Managing a restaurant’s workforce is clearly one of the biggest challenges in the hospitality industry. With labour costs, employee satisfaction, and compliance all on the line, choosing the right scheduling software is absolutely crucial.
While solutions like Workforce have gained attention, Bizimply has established itself as a standout alternative. Created specifically for restaurants and hospitality businesses, Bizimply offers a suite of features designed to simplify scheduling, improve communication, boost employee management, and provide actionable insights from relevant data to optimise operations.
In this article, we’ll explore why Bizimply is a compelling alternative to Workforce and how it can help your restaurant overcome its workforce management challenges.
The Benefits of Scheduling Software for Restaurant Managers
Adding scheduling software, like Bizimply, to your everyday operations offers several advantages for restaurant managers, leading to smoother operations and happier teams overall. A few of the key benefits of scheduling software include:
Time-Saving Automation
- Quickly create and adjust schedules with drag-and-drop tools, saving hours each week.
- Automate repetitive tasks like tracking time-off requests and availability.
Labour Cost Control
- Gain insights into labour costs versus revenue to make informed scheduling decisions.
- Reduce overtime expenses by identifying potential overstaffing or understaffing issues.
Improved Compliance and Accuracy
- Automatically track labour law requirements, such as maximum shift lengths and mandatory breaks.
- Avoid errors in payroll by integrating attendance tracking with payroll systems.
Improved Staff Communication
- Notify employees instantly of schedule updates via mobile apps or email.
- Streamline requests for shift swaps, time off, or changes to availability.
Boosted Employee Satisfaction
- Offer predictable and fair scheduling, improving staff morale and retention.
- Provide easy access to schedules on mobile devices, giving employees more control over their work-life balance.
Real-Time Attendance Tracking
- Track staff attendance and punctuality to address issues proactively.
- Reduce time theft with accurate clock-ins and biometric integrations.
Scalability for Growing Teams
- Easily manage staff across multiple locations or departments.
- Adapt scheduling tools to match the size and complexity of your operations.
Data-Driven Decision Making
- Use detailed reports to identify trends in employee performance and labour efficiency.
- Make strategic staffing decisions during peak and off-peak times.
The Best Workforce Alternative for Hospitality Businesses: Bizimply
Bizimply is a feature-rich workforce management solution tailored to the ever-changing demands of the hospitality industry, particularly restaurants. It offers a powerful suite of tools created to simplify employee scheduling, streamline time tracking, and optimise labour costs.
With user-friendly interface and mobile-friendly features, Bizimply gives restaurant managers the tools needed to create and update schedules effortlessly, monitor staff attendance in real time, and maintain full compliance with all labour regulations.
Its integrated approach saves time and reduces the risk of costly errors associated with manual scheduling processes.
Bizimply focuses on improving both operational efficiency and employee satisfaction – a key balance for success. With clear communication channels and mobile access to schedules, staff can stay informed about shifts and make changes seamlessly, fostering a more engaged workforce.
You’ll also benefit from the data and analytics features through detailed labour cost analysis and reporting, empowering you to make data-driven decisions going forward.
Whether you operate a single restaurant or a multi-location chain, Bizimply offers the flexibility and scalability to meet your workforce management needs effectively. We’ll now cover the key features in more detail, showcasing exactly how Bizimply can help you improve operations.
1. Employee Scheduling and Shift Management
Bizimply’s scheduling and shift management tools eliminate the complexities of managing a dynamic workforce in the restaurant industry. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for managers to create, update, and assign shifts based on employee availability and business needs. Automating the scheduling process reduces the manual workload, freeing up time for managers to focus on the core operations.
Bizimply’s restaurant scheduling software provides a clear and user-friendly view of schedules, making it simple to identify gaps in coverage or instances of overstaffing.
Real-time updates notify employees instantly about schedule changes, ending communication delays that can disrupt operations. The ability to store staff availability and shift preferences helps in creating fair and balanced schedules, fostering a more satisfied workforce and workplace culture.
Managers can also set recurring shift templates, significantly reducing the effort involved in weekly or monthly scheduling. The platform’s powerful scheduling tools support multi-location operations, giving businesses with multiple outlets the tools to manage all schedules from one centralised system.
With boosted visibility into the staffing needs and employee hours, Bizimply keeps restaurants adequately staffed, improving operational efficiency and service quality. Bizimply is a dream tool for an operations manager, as quick and reliable shift management can do wonders for your chances of success.
Key Benefits of Bizimply’s Scheduling and Shift Management Tools:
- Intuitive Scheduling Interface: Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies creating, updating, and assigning shifts.
- Time-Saving Automation: Reduces manual workload and allows managers to focus on core operations.
- Clear Schedule Visibility: User-friendly views make it easy to spot coverage gaps or overstaffing.
- Real-Time Updates: Notifies employees instantly of schedule changes, improving communication.
- Staff Preferences Management: Stores availability and shift preferences for fair, balanced scheduling.
- Recurring Shift Templates: Simplifies weekly or monthly scheduling with preset templates.
- Multi-Location Support: Centralised tools for managing schedules across multiple outlets.
- Operational Efficiency: Maintains adequate staffing, boosting service quality and reducing disruptions.
2. Time and Attendance Tracking
One of the biggest challenges associated with staff management is accurate time and attendance management. Bizimply’s time and attendance tracking feature maintains an accurate recording of employee work hours – minimising errors and preventing payroll discrepancies.
Bizimply’s system comes with the TimeStation app, which allows employees to clock in and out securely using a unique PIN and photo verification. The dual-authentication method helps reduce time theft and buddy-punching, and as such, only authorised individuals can record hours worked.
Your managers gain real-time visibility into staff attendance, enabling them to monitor punctuality and take immediate corrective action if necessary.
With detailed records of start and end times, break periods, and overtime hours, the platform maintains compliance with labour laws and regulations – eliminating the risk of penalties and improving overall workforce accountability.
The time and attendance feature also simplifies payroll processes by automatically syncing recorded hours with payroll systems, reducing the time spent on manual data entry. For restaurants with multiple locations, centralised tracking allows for an easy comparison of performance and punctuality between different teams.
Detailed reporting capabilities also allow managers to identify trends, such as frequent mistakes or absenteeism, and address underlying issues proactively. By combining accuracy, transparency, and efficiency, Bizimply’s time and attendance tracking is a powerful tool for workforce management.
3. Human Resources Management
Bizimply’s HR management tools centralise all employee-related information into one accessible and secure platform, simplifying how you handle your workforce. The software allows managers to store detailed employee records, including contact information, job roles, pay rates, and training certifications.
The HR platform also streamlines onboarding processes, allowing managers to quickly add new hires and keep all necessary documentation uploaded and organised. Performance tracking tools help managers assess employee growth, monitor KPIs, and identify any potential areas for development.
Bizimply even includes tools for managing employee leave and absence, integrating seamlessly with the scheduling system to avoid conflicts and guarantee proper coverage during time off. Alerts and reminders for certifications and mandatory training keep up compliance with industry standards and legal requirements.
For hospitality businesses with multiple locations, the system provides a bird’s-eye view of HR metrics across all outlets, helping you identify trends and areas for improvement across all locations. With Bizimply’s HR tools, your restaurant can maintain a professional and streamlined workforce management system, improving compliance and hospitality staff management.
4. Labour Cost Analysis and Reporting
Understanding labour costs is key to maintaining profitability in the restaurant industry, and Bizimply’s labour cost and budget analysis tools provide actionable data to help managers make informed decisions.
The platform tracks real-time labour costs against sales, allowing managers to monitor staffing expenses in proportion to revenue, optimising labour budgets without compromising service quality.
Key Benefits of Bizimply’s Labour Cost Analysis Tools:
- Real-Time Tracking: Monitor labour costs against sales in real time for a clear picture of profitability.
- Detailed Reports: Identify trends like overtime, under-utilisation, and peak staffing times to adjust schedules strategically.
- Payroll Integration: Seamlessly integrate with payroll systems for an accurate reflection of labour costs in financial reports.
- Performance Metrics: Set and track labour percentage targets to ensure operational efficiency.
For example, managers can use Bizimply’s reporting tools to identify overstaffing during slower times and reallocate resources to peak hours.
The system’s visual dashboards make it easy to spot inefficiencies at a glance, reducing wasteful spending and improving profitability. By providing clarity on where and how labour resources are allocated, Bizimply helps restaurants improve financial management and maintain a competitive edge.
5. Mobile Access and Employee Self-Service
Mobile accessibility becomes increasingly important every day. Bizimply empowers restaurant staff and managers with seamless mobile access to their workforce management tools.
The MyZimply app lets your employees view their schedules, request time off, and update their availability directly from their smartphones, making communication and coordination simpler and more efficient.
Bizimply’s self-service functionality reduces the administrative burden on managers while giving staff more control over their schedules.
For managers, the mobile interface allows quick access to essential features, such as schedule updates, attendance tracking, and team communication. This is super useful in the fast-paced restaurant environment, where decisions need to be made on the go.
Your managers can approve shift swaps, respond to time-off requests, and monitor labour costs directly from their devices, keeping them in control regardless of location.
6. Communication Tools
Good communication is incredibly important in the hospitality industry, where timely information sharing can significantly affect operations. Bizimply’s chat features address this need through its integrated communication features, notably Bizimply Connect, which is just a few clicks away.
Bizimply Connect
Bizimply Connect is a secure messaging platform within the Bizimply system, designed to improve your team’s communication. Accessible via the MyZimply app and web portal, it allows managers and employees to exchange messages instantly.
Users can create dynamic groups that automatically update based on location and schedule, facilitating targeted communication. This feature is particularly useful for sharing important updates, such as new menu launches or employee recognitions.
Key Features of Bizimply’s Communication Tools
- Instant Messaging: The chat features allow for real-time conversations between team members, reducing delays in information dissemination.
- Smart Groups: Allows for the creation of groups that auto-update based on specific criteria like location and schedule, relevant information reaches the appropriate audience.
- Newsfeeds: Admins and managers can share documents, videos, and more through a centralised news feed, keeping multiple locations informed and connected.
- GDPR Compliance: Maintains secure communication by not requiring employees to share personal contact information, aligning with data protection regulations.
Bizimply fosters a connected and informed workforce, increasing operational efficiency and employee engagement for restaurant owners.
7. Compliance Management
Maintaining compliance with labour laws and industry regulations is a significant challenge for restaurants, and Bizimply’s compliance management tools help streamline this process, keeping everything above board.
The platform tracks employee hours, including start and end times, break periods, and overtime, making for accurate record-keeping that meets legal requirements. By automating compliance-related tasks, Bizimply reduces the risk of human error and the fines and legal consequences that result from it.
Bizimply’s system includes built-in alerts to notify managers of potential violations, such as exceeding maximum shift lengths or failing to provide mandatory breaks. Restaurant managers can then make adjustments in real time, avoiding compliance issues before they arise.
The platform also generates detailed reports for audits, providing clear and organised documentation that simplifies interactions with regulatory authorities.
Bizimply supports industry-specific requirements, such as tracking mandatory certifications and training for staff. By providing tools to manage these complex processes, Bizimply allows you to focus on delivering excellent service while staying within the bounds of the law.
8. Integration with Payroll and POS Systems
Bizimply’s ability to integrate with payroll providers and POS systems is a game-changer for streamlining restaurant operations.
When Bizimply connects with popular payroll platforms, the software maintains accurate attendance data that flows seamlessly into payroll processes, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors. These integrations simplify wage calculations, including overtime, and maintain timely and accurate payment to employees.
On the POS side, Bizimply’s integration allows labour data to be synced with sales metrics, giving managers a clear view of labour costs relative to revenue. Restaurants can then make informed staffing decisions, such as adjusting shifts to align with busy periods or identifying opportunities to improve efficiency during slower times.
For restaurants with multiple locations, Bizimply’s integrations provide a unified platform for managing payroll and sales data across all outlets. By eliminating silos between systems, Bizimply upholds cohesive and efficient operation, saving time and improving accuracy in key administrative processes.
Who Can Benefit from Bizimply’s Restaurant Scheduling Software?
Bizimply’s restaurant scheduling software is designed to cater to a wide range of stakeholders within the restaurant and hospitality industry. We’ve put together a brief breakdown of who can benefit most from Bizimply’s Restaurant Scheduling Software:
Restaurant Managers
- Time-saving tools: Managers can automate scheduling, track labour costs, and manage attendance, freeing up time for other operational tasks.
- Real-time insights: Access to data-driven reports ensures smarter staffing decisions, aligning schedules with demand.
- Enhanced compliance: Simplifies adherence to labour laws and avoids costly errors in scheduling and payroll.
Business Owners
- Cost efficiency: Tools to monitor and optimise labour costs against revenue help owners maintain profitability.
- Centralised control: Multi-location support allows owners of chain restaurants to oversee operations seamlessly across all outlets.
- Improved employee retention: Fair scheduling and better communication foster a more satisfied workforce, reducing turnover.
Frontline Employees
- Mobile access: Staff can view schedules, request time off, and swap shifts conveniently from their phones.
- Predictable scheduling: Transparency in schedules helps employees plan their personal lives better, improving job satisfaction.
- Fairness and transparency: Storing preferences maintains equitable scheduling practices, fostering trust in the workplace.
Multi-Location Restaurant Chains
- Scalable solutions: Centralised scheduling tools simplify operations for businesses with multiple outlets.
- Consistent standards: Guarantee uniform scheduling practices and reporting across locations.
By addressing the needs of managers, employees, and business owners alike, Bizimply delivers a comprehensive solution that boosts efficiency, enhances satisfaction, and upholds compliance across the board.
Final Thoughts
Bizimply is a feature-rich platform and serves as a perfect alternative to Workforce. Trusted by thousands of UK and Irish businesses, Bizimply helps you get the most out of your staff management, shift management, and human resources processes.
With powerful tech like Bizimply’s restaurant scheduling software, you can greatly improve operational efficiency and ultimately increase your overall profits. At the heart of every successful business are qualified, competent, and happy staff members.
Get the most out of your day-to-day operations and book your demo with Bizimply today!
