Most labor allocation software, or LAS, are off-shoot applications of time and labor management platforms. Whether they are working as a function of a larger system or are stand-alone applications, they help with accountability and put your workers where they are needed most. Here is what you should know:
Basic Features
Almost all LAS systems provide efficient standard functions, including assigned positioned placement, payroll applications and open shift selection.
Assigned placement is driven by supervisors. This feature allows the boss to direct workers where and when to show up. One of the options within this feature is assignment delivery. Some versions of the software will work in tandem with timeclocks. When a worker clocks in, they receive their assignments and designated location.
Another popular feature is mobile scheduling. This option sends the where, what and when of an assignment to employees via a phone app. Mobile scheduling is even more common when laborers either select or bid on a shift. While this may sound odd to people in most industries, some professionals — freelancers, caterers, traveling nurses and substitute teachers — often decide on a day-to-day basis whether they are going to take a job or not. Finally, most labor allocation software can be integrated with payroll applications to transfer hours worked and wage information, where taxes and benefits are automatically accounted for.
More Detailed Features
Some programs have subcategories that are more specific or allow for advanced options, such as split shifts or itinerant locations.
More specifically, the hours an employee works can also be attached to specific responsibilities. In some applications, these can include a survey and sticky note application for time-and-task performance reviews. In this way, the employee who pours a great concrete footer at 10 a.m. and then cements over some loose wiring at 2 p.m. gets two separate assessments for a clearer picture of his or her performance.
Labor cost analysis can be directly accessed through some of these programs or processed by reporting applications in others. Either way, they can illustrate and graph ROI in terms of wages and job completion. The software can even analyze the labor cost of specific tasks. In this way, money can be put where it is needed most, making budgeting a more straightforward process.
Industries Using LMS
Traditionally, labor allocation software has been most popular in positions where employees frequently move around. This is especially true for employees who can trade out shifts, duties, areas or assignments, as in the construction, hospitality or medical fields.
However, more and more companies and institutions are continuing to examine labor costs. What we call traditional employment with regular hours and set locations is continuing to change. As such, LMS systems are gaining wider and wider acceptance across many different industries.
What’s more, with the emergence of the pandemic, some employers are looking at features within allocation software as a way to calculate task expectation for homebound workforces that just might continue working at home.
Labor Allocation Software Worth the Investment
Labor allocation software makes it easier to put workers where their talent is needed most, all while saving money. Streamline your workforce with labor allocation software today.