As organisations continue to recognise the operational benefits of an employee-centric approach, flexible rostering is a pivotal capability for attracting and retaining talent whilst strengthening employee experience overall.
The ISG Research Viewpoint, Modern Workforce Scheduling Requires a New Mindset, illustrates how businesses across various sectors can flourish by reimagining their rostering strategies.
“For front-line deskless workers, rostering flexibility is second only to payroll in HCM processes that drive employee sentiment.”
Matthew Brown | Director of Research, Human Capital Management, ISG
This article provides an in-depth review of this ISG Report, highlighting the value that flexible rostering capabilities can bring to modern organisations.
The Shift Toward Sophisticated Rostering Solutions
Over the past decade, the landscape of workforce management, particularly the rostering of deskless and hourly workers, has undergone significant transformation. Initially driven by a need for precision in labour deployment, the evolution of rostering processes now prioritises the desires and necessities of the workforce. “When given the freedom to arrange their own rosters according to personal needs, employees become more invested in their work and their workplace.”
Industries such as “manufacturing, retail, hospitality, dining, healthcare, transportation and municipalities organisations are reaping the benefits of workforce management (WFM) platforms and specifically, their newer rostering automation capabilities.” These organisations are not just meeting operational demands—they’re enhancing the very fabric of the worker experience.
Major Benefits of Modern Rostering Solutions
At its core, rostering flexibility is a pivotal component of employee experience strategies that aim to support and keep a dynamic workforce.
Here are a few ways that employee rostering software can benefit an organisation:
- Driving Employee Engagement: Modern workforce management software places a high value on flexibility, allowing employees to tailor their rosters to personal needs. This autonomy enhances engagement, fosters a sense of fairness and promotes a work/life balance essential for retaining top talent. Technologies enabling predictable rosters and shift-swapping are particularly influential, empowering employees to feel more connected and satisfied with their roles.
- Enhancing Manager Productivity: Managers, often overlooked as beneficiaries of workforce software technologies, see substantial gains in productivity with modern rostering tools. Features like automated rostering based on availability and skills, alongside analytical insights, equip managers to lead more effectively. By minimising administrative hassles, these tools allow managers to focus on strategic decision-making and team leadership, ultimately driving higher performance across the board.
- Rostering for All: Today’s leading workforce management solutions exemplify the principle of “rostering for all.” This inclusive approach ensures that all workers benefit from fair and consistent rostering practices, regardless of their role. By integrating deep insights into labour supply and demand, organisations can adapt strategies rapidly, remaining agile in the face of both market and regulatory changes.
Technological Innovations and Employee Experience
The intersection of technology and employee experience is where modern rostering tools shine. The report states, “A management focus on employee experience has become highly correlated with the ability to attract and retain top talent, not unlike the benefits of delivering a superior customer experience.”
Innovations such as embedded communication features and real-time updates on shift adjustments enhance transparency and accessibility. These advancements not only improve day-to-day operations but also bolster the overall quality of the employee experience, significantly impacting an organisation’s ability to attract and keep skilled workers.
Impact on Organisational Strategy and Performance
Effective rostering transcends operational benefits, touching on key themes central to today’s workforce management, including health and well-being, fairness and organisational agility. Organisations that master rostering discover that it’s not just a routine task but a strategic asset that can drive significant improvements in overall business performance.
Advanced rostering systems are reshaping organisational cultures to place a greater value on employee satisfaction and operational excellence. As emphasised by the ISG Research Viewpoint, “Rostering can legitimately be viewed as one of the few HCM workforce activities that cuts horizontally across the most important HCM themes of the day, including delivering a great EX, employee health and well-being, fairness and equity, re-skilling and up-skilling and organisational agility.”
Read the full ISG Viewpoint Report to see why “Modern Rostering Requires a New Mindset.”
