is that workforce management is one of the most critical aspects to which a manager or business owner must attend.

The Basics

While the most important component of any business is its people, the management and administration of those people can be a significant distraction from the true core of the business. Workforce Management Software (WMS) aims to alleviate business owners and managers from the routine and more tedious duties required in properly maintaining a workforce.

WMS can facilitate any or all of the following:

  • Recruitment and Hiring
  • Training
  • Scheduling
  • Payroll Benefits Administration
  • Time & Attendance
  • Redeployment
  • Coaching and Disciplinary Actions

Obviously, these functions include a wide range of HR activities and a WMS that covers all of them would be particularly complicated and robust. One of the great advantages of WMS is that it can be compartmentalized and is easily scalable. Business owners can customize WMS suites to fit their most pressing needs and then expand when time, money and needs permit.

The Advantages

In case the advantages of using computers and the Internet to completely integrate all facets of HR administration are not obvious, here are some of them:

  • More Systematic Hiring Practices
  • Improved and More Thorough Training
  • Better OSHA and EEOC Compliance
  • Fewer Harassment and Discrimination Lawsuits
  • More Accurate Payroll, Tax and Benefits Accounting
  • Lower Administration Costs

In addition, there are plenty of soft costs savings that accompany a properly administered WMS system. Superior applicants, better employee morale and lower turnover are just a few.

In short, the prudent small business owner or HR executive cannot afford to ignore the costs savings that an investment in a well-designed and implemented WMS will produce.

For more information download our white paper, Top 5 Technology Game Changers for Workforce Management.