Leveraging Workforce Management
The vast majority of national retailers and large regionals have already deployed automated workforce management solutions. These include specific functions such as time and attendance, scheduling and task management. However, recently, advancements to these solutions have made it possible for retailers to tap into deeper sources of information to improve productivity and reduce costs. In addition, cloud-based WFM solutions have become available to add increased flexibility and speed to deployment.
This month’s RetailScape will focus on cutting-edge solutions from the major WFM vendors as well as highlight recent technology advancements and retail deployments.
Merged Solutions
In February 2012, Ceridian Corporation announced its acquisition of Dayforce Corporation. Prior to the merger the two companies worked together to launch Ceridian’s WFM solution in 2011 and to date it has signed over 450 accounts in less than a year.
“With this acquisition we are gaining development and delivery expertise and innovative technology that are the perfect complement to Ceridian’s experience, established customer base and tremendous market reach,” said Stuart Harvey, Jr., Ceridian’s CEO. “We are well positioned to deliver the most advanced human capital management cloud platform in the industry.”
Controlling Costs
Maryland Live! Casino, a $500 million gaming and entertainment destination under construction at Arundel Mills in Maryland, has purchased a suite of WFM solutions from Kronos that includes time and attendance, scheduling, HR and payroll, and selection and hiring to manage its workforce. Maryland Live! Casino will impement the Kronos’ cloud services offering, to enable the company to control labor costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve workforce productivity.
In addition, UK grocery retailer Sainsbury’s has selected a WFM solution from Kronos to control labor costs and improve workforce productivity. The Kronos solution will manage time and attendance and scheduling of more than 150,000 employees in over 1,000 locations across the UK.
Updated Tools
Opterus released Store Ops-Center (SOC) Version 3.2, which introduced the Capacity Planning functionality. SOC is an intuitive, Web-based (SaaS) solution designed specifically for retail to simply and effectively manage and execute store tasks and communications. With SOC Capacity Planning, retailers can specify how much task work in hours each store is expected to have capacity for per week.
Satisfaction Comes First
Reflexis partnered with Indyme Solutions, provider of Smart Response communication solutions, to deliver instant awareness of urgent situations occurring in a store, alert on-duty employees, and ensure prompt, best-practice response.
Through the combined offering, retailers can immediately detect the presence of a high-value shopper and send an alert to the most qualified employee currently clocked in wherever they are in the store. The system can alert employees to suspicious activity and dangerous situations such as aisle spills or perimeter doors that unexpectedly open. It can also ensure issues are resolved using best practices through escalations and improved team coordination, while tracking completion status and performance metrics.
Maximizing Time
Bon-Ton Stores, which operates 280 stores in 23 states, implemented the SAP WFM application to optimize its workforce processes. The retailer has achieved a centralized, unified, automated approach to workforce scheduling; maximized return on investment (ROI) on operating payroll; and gained greater visibility into labor costs across the organization. Bon-Ton also reduced time to create weekly schedules by 30% and improved workforce deployment processes.
This month’s RetailScape will focus on cutting-edge solutions from the major WFM vendors as well as highlight recent technology advancements and retail deployments.
Merged Solutions
In February 2012, Ceridian Corporation announced its acquisition of Dayforce Corporation. Prior to the merger the two companies worked together to launch Ceridian’s WFM solution in 2011 and to date it has signed over 450 accounts in less than a year.
“With this acquisition we are gaining development and delivery expertise and innovative technology that are the perfect complement to Ceridian’s experience, established customer base and tremendous market reach,” said Stuart Harvey, Jr., Ceridian’s CEO. “We are well positioned to deliver the most advanced human capital management cloud platform in the industry.”
Controlling Costs
Maryland Live! Casino, a $500 million gaming and entertainment destination under construction at Arundel Mills in Maryland, has purchased a suite of WFM solutions from Kronos that includes time and attendance, scheduling, HR and payroll, and selection and hiring to manage its workforce. Maryland Live! Casino will impement the Kronos’ cloud services offering, to enable the company to control labor costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve workforce productivity.
In addition, UK grocery retailer Sainsbury’s has selected a WFM solution from Kronos to control labor costs and improve workforce productivity. The Kronos solution will manage time and attendance and scheduling of more than 150,000 employees in over 1,000 locations across the UK.
Updated Tools
Opterus released Store Ops-Center (SOC) Version 3.2, which introduced the Capacity Planning functionality. SOC is an intuitive, Web-based (SaaS) solution designed specifically for retail to simply and effectively manage and execute store tasks and communications. With SOC Capacity Planning, retailers can specify how much task work in hours each store is expected to have capacity for per week.
Satisfaction Comes First
Reflexis partnered with Indyme Solutions, provider of Smart Response communication solutions, to deliver instant awareness of urgent situations occurring in a store, alert on-duty employees, and ensure prompt, best-practice response.
Through the combined offering, retailers can immediately detect the presence of a high-value shopper and send an alert to the most qualified employee currently clocked in wherever they are in the store. The system can alert employees to suspicious activity and dangerous situations such as aisle spills or perimeter doors that unexpectedly open. It can also ensure issues are resolved using best practices through escalations and improved team coordination, while tracking completion status and performance metrics.
Maximizing Time
Bon-Ton Stores, which operates 280 stores in 23 states, implemented the SAP WFM application to optimize its workforce processes. The retailer has achieved a centralized, unified, automated approach to workforce scheduling; maximized return on investment (ROI) on operating payroll; and gained greater visibility into labor costs across the organization. Bon-Ton also reduced time to create weekly schedules by 30% and improved workforce deployment processes.
| RETAILSCAPE: WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT The chart below is a comparison guide of product specifications and functionalities in a specific category to help retailers begin their search for vendors in the RFP process. The chart is not a comprehensive resource. Please visit vendor web sites for further information. |
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Company Name/Web Site
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Solution Description
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Key Clients
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| Ceridian Dayforce www.dayforce.com |
Dayforce HCM helps retail organizations increase profit by improving performance and reducing labor costs with a single application for HR, WFM, Pay and Benefits. Includes Labor Budgeting, Planning and Scheduling, Time & Attendance, Task Management, Employee Self-Service, Analytics, Dayforce Mobile and Human Resources. | • Pier 1 Imports • Hibbett Sports • Aeropostale |
| Empower Software www.empowersoftware.com |
EmpowerWFM is a browser-based suite of flexible labor management solutions designed to help organizations effectively manage its workforce in real time. | • Home Depot • Modell's • Under Armour |
| Infor Global Solutions www.infor.com |
Infor10 WFM (Workbrain) helps automate and standardize time and labor processes to enhance profitability by reducing costs. The solution includes WFM Data Collection devices and five software modules: WFM Planning, WFM Scheduling, WFM Time & Attendance, WFM Mobility, and WFM Performance. | • American Apparel • Sephora |
| JDA Software www.jda.com |
JDA Workforce Management (WFM) enables effective retail labor planning and management through advanced forecasts, task management and enterprise visibility. | • Wegman's • Chico's FAS • Office Depot |
| Kronos www.kronos.com |
Kronos for Retail helps retailers control labor costs, increase workforce productivity, and minimize compliance risk. The retail-specific suite of solutions includes time and attendance, budgeting, forecasting and scheduling, analytics, absence management, HR, payroll, and hiring. | • Family Dollar • Ralph Lauren • Starbucks |
| Opterus www.opterus.com |
Store Ops-Center (SOC) is an intuitive, cloud-based solution designed for retail to effectively manage and execute store tasks and communications. Modules include: Task Manager, Message Center, Issue Tracker, Store Training, Forms and Surveys and Knowledge Base. | • Roundy's Supermarkets • Charming Charlie • Roots Canada Ltd. |
| Oracle www.oracle.com |
Oracle WFM is a simple-to-use application takes into account key metrics such as demand, employee preferences, skills, availability, labor laws and payroll budgets to ensure optimal staffing during peak periods and avoid overstaff situations. | • Dress Barn • Disney Store • Advanced Auto Parts |
| RedPrairie www.redprairie.com/workforce |
Enterprise WFM solution consists of labor standards, budgeting, forecasting, labor planning, time & attendance, pay & incentives, advanced scheduling, self service, integrated task management, RPM, learning management and a new user experience integrated across all products. | • Office Max • Briggs & Stratton • Loblaw Companies |
| Reflexis www.reflexisinc.com |
Retail Execution Platform is an integrated Web-based platform offering retail centric labor scheduling, task management, time and attendance, and other workforce management solutions complemented by Reflexis Adaptive Real-Time Execution components. | • AutoZone • Dollar General • Toys "R" Us |
| SAP www.sap.com |
SAP Workforce Management is a centrally managed, integrated solution that provides flexible configuration, forecasting, optimized scheduling, browser-based time clock, and time & attendance. Ensures the appropriate level of staffing and controls over your payroll spend. | • Bon-Ton Stores |
| Taleo www.taleo.com |
Enterprise Edition is a single unified platform that helps hire, manage, reward and develop employees through recruiting, performance management, compensation management, employee development and succession planning. | • HP • Hyatt |
| Tomax www.tomax.com |
Workforce Optimization is a web-based WFM solution with Time & Attendance that supports biometrics and web-clock. Main features are the forecast-driven scheduling solutions, which evaluate requirements in 15-minute intervals and determines the right people for the right job at the right time. | • Party City • ALCO • Savemart |
| WorkPlace Systems www.workplacesystems.com |
WorkPlace Systems cloud-based WFM software solutions can be deployed in weeks providing greater management visibility, proactive control of labor and a rapid ROi. provides labor demand forecasting, simple and advanced scheduling, shift bidding, time & attendance, management dashboards. | • Rite Aid • H&M • Metro Group |