Seven Ways a Human Capital Management Platform Can Help Your Quick Service Restaurant

Business leaders in the fast-food industry are well aware of the unique challenges quick service restaurants (QSRs) face when it comes to managing a workforce. With a high turnover rate and a need for efficient and effective staffing, it is essential to have a strong human capital management (HCM) system in place.

With the right HCM platform, business leaders can easily navigate the complexities of today's food service industry, such as high turnover, wage and tipping requirements, complicated scheduling between full- and part-time employees and a host of compliance challenges, so they can keep concentrating on delivering a superior guest experience.

Not convinced? Here are seven ways your workforce can benefit from a cloud-based HCM platform and prepare for the challenges ahead:

1. Improved Recruiting

Applicant tracking systems reduce the time and resources needed for manual sourcing and tracking of candidates by automating hiring tasks, such as posting to restaurant-specific job boards and screening applications. With credential tracking, errors are reduced throughout the process, allowing more time to focus on nurturing candidates. By providing a more efficient and data-driven approach to finding and hiring the right talent, QSRs can significantly reduce time to hire and gain a competitive advantage in the hunt for talent.

2. Expedited Onboarding

A cloud-based HCM system can help manage a single, continuous record for each employee from the moment they are hired until they retire, allowing for seamless onboarding and offboarding. New employees can experience expedited time-to-productivity with paperless, personalized onboarding accessible across multiple work environments, as well as automated task tracking to complete necessary documents and attend required training sessions. Through a learn and grow module, employees can be trained on new menu items, customer service techniques and safety procedures, as well as receive ongoing professional development.

3. Enhanced Scheduling

The right platform helps navigate HR and payroll complexities associated with shift work and set automated workflows for seamless scheduling. It can make it easier to track time off requests and attendance to better plan for staffing needs. By forecasting labor demand based on historical data and current trends and making real-time adjustments to schedules, QSRs can ensure that there are always enough employees on hand to meet customer demand. Through automated scheduling, schedules can easily be generated based on pre-defined criteria, such as employee availability and skill sets, which can save time and reduce the risk of errors. Additionally, enabling employees to swap shifts and receive notifications of schedule changes or other important updates through an online portal can improve communication and collaboration among staff.

4. Reduced Turnover

Boost retention and create a more stable and motivated workforce by providing employees with the tools and support they need to succeed. With an HCM platform, employees have easy access to their benefits and career development opportunities, as well as wellness programs that can help reduce stress, burnout and absenteeism, ultimately improving employee engagement and teamwork. Workforce prediction and forecasting available through HCM software also enables leadership to gain access to actionable insights that will help retain top talent.

5. Improved Compliance

An HCM system provides a single source of truth for employee data through a central repository, verifying employee records are accurate, up to date and in compliance with regulations, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Automatic notifications can be configured to notify employees as well as generate reports and alerts to management when employees have not completed training or if any other compliance issues have been identified. Additionally, certain processes can be automated, such as enforcing compliance with policies and regulations, preventing costly penalties and fines and improving the overall working environment for employees.

6. Increased Efficiency

HCM technology helps optimize the employee lifecycle by automating tedious and time-consuming HR processes associated with recruiting, onboarding, benefits, performance and succession planning. This includes tasks such as scheduling, payroll and performance evaluations, which can be accomplished quickly and more accurately. HCM systems with analytics and reporting tools can help make more informed decisions about the workforce.

7. Lower Costs

A common misconception about HCM software is that it’s expensive, when in fact it improves the bottom line. HCM systems boost productivity and company performance, while reducing errors and allocating resources more strategically. By having a well-trained, motivated and compliant workforce, QSRs can provide their customers with a better overall experience, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. With the right HCM platform, organizations can see a fast return on their investment.