In this age of mobile technology, it’s hard to imagine that the majority of businesses and organizations across America still handle scheduling the old-fashioned way—with sheets of paper tacked onto corkboard. But there’s a powerful new argument for modernization: according to a PeopleMatter 2011 HR Tech Survey, online scheduling solutions are more efficient than their offline counterparts by 35% percent.
Efficiency can be a tough metric to evaluate. For this study, the administrators compared online and offline systems, and how the former allowed managers to quickly and easily optimize schedules based on shift and employee availability. Other comparative factors included specific constraints and key forecasting metrics. Online scheduling systems were shown to allow employers to complete tasks more rapidly, manage schedules, and communicate with their team members virtually anywhere, at any time. It also became apparent that employers could save time, reduce expenses, and maximize their bottom line.
So that’s the study in a nutshell, but one question remains: how are online scheduling methods so much more efficient in day-to-day life? It all translates into a better end-user experience. Like it or not, life is lag. You wait at restaurants for the chef to whip up your meal. Commercials leave you hanging while you sit and wonder what shocking thing The Bachelor will say next. And if you’re in a shopping line during the holidays, get comfy. Scheduling has been much the same in years past—once involving a clandestine task of crunching numbers, hushed discussions, and last-minute decisions. By going online, the whole system can be more transparent and more accessible to managers and employees alike. It’s a no-brainer, then, why online scheduling is such an efficient alternative. Neat.
Have you experienced the efficiency of online scheduling firsthand? Let us know in the comments below!
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