Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Finding the right retail scheduling software can make all the difference in managing employee shifts, reducing labor costs, and improving store efficiency. The best solutions help retailers streamline scheduling, prevent understaffing or overstaffing, and ensure compliance with labor laws. In this guide, we’ll explore the 10 best retail scheduling software systems available today, highlighting their key features and benefits to help you choose the right fit for your business.
What is retail scheduling software?
Retail scheduling software is a tool designed to help businesses efficiently manage employee work schedules, ensuring the right staff is in place at the right time. These systems automate shift planning, track labor costs, and help retailers comply with labor laws and company policies.
With features like drag-and-drop scheduling, time tracking, and automated shift notifications, retail scheduling software reduces manual errors and saves managers time. Many platforms also offer real-time analytics, allowing businesses to optimize staffing based on sales trends and foot traffic. By improving workforce management, retail scheduling software helps retailers boost productivity, reduce costs, and enhance the overall employee experience.
Why do retail businesses need retail scheduling software?
Retail-focused scheduling software is uniquely tailored to handle the demands of the sector.Â
Here are ten benefits of using scheduling software for retail stores:
- Improved shift management
- Automated scheduling, saving managerial time
- Reduced instances of under or overstaffing
- Enhanced employee satisfaction with fair schedules
- Streamlined communication between staff and management
- Efficient handling of leave and shift change requests
- Data analytics for better staffing decisions
- Integrated time-tracking for accurate payroll
- Better compliance with labor laws
- Increased store productivity and sales
- Integrated video monitoring for better break tracking
What are key features of retail scheduling software?
The best retail scheduling software should make workforce management easier, reduce scheduling conflicts, and improve overall efficiency. Here are the key features to look for when choosing the right solution for your business:
- Automated scheduling – AI-powered or template-based scheduling that assigns shifts based on availability, demand, and labor laws.
- Shift swapping and employee self-service – Allows employees to swap shifts, request time off, and check schedules from a mobile app.
- Time and attendance tracking – Integrated clock-in and clock-out features to monitor hours worked and prevent time theft.
- Labor cost management – Provides real-time insights into labor expenses to help optimize staffing levels and stay within budget.
- Compliance tools – Ensures schedules follow labor laws, break requirements, and company policies to avoid fines and disputes.
- Integration with payroll and POS systems – Syncs schedules with payroll processing and sales data for better workforce planning.
- Mobile access and notifications – Enables managers and employees to view schedules, get updates, and receive alerts on the go.
- Real-time analytics and reporting – Tracks employee performance, shift trends, and labor efficiency to improve decision-making.
Choosing software with these features helps retailers streamline scheduling, reduce administrative workload, and create a better work experience for employees.
Pricing and cost considerations for retail scheduling software
The cost of retail scheduling software varies based on features, number of users, and business size. Understanding pricing structures helps retailers choose a solution that fits their needs and budget.
Common Pricing Models:
- Per employee, per month – Pricing scales with the number of employees, making it ideal for small to mid-sized retailers.
- Flat monthly fee – A fixed cost, often used by larger retailers, covering unlimited employees and locations.
- Freemium or tiered plans – Basic plans with limited features for free, with paid upgrades for advanced tools like AI scheduling or payroll integration.
Key Cost Factors to Consider:
- Scalability – Can the software grow with your business as you add more locations and employees?
- Hidden fees – Look for costs related to integrations, customer support, or additional features.
- Return on investment – Will the software save time, reduce labor costs, and improve scheduling efficiency enough to justify the price?
Retailers should compare features and pricing to find a solution that balances affordability with functionality, ensuring the best value for their workforce management needs.
10 best retail scheduling software platforms
With numerous options available, choosing the best scheduling software for your retail store can be daunting. Here, we spotlight 10 of the best platforms available.
Deputy stands out as a premier choice for retail scheduling, making its mark in multiple industries. Tailored to deliver efficiency, Deputy harnesses the power of artificial intelligence for auto-scheduling, ensuring optimal shift distribution. Its intuitive design streamlines the scheduling process, allowing store managers to focus on other crucial operational aspects.Â
With real-time notifications, leave management, and seamless integrations with POS and HR software, Deputy offers a comprehensive scheduling solution for retailers.
Deputy is renowned for its robust scheduling capabilities, catering to various industries, including retail. Some of its features include:
- Auto-scheduling using AI
- Leave management
- Timesheet generation
- Real-time notifications for staff
- Integration with POS and HR software
A versatile tool, When I Work is crafted to cater to businesses, regardless of size. Recognized for its user-centric design, it enables managers to effortlessly create schedules with a simple drag-and-drop feature. The platform ensures seamless communication, with team messaging and shift trading capabilities, making it a favorite among retail managers.Â
When I Work’s mobile app further ensures that store operations can be managed on-the-go, keeping you connected at all times.
Designed for businesses of all sizes, When I Work offers:
- Drag-and-drop scheduling
- Employee availability tracking
- Shift trading capabilities
- Team messaging
- Mobile app for on-the-go management
Primarily designed for the restaurant industry, 7shifts has found its place in the retail world as well. Its strength lies in its ability to predict and auto-schedule based on sales forecasts, ensuring optimal staffing at all times. 7shifts prioritizes team communication and boasts of features like labor budgeting tools and engagement analytics.Â
Whether you’re running a single store or multiple locations, 7shifts caters to all your scheduling needs with finesse. 7Shifts also integrates with Solink to prevent time theft and other scheduling issues.
This platform, specifically tailored for restaurants, also suits retail environments. Features include:
- Labor budgeting tools
- Team communication
- Engagement analytics
- Multi-location support
- Automated scheduling based on sales forecasts
Humanity, often recognized as ShiftPlanning, is a force to reckon with in the retail scheduling space. Its user-friendly interface is complemented by myriad features designed to simplify scheduling.Â
Auto-fill scheduling, detailed payroll forecasting, and leave management are just the tip of the iceberg. With its mobile app, managers can access schedules remotely, ensuring continuous monitoring and flexibility.
Humanity boasts a user-friendly interface and vast capabilities, offering:
- Auto-fill scheduling
- Leave management
- Payroll forecasting
- Employee performance tracking
- Mobile app for remote access
WorkSchedule.Net is all about delivering a simplified yet effective scheduling experience. Its straightforward design ensures that even the most complex schedules can be managed with ease. Features like recurring schedules and detailed reporting offer a clear view of the staffing situation, ensuring optimal operations.Â
With real-time notifications through email and SMS, WorkSchedule.Net ensures that both managers and staff are always in the loop.
WorkSchedule.Net provides a simplified scheduling experience with:
- Recurring schedules
- Email and SMS notifications
- Time clock integration
- Multi-user access levels
- Detailed reporting
In the world of retail scheduling, TimeForge has established its prominence with a suite of industry-leading features. The platform focuses heavily on labor cost controls, offering detailed insights that help in making informed decisions. Automated scheduling and multi-store management further augment its capabilities.Â
Whether it’s compliance or employee engagement, TimeForge offers metrics that provide a comprehensive view of store operations.
TimeForge offers industry-leading features, such as:
- Labor cost controls
- Automated scheduling
- Multi-store management
- Attendance and compliance tools
- Employee engagement metrics
Fourth, previously known as HotSchedules, has been a game-changer in the world of scheduling, predominantly in the restaurant sector. Its applicability to retail stores is undeniable, given its robust set of features. Labor and sales forecasting tools provide an edge, helping managers schedule effectively.Â
Employee self-service tools and compliance monitoring further enhance its appeal, making Fourth an indispensable tool for modern retailers.
Fourth, widely used in restaurants, also aids retail operations with:
- Labor and sales forecasting
- Employee self-service tools
- Messaging and task lists
- Compliance monitoring
- Digital logbook
Prioritizing simplicity, Schedulefly has become a go-to choice for many retailers. This web-based platform offers a straightforward scheduling experience, eliminating complexities. Daily crib sheet emails and effective staff communication tools ensure seamless operations.Â
From waitlist management to handling time-off requests, Schedulefly is crafted to cater to the diverse needs of retail store managers.
Schedulefly focuses on simplicity, offering features like:
- Web-based scheduling
- Daily crib sheet emails
- Staff communication
- Waitlist management
- Time-off requests
Shiftforce, formerly known as Shiftnote, is a favorite in the hospitality sector and has made significant strides in retail scheduling as well. Its unique features, like shift swaps and manager’s logs, provide a detailed insight into daily operations.Â
Daily summary emails and effective messaging tools ensure that the communication between staff and management remains smooth. With Shiftforce, store managers can stay on top of their game, ensuring effective scheduling at all times.
A favorite in the hospitality sector, Shiftforce offers:
- Shift swaps and drops
- Logbook entries
- Messaging tools
- Daily summary emails
- Manager’s log
A powerhouse in the retail scheduling domain, Sling offers a comprehensive suite of features tailored for retail operations. Its task management and shift trading capabilities provide flexibility, allowing stores to adapt to changing needs.Â
Sling’s budgeting tools and time clocking features ensure optimal staffing and accurate payroll. For retailers looking for an all-encompassing scheduling solution, Sling is a top contender.
Sling offers a comprehensive suite of features:
- Task management
- Employee availability tracking
- Time clocking
- Shift trading
- Budgeting tools
Integrate scheduling software with Solink
Combining scheduling software with Solink’s powerful cloud video security, loss prevention, and business insights can transform retail management. Solink can help store managers look out for time theft, track extended breaks or buddy punching, and even use real-time sales data to optimize schedules.Â
Moreover, insights from Solink can show which employees excel and which might need further training by integrating data from the POS.
To see how Solink provides insights from scheduling software data, sign up for a demo today.
