When we talk about workforce management technology, I think it’s important to remember what we’re trying to achieve.
We want employees to know when they’re working, to be paid correctly, and to have confidence in the processes around them. And we want managers to have the information they need to run their teams effectively.
What we don’t want is managers spending hours every week on routine administration.
Their job is to manage people and run the business. The technology should help them do that as efficiently as possible.
When small tasks add up
I was speaking with a customer whose managers were spending a couple of hours each week dealing with exceptions in their workforce management system.
The organization had successfully implemented UKG, but as teams began using it in practice, there were opportunities to refine how certain processes were managed.
Take something as simple as an employee arriving one minute late.
Depending on how the organization has configured its rules, that could generate an exception requiring a manager’s attention.
Now imagine that happening repeatedly across hundreds or thousands of employees.
Suddenly, managers could find themselves spending a significant amount of time reviewing exceptions that might not all require manual intervention.
And that’s where I think it’s worth asking a simple question: Does every exception really need a manager to review it?
In many cases, reviewing the rules and identifying opportunities for automation can help reduce unnecessary administrative work while maintaining the appropriate controls.
Making the most of what’s already there
During implementation, organizations make decisions about how their workforce processes should operate, based on their policies and requirements.
Those decisions provide an important starting point. But once people begin using the system every day, you gain valuable insight into how those processes work in practice.
You can see where managers are spending their time, which tasks are being repeated, and where small adjustments could make everyday work easier.
Sometimes, it’s not about introducing something new. It’s about making better use of the capabilities already available.
More time for what matters
For me, workforce management should be straightforward for the people using it.
Managers should be able to complete their tasks efficiently and get back to supporting their teams.
At Simms & Associates, through Application Managed Services (AMS), we help organizations review existing processes, refine configurations, and make better use of their UKG investment.
Because ultimately, the value of workforce management technology isn’t measured by how much time people spend in the system.
It’s measured by how much time it gives them back to focus on what matters.
Talk to one of our UKG experts