Workforce management

In this piece of writing we will make you aware about Workforce management definition its benefits and Future workforce management.

The name Workforce management (GFT or Workforce management ) can generate several interpretations. And this happens because, in some cases, it is used with a broad concept, which relates to management , in general, of employees.

At other times, with a more restricted concept, referring to software that assist in Human Resources management activities .

However, the concept that we will address in this article concerns a set of processes that aim to generate greater efficiency in the management of the workforce , adding value to the customer (in general, this value is perceived through better service), at an optimized cost and respecting the legal rules.

Among the processes involved, the following stand out:

• Sales forecast and business variables
• Work demand based on time and motion studies
• Distribution of employee hours according to demand
• Scaling of staff by function
• Payroll budget
• Task execution management.

What are the benefits of Workforce Management?

The following is a list of the main benefits attributed to Workforce Management:

• Better customer service: through the correct sizing of employees in each function, cases of discontent due to waiting or not knowing the process tend to reduce
• Greater employee satisfaction: by planning time scales and time off and disclosing them in advance, employees tend to be happier, in addition to having a fairer distribution of the workload during the workday
• Humanization of management: employees can build schedules with their superiors , anticipating particular events and providing a workforce to cover the company’s needs
• Greater compliance (compliance with legal rules and regulations): by mapping labor and union rules and configuring them in an appropriate tool, it is possible to block infractions by managers when preparing the shifts, in addition to allowing greater visibility of compliance with working hours of work
• Optimization of personnel expenses: with the best use of labor, by correctly distributing the number of people at the correct times, there is a reduction in idle periods and, consequently, an increase in productivity. With this, there is the possibility of reducing the payroll budget, whether for hiring and/or overtime, without influencing the level of service.

Performance indicators

The management of the workforce also makes it possible to provide and analyze employee performance indicators for strategic decision making.

Many electronic resources – such as people management and business management software – have more specifically workforce management capabilities.

Activities and processes

The management of the workforce involves some activities and processes, such as:

• Scaling of staff by function.
• Recruitment and selection.
• Plan for jobs and wages.
• Project management.
• Career path.
• Payroll budget.
• Point management and control.
• Team and task management.
• Sales forecast and business variables.
• Distribution of employee hours according to demand.
• Between others.

Implementation of Workforce Management

Implementing workforce management does not happen overnight. It requires planning, analysis of the company’s resources – whether human, structural and material resources – execution plan and goals and measurement of results.

In this way, HR is the sector that has the best conditions to support the implementation and the process that will be ahead of this demand. In other words, the focus must be on the correct sizing of employees, respecting an adequate level of service to the customer and with a budget.

All types of companies and sectors of organizations can benefit from efficient workforce management.

Future of workforce management

In order to have an efficient workforce management and differentiate in the future market, it is important to invest in some trends:

1-Diversity

In addition to integrating people from different generations in the work teams , bringing in professionals with different aspects and origins can help to enrich the organizational culture. And also to realize possibilities that hitherto did not exist.

Professionals of different ages, ethnic and cultural differences, different backgrounds and gender diversity are some aspects that make the team more complete and effective in exchanging experiences and creating new strategic differentials.

2-Valuing employees

In short, it is another trend on the agenda in companies committed to standing out. Investing in the employee is essential to have more results in the management of the workforce. And it is increasingly a requirement to differentiate.

Strategies such as gamification , promoting quality of life and employee experience , training and others are very important. In addition, it is important to value them through adequate remuneration, bonuses and career plans.

3-Team Focus

Working in groups and forming teams strategically is another trend for managing the efficient way of working. Just as it is important to measure individual performance. In addition, creating strategies by positions and functions, it is important to implement them considering the entire team and collective work.

4-gig economy

In addition to employees and teams, there are new categories of employees and partners that enter into workforce management: outsourced workers, remote work, self-employed, situational professionals (contractor for periods or projects, for example), consultants and advisors and others.

Increasingly, these professionals will be added to the company and can boost productivity. In this way, the tip is to choose those with high specialization and those who already have experience in this type of contracting.

5-Automation

There’s no way to talk about workforce management trends without considering process automation. Many human activities will gradually be replaced by autonomous resources.

However, the offering of these resources changes very quickly and it is important to choose the right tools for your business.

Other activities, however, will not be automated and new demands involving employees will arise. Automation also implies managing the workforce through the adoption of specific and intelligent resources.

6-data management

Terms such as Big Data, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and the internet of things will be increasingly common in workforce management and in the activities of companies as a whole.

However, there will be new careers in computer science or data and related areas, new resources that deal with the large flow of information and the need for new management methodologies. In this way, the company must prepare itself.