The core of any business is effective staff management. For businesses in sectors like hospitality, retail, and healthcare, where efficient scheduling, payroll accuracy, and employee tracking are essential for smooth operations, finding a staff management software solution is key.
S4Labour is a popular solution in the UK, widely used for managing shifts, timekeeping, and employee data, but there are other options. Businesses seeking flexibility, specific features, or cost-effective alternatives may find other software options that better align with their needs.
A standout alternative is Bizimply, a platform specifically designed for managing staff in high-turnover industries, such as hospitality. Bizimply combines user-friendly scheduling tools with time-tracking, payroll integration, and HR functions, making it a strong competitor to S4Labour.
In this article, we’ll explore Bizimply’s offerings and discuss why it stands out above other systems. By the end, you’ll have a clear view of which platform can best streamline and optimise your business’s workforce management.
What to Look for in a Staff Management Software
Scheduling and Rota Management
- Look for software with flexible scheduling capabilities that allow for quick adjustments, including drag-and-drop features and reusable rota templates.
- Advanced scheduling tools can save time by auto-generating rotas based on previous schedules or patterns, and allow managers to make last-minute changes effortlessly.
Employee Time Tracking
- Accurate time-tracking features should allow employees to clock in and out, ideally with mobile access or biometric verification to prevent “buddy punching.”
- Real-time attendance monitoring enables managers to respond immediately to late arrivals or missed shifts, helping reduce time theft and improve productivity.
Payroll Integration
- Software that integrates directly with payroll systems reduces administrative work and ensures timely and accurate pay for employees.
- Automatic payroll calculations for wages, overtime, holiday pay, and deductions streamline the payment process, reducing payroll processing time.
HR Software & HR Data
- Staff management software should include an HR system with features for maintaining employee information and staff records, following employment law, tracking leave and absences, and managing employee contracts and certifications.
- Document management tools make it easy to store and retrieve important HR documents, ensuring the business stays compliant with legal storage and privacy requirements.
Employee Self-Service Portal
- A self-service portal empowers employees to view schedules, request time off, update availability, and even access pay stubs without needing to contact HR.
- Self-service options improve employee satisfaction by giving them control over their schedules, leave requests, and personal information, enhancing transparency and reducing administrative requests.
Reports & Analytics
- Analytics tools help businesses gain insights into labour costs, attendance patterns, and productivity, allowing for data-driven decisions.
- Managers can track metrics like shift attendance rates, overtime expenses, and labour cost percentages, which helps optimise staffing levels.
Ease of Use and Support
- A user-friendly design is key for staff management software, as both managers and employees need to navigate it comfortably without extensive training.
- Look for software with comprehensive customer support and onboarding resources to ensure a smooth implementation process.
Bizimply’s Staff Management Features
Bizimply’s staff management features can make your life as a business owner or manager far smoother, with each feature designed to streamline existing systems, boost employees’ performance and satisfaction, and improve the customers’ experience. Now, let’s run through Bizimply’s key features:
Shift Management & Scheduling Features
The shift management feature is a great tool to schedule shifts and oversee people management.
Key features should include:
- Intuitive Scheduling Interface: Managers can create and adjust employee schedules effortlessly using a drag-and-drop system. This interface allows for quick modifications and the ability to copy previous schedules, saving time and reducing errors.
- Real-Time Cost Tracking: Bizimply provides live costing as schedules are built, so managers can monitor labour expenses and stay within budget. This feature helps managers make informed staffing decisions. This feature helps in making informed staffing decisions to optimise labour costs.
- Employee Self-Service Portal: Through the MyZimply app, employees can access their schedules in real time, request time off, and update their availability. This transparency fosters better communication and allows staff to manage their work-life balance effectively.
- Compliance Management: The system includes alerts for potential breaches of labour laws, such as excessive working hours or insufficient rest periods, helping businesses maintain compliance with workforce regulations.
- Multi-Location Coordination: For businesses operating across multiple sites, Bizimply allows for seamless sharing of employees between locations. Managers can view staff schedules and open shifts across all sites, ensuring optimal coverage and preventing scheduling conflicts.
Employee Data & Management (Human Resources Software)
Bizimply offers a comprehensive suite of employee data and human resource information system features designed to streamline HR processes and enhance workforce oversight.
Bizimply’s HR platform includes features such as:
- Centralised Employee Profiles: Each staff member has a personalised profile containing personal information, employment history, and important documents. This centralised system ensures that all employee data is easily accessible and up-to-date.
- Leave and Absence Tracking: Employees can request time off through the MyZimply app, and managers receive instant notifications to approve or decline requests. The system keeps records of earned time-off accruals, simplifying leave management and ensuring compliance.
- Training and Onboarding Management: Create onboarding checklists and track training records for each employee. Set notifications for recurring training and attach certificates to individual profiles, ensuring that all staff members meet necessary qualifications and compliance standards.
- Employee Engagement Surveys: Implement anonymous surveys as employees clock out to gauge shift satisfaction and gather real-time feedback. This tool helps identify areas for improvement and enhances overall employee engagement.
- HR Admin:Bizimply simplifies HR systems management, promotes compliance, and fosters a more organised and efficient workplace. As such, it has one of the best HR software systems included in staff management software.
Time-Clock
Bizimply’s time clock feature, known as the TimeStation App, offers a robust solution for managing employee attendance with precision and ease.
Key features include:
- User-Friendly Interface: The TimeStation App is designed for simplicity. Employees clock in and out using a unique 4-digit PIN, and the system captures a photo during each clock-in to prevent buddy punching.
- Offline Functionality: The app operates seamlessly even without an internet connection, storing data locally and syncing once reconnected, ensuring uninterrupted attendance tracking.
- Pre-Shift Checklists: Managers can implement pre-shift questionnaires, such as health screenings, directly within the app, promoting compliance and employee well-being.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Managers have access to live attendance data, enabling them to monitor clock-ins, identify late arrivals, and address attendance issues promptly.
- Integration with Payroll: Clock-in and out records sync automatically with timecards, streamlining payroll processing and reducing administrative workload.
By integrating these features, Bizimply’s TimeStation App maintains operational efficiency, keeping accurate timekeeping, and supports compliance with labour regulations.
E-Signature Feature
Bizimply’s E-Signature feature streamlines the management of employee documents by enabling secure, legally binding electronic signatures directly within the platform. The functionality is integrated through a partnership with Dropbox Sign, maintaining a seamless and efficient document workflow.
Key features include:
- Simplified Document Signing: Managers can send contracts, onboarding forms, and policy updates to employees for electronic signatures, eliminating the need for physical paperwork.
- Secure and Legally Binding: The integration with Dropbox Sign ensures that all electronic signatures are secure and comply with legal standards, providing confidence in the authenticity of signed documents.
- Centralised Storage: Bizimply automatically stores signed documents in the respective employee profiles, making it easy to access and organise them.
- Status Tracking and Reminders: Managers can monitor the status of signature requests and send reminders to employees who have pending documents, ensuring timely completion.
Benefits of using an E-Signature:
- Efficiency: Reduces administrative tasks associated with printing, scanning, and storing physical documents, leading to faster onboarding and document management processes.
- Enhanced Security: Electronic signatures reduce the risk of document tampering and loss, maintaining the integrity of sensitive information.
- Environmental Impact: By minimising the use of paper, the E-Signature feature supports environmentally friendly business practices.
Overall, Bizimply’s E-Signature feature offers a modern solution for document management, improving efficiency, security, and compliance in employee-related processes.
Communication Features
Bizimply offers robust communication tools designed to enhance team collaboration and streamline information sharing within organisations.
A few of the key features include:
- Bizimply Connect: This feature enables instant, secure messaging through the MyZimply app and web portal. Managers can create dynamic groups that automatically update based on location and schedule, facilitating targeted communication.
- Smart Group Messaging: Bizimply Connect allows the creation of smart groups, such as store managers or specific departments like chefs, supporting private groups and one-on-one messaging. Employees can upload photos, videos, and use reactions and emojis, fostering a more engaging communication environment.
- Newsfeeds: Admins and managers can share documents, videos, and more through a centralised news feed, keeping multiple locations informed and connected. Employees can acknowledge, comment, and react to posts, guaranteeing that everyone sees and engages with important information.
- GDPR-Compliant Messaging: The app maintains GDPR compliance by not requiring employees to share their phone numbers. It allows users to set specific time frames to receive messages, supporting the company’s right to disconnect policy.
Bizimply’s platform integrates these communication features, providing a seamless and efficient way for teams to stay connected, share updates, and collaborate effectively.
Permissions Management
Bizimply offers a comprehensive permissions management system that allows administrators to control user access to various features and data within the platform.
As some senior team members and management may need unlimited access, while others need more restricted access, the permissions management system improves the whole process.
Bizimply’s permissions management system uses customisable roles, which lets businesses tailor staff access levels to match specific job functions and responsibilities. The process is straightforward, allowing you to quickly manage access for all team members.
Key Components of Bizimply’s Permissions Management:
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Administrators can create and assign roles with defined permissions, determining which features and data each user can access. This ensures that employees have access only to the information necessary for their roles, enhancing security and operational efficiency.
- Customisable Permissions: You can customise each role to grant or restrict access to specific modules, such as scheduling, attendance, reports, and employee profiles. For example, a manager might have the ability to edit schedules and approve timecards, while a regular employee may only view their own schedule.
- Location and Group Roles: Bizimply supports the assignment of roles at both location and group levels, allowing for nuanced control in multi-location businesses. This means an employee can have different access rights depending on the location or group they are associated with.
- Administrator Controls: Account administrators have the authority to create new roles, modify existing ones, and assign roles to employees. They can also view a list of users and their assigned roles, providing transparency and ease of management.
- Employee Notifications: When an employee’s role is assigned or changed, they receive an email notification informing them of their updated permissions. This keeps employees informed about their access rights and any changes made.
Final Thoughts
Bizimply stands out as a versatile and comprehensive alternative. With its user-friendly interface, advanced scheduling tools, and enhanced reporting capabilities, Bizimply offers UK businesses an edge in managing teams efficiently and boosting productivity.
Addressing key industry needs from compliance to employee engagement, Bizimply provides a firm foundation for businesses aiming to streamline operations and achieve sustainable growth.
Choosing the right staff management software, like Bizimply, can make a profound difference, helping businesses not only to manage but to optimise their workforce for the challenges of today’s fast-paced environment.
Interested in Bizimply and its powerful staff management features? Reach out or book your demo today.
