As a business owner, using workforce optimization (WFO) strategies can increase your company’s employee productivity and operational efficiency. And the easiest way to reap these benefits is by utilizing workforce optimization software.
The software integrates data from various sources, such as your contact center, back-office, etc., into one unified solution. These data-driven insights allow you to make faster and more informed business decisions.
But with so many tools available today, which one should you go for?
Don’t worry.
In this article, we’ll highlight the top ten workforce optimization software solutions in the market. We’ll also offer five tips to help you choose the right software for your business needs.
Table of Contents
- Top 10 workforce optimization software solutions
- 2. Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG)
- 3. Oracle
- 4. Alvaria
- 5. Calabrio
- 6. CEIPAL
- 7. Verint Systems
- 8. Infor
- 9. NICE Ltd.
- 10. RELEX Solutions
Let’s get started.
Top 10 workforce optimization software solutions
Workforce optimization software solutions help improve a company’s employee efficiency and, as a result, achieve higher customer satisfaction and organizational success.
It also helps collate employee information so you can easily manage schedules, shifts, and leaves as per forecasted customer demand.
Moreover, these tools can empower employees by allowing them to sign up for additional shifts or trade shifts as per their availability, leading to a better work-life balance.
When implemented correctly, WFO software can help organizations:
- Effectively manage a mobile workforce.
- Boost employee engagement and productivity.
- Reduce operational and HR costs.
- Keep track of compliance requirements and records.
- Improve customer experience and retention.
- Give insight into employee performance.
- Make employee scheduling easy.
- Streamline project management.
Let’s explore ten of the best workforce optimization software solutions in the market that can help you experience the above benefits.
1. Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP)
Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) is an American company providing human resource management software solutions and services.
The ADP Workforce Now is one such solution. It helps empower businesses by optimizing their workforce. It includes payroll, workforce management, and HR (Human Resources) management.
Some of its top clients include The Boston Globe and Virginia Wesleyan University.
Key features
- Provides a single, scalable dashboard to manage your workforce.
- Offers automatic time tracking, scheduling, and attendance tracking to boost employee productivity and reduce labor costs.
- Streamlines talent acquisition workflows with ZipRecruiter integration.
- Leverages AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Machine Learning (ML) to provide valuable insights.
- Protects your company with industry-standard data security and privacy practices.
Pricing
ADP offers various packages based on your business size: less than 50 employees and over 50 employees. You’ll have to contact ADP for a custom quote.
It also offers a free three-month trial period for businesses with less than 50 employees.
User ratings
- G2: 4.1/5 (3400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (6400+ reviews)
2. Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG)
Ultimate Software and Kronos Incorporated merged in April 2020 to form the Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG).
UKG is an American multinational company offering HR and workforce management solutions.
It’s committed to offering a workforce optimization tool to businesses of all sizes with three offerings:
- UKG Pro: A robust enterprise management solution for a global workforce.
- UKG Dimensions: Offers AI-powered solutions to meet your industry-specific needs.
- UKG Ready: Combines payroll, HR, time, and talent in one seamless solution.
UKG is trusted by Tesla, Puma, Sony Music, Revlon, and the University of Toronto.
Key features
- Allows you to source, track, and evaluate the best talent for your company.
- Manages eLearning and workforce training opportunities for your employees.
- Offers a mobile app for easy connection on the go.
- Embeds workforce analytics and data in the same platform.
- Helps you build compliant and transparent business processes.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 4.2/5 (1490+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (590+ reviews)
3. Oracle
Oracle is well-known for its database management systems and enterprise software products.
Its Human Capital Management (HCM) System is built for the cloud and aims to improve employee experience across the board.
The software is ideal for a globally mobile workforce as it combines labor, time, and leave management with financial, payroll, and personnel data in the cloud.
Oracle’s notable clients include Red Bull, FedEx, Mastercard, and Zoom.
Key features
- Allows you to track over 100 customizable metrics through their pre-built analytics.
- Hosts recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and compensation across a common interface.
- Provides simplified and compliant payroll processing across ten countries.
- Reduces labor costs by tracking employee attendance and absence trends.
- Offers a multilingual digital assistant for employees and managers.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 4.3/5 (930+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (450+ reviews)
4. Alvaria
Call center software companies Aspect Software and Noble Systems Corporation joined forces in May 2021 to create Alvaria.
The Alvaria Workforce Engagement Management (WEM) Suite allows you to monitor, improve, and reward call center and contact center agent performance. It also enhances agent engagement by adding gamification elements and is available on desktop, iOS, and Android devices.
The software aims to maximize omnichannel contact center efficiency while reducing operational costs.
Key features
- Manages and aligns employee schedules as per forecasting needs.
- Allows employees to submit schedule change requests from their mobile devices.
- Improves employee performance through automated coaching.
- Estimates staffing requirements across various communication channels and service levels.
- Simulates customer interaction dynamics on text-based platforms, such as email, live chat, and social media.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 4.2/5 (260 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2/5 (250+ reviews)
5. Calabrio
Calabrio is a software solution primarily focused on quality assurance, call recording, and speech analytics for call and contact centers.
Its cloud-powered contact center workforce engagement suite, Calabrio ONE, analyzes every customer interaction to improve your customer service.
Calabrio provides contact center solutions to Netflix, Shopify, and Nespresso, among others.
Key features
- Captures the Voice of the Customer (VoC) from desktop, speech, and text analytics to extract predictive insights.
- Allows you to monitor live customer calls and provide instant feedback for effective quality management.
- Increases operational efficiency through automated quality monitoring and reporting.
- Helps you create a centralized database by integrating different streams, such as your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system.
- Provides built-in compliance, security, and business continuity features.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 4.4/5 (264+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (260+ reviews)
6. CEIPAL
CEIPAL is an HR software company providing both recruitment and workforce management software systems for staffing firms.
Its workforce management software solution provides end-to-end solutions, from work authorization to offboarding.
Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses, CEIPAL’s cloud-based WFM solution is accessible through Android and iOS apps.
Key features
- Simplifies employee onboarding with an easy-to-access document library and customizable forms.
- Automates the employee lifecycle by centrally recording all employee information.
- Streamlines financial management with QuickBooks integration.
- Empowers employees through a self-service portal where they can access timesheets, apply for leaves, and update their personal information.
- Tracks all paperwork for an effortless employee immigration process.
Pricing
CEIPAL offers a 14-day free trial. Its paid plan starts at $110/month.
User ratings
- G2: 4.1/5 (20+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (130+ reviews)
7. Verint Systems
Verint provides multiple workforce management, optimization, and employee engagement solutions.
Its primary focus is helping organizations adapt to the future of work by eliminating data silos.
Verint’s cloud-based WFO suite offers solutions to increase productivity, reduce shrinkage, and automate workforce scheduling. It also reduces the technical and financial burden on your IT department.
Its customer success stories feature Lloyds Bank, Google, and U-Haul.
Key features
- Offers Robotic Process Automation (RPA) services to drive consistency, compliance, and reduce errors.
- Modernizes customer experience using a conversational AI-based Virtual Assistant.
- Provides a workforce optimization solution for branches and back-office operations.
- Includes key contact center WFO features, such as interaction analytics, screen recording, and performance management.
- Promotes effective staffing through robust employee scheduling features.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 4.2/5 (120+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2/5 (19 reviews)
8. Infor
With over 65,000 customers, Infor is a global leader when it comes to business cloud software products.
Its workforce management software solution helps you optimize every stage of the labor-management process. The Infor Operating System also allows you to accelerate innovation throughout your enterprise instead of one particular department.
Liberty Steel, Sunny D, and El Dorado Packaging are just some of its customers.
Key features
- Uses employee time data to determine which pay code, time code, and pay rules to apply.
- Creates an accurate workload forecast using real-time trending data.
- Ensures legislative compliance for local, state, federal, and international labor laws.
- Calculates required labor hours to meet key business objectives.
- Offers an Employee Contact Report program to encourage employee health and safety.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 3.7/5 (10+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (10+ reviews)
9. NICE Ltd.
Focused on improving customer satisfaction ratings, NICE specializes in contact center technologies such as voice call recording and data security.
Its workforce optimization suite helps engage employees by automating routine business processes.
Some of NICE’s notable clients include Visa, Accenture, American Airlines, and Morgan Stanley.
Key features
- Empowers employees by providing them insights into their performance.
- Monitors team performance on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) using a unified scorecard.
- Improves agent productivity by identifying performance gaps and delivering targeted coaching.
- Derives actionable insight from the VoC to increase customer engagement.
- Reduces scheduling friction so employees can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 4.3/5 (80+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.9/5 (7 reviews)
10. RELEX Solutions
Focused on optimizing the retail workforce, RELEX Solutions helps organizations achieve both customer and employee satisfaction through technological innovation.
Its Workforce Optimization and Management Solution helps retailers make scheduling decisions based on available and forecasted data. As a result, you’ll notice happier employees and customers as well as a reduction in store personnel costs.
RELEX’s well-known customers include M&S Food, PetSmart, WHSmith, Morrison’s, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
Key features
- Addresses capacity risks proactively to reduce possible negative impacts.
- Plans employee shifts automatically based on their preferences and availability.
- Allows employees to view and manage their schedules with a mobile app.
- Predicts future workloads based on forecasted customer footfalls, sales, and flow of goods.
- Makes the workforce planning process transparent across the board.
Pricing
Available on request.
User ratings
- G2: 4.5/5 (15+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (10+ reviews)
How to choose the right workforce optimization software
Many WFO vendors in the market can help you improve customer experience by increasing employee efficiency.
However, you should keep the following aspects in mind before you choose one.
1. Simple user interface
Some employees might be tech-savvy, but others might not.
So, the user interface needs to be simple, straightforward, and easy to use for everyone.
A simple interface will make it easy for new employees to adapt and encourage existing employees to utilize the software.
Ideally, the interface should be similar across different browsers and mobile devices to facilitate real-time decision-making.
2. Easy integration with existing systems
The WFO solutions should ideally be easy to integrate with your existing HR systems.
For this, you may choose to go with a cloud-based solution as they can be customized and tested before going live.
A cloud-based system can also integrate with your current WFO system for a smoother transition. But if you have particular security requirements, an on-premises solution might be best for your organization.
3. Have enterprise-wide capabilities
Workforce optimization is not about a single department — it includes your entire organization.
Choosing one that allows you to deploy the solution to multiple departments will streamline processes, increasing operational efficiency.
Doing so will also help you gain a bird’s-eye view of your company, identify bottlenecks, and eliminate data silos.
4. Robust reporting
Since most WFO software includes automated data recording and processing, you receive multiple reports about individual employees and their performance.
However, this much information can feel overwhelming.
It’s best to specify key metrics for your organization and, among them, decide which ones to prioritize.
5. Value for money
WFO software can seem expensive at first sight.
So, you need to make sure your chosen suite has all the necessary functionalities and provides some perks, such as mobile apps for employees.
Pricing can also depend on the number of employees.
Most software solutions are priced per employee, per month basis, but others offer enterprise-wide capabilities. That’s why you should choose one that allows you to scale flexibly as your organization grows.
Wrapping up
Workforce optimization is essential for a successful business. It helps drive employee engagement while simultaneously reducing operational costs.
However, you should ensure the WFO software solution you choose for your organization fits in well with your needs and goals.
Go through the tools and tips we covered here to zero in on the WFO suite that’s right for your requirements.
Liam Martin is a serial entrepreneur, co-founder of Time Doctor, Staff.com, and the Running Remote Conference, and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller, “Running Remote.” He advocates for remote work and helps businesses optimize their remote teams.