Back to all articles

Five reasons why data is so important within workforce management (including examples)

Understanding the right data plays a crucial role in workforce planning and workforce management in a broad sense. In this blog, we discuss five reasons with examples of why data is so important and how it can help improve results.

1. Understanding performance and results

Through a clear data dashboard you always have direct insight into the performance and results of your store(s) or location(s). So you know immediately how your stores are performing and can make adjustments where necessary based on concrete insights into your own data.

Example: in R&R's central home screen and data dashboard R&R Insights, you have at-a-glance insight into the current development of key figures (or KPIs) such as labor costs, cost price hourly wages, turnover, productivity and more. In addition, you can easily compare this for different departments and locations or stores. We offer up-to-date information with which you can make quick adjustments if the situation demands it. This way you always have a grip on the important issues within your organization and can always exert influence where possible.

R&R laptop KPIs

2. Improving productivity

Through data analytics, companies can gain insight into employee productivity and efficiency. This makes it possible to quickly identify where improvements can be made and the potential for savings.

Example: in R&R you always have insight into productivity (= revenue per hour worked) of departments and your entire store or location. This is an important indicator of how you score on labor costs. If a department or store does not score well on productivity, this is an important signal and point for improvement.  

3. Optimization of staff scheduling and rosters.

Data can also be used to determine the best times and days to perform certain tasks. This allows companies to use available labor effectively, optimizing the entire work process.

Example: using data insights from the WFM package, you know when the store is generally busy and when it is quiet. In addition, labor costs often depend on the timing of operations and you have to deal with constantly changing staff availability. Based on these variables, you determine when what work is best to take place. This is how you find the right balance between labor costs and a well-kept, tidy store.

4. Prediction of workforce needs.

Using data analytics, companies can make predictions about staffing needs at different times. This makes it possible to make timely preparations and proactively ensure that sufficient employees are available.

Example: following on from the above example, using data, you plan proactively without losing the flexibility to make adjustments when the situation demands it. This way, you always have a grip on your planning and a good balance between staffing and labor costs.

5. Steering by organizational goals and strategy

Understanding the right data is essential for process optimization and decision making. Through data-driven decisions, you make measurably better choices for well-run processes, employee job satisfaction and the customer experience in the store(s).

Example: your workforce management software works on the basis of various data streams. It uses incoming POS data, possibly norms, HR data and the system itself generates a lot of data, among other things. But if you don't have central visibility and access to data, it's difficult to make good use of all the benefits and opportunities it offers.

Within R&R, you have central and easy access to all relevant data to make measurably better choices based on your own data. Our clients and we know that this leads to better business results in the short and long term.

Using data is the key to measurably better decisions and results

Of course, there are several reasons - in addition to the above five points - to make the best use of the available data within your organization and systems. Consider, for example, compliance with laws and regulations, transparency and employee involvement. We would be happy to discuss the specific benefits for your company.

Good, up-to-date insights based on your own data help you make better and more focused choices. This leads to process improvement and a grip on your organization's results. This is also clearly reflected in the good results achieved by our clients using R&R's workforce management software.

We are convinced that there are many benefits to be gained in workforce management and data for your organization as well. Read all about our data dashboard R&R Insights here. Talk to us. We are curious about your organization and challenges.

Stef van Dijk
About the author Stef van Dijk

Stef van Dijk has extensive experience in supermarkets and knows the food retail industry inside and out. Stef writes blogs on all relevant issues around workforce management and food retail.

Share this article