What is a Workforce Management System?
A workforce management system (WFM) is a computer system designed to help
organizations achieve the following:
- Increase associate productivity, reduce selling cost and improve
customer service by creating associate schedules that provide the best
possible match between selling floor coverage and customer traffic.
- Improve management control by creating budgets and staffing plans that
are driven by forecasted sales and management objectives for selling cost or
productivity. The staffing plans then drive the scheduling process and provide a
baseline for evaluating actual performance and the development of plans for
remedial action if needed.
- Minimize the risk of associate legal action by maintaining complete time
record documentation while providing detailed monitoring of overtime and meal/break compliance.
- Reduce shrinkage by ensuring that security minimums are satisfied.
- Improve associate morale by creating associate schedules that are
equitable and "associate friendly" while satisfying the needs of the business.
- Reduce administrative costs and improve customer service by minimizing the time managers
spend creating associate schedules and performing the clerical tasks associated with
time and attendance, while maximizing their time on the floor.