What does workforce management software do for employee rostering?

Workforce management software centralises employee data so you can build rosters that respect skills, availability and labour targets in one place. It replaces manual spreadsheets with rules based scheduling. Many teams rely on tools like the auto scheduling feature to generate optimised rosters in seconds.

How can workforce management tools reduce the time spent building rosters each week?

Modern workforce management tools let you save roster patterns and reuse them instead of rebuilding from scratch. You can copy last week’s schedule, make small tweaks and publish in minutes. This is much easier when you use a system with features like reusable roster templates.

How does workforce management software help avoid double booking staff across locations?

Because rosters, availability and roles are stored in one database, the system can warn you if you try to schedule the same employee in two places at once. This reduces last minute reshuffles and improves fairness. Many organisations combine this with staff availability management so conflicts are caught early.

Can workforce management tools help fill open shifts automatically?

Yes, many platforms let you publish unfilled shifts to eligible employees so they can volunteer to cover them from their app. Managers keep control by approving who gets each shift. This type of workflow is supported by features like the open shifts system.

How does workforce management software support labour budgeting when rostering?

Workforce management software can show projected wage costs as you build or edit rosters so you see the impact of each shift on your budget. This helps managers balance coverage and cost instead of guessing. Real time costings are available in views like the labour budgeting dashboard.

How does workforce management software track employee time and attendance?

Workforce management software usually includes digital time clocks so staff can clock in and out using a tablet or phone. Hours are recorded automatically and compared with the roster. A common approach is to use clock in points like the tablet kiosk time clock for on site teams.

Can workforce management tools use GPS to verify where staff are working?

Yes, many systems let employees clock in from a mobile device with GPS enabled so you know they are at the correct location when their shift starts and ends. This helps reduce time theft and protects remote operations. One example is a geofenced mobile clock like the GPS geofencing feature.

How do workforce management platforms handle real time visibility of who is on shift?

A good workforce management platform provides a live attendance view that shows who has clocked in, who is late and where gaps are appearing. This lets managers respond quickly rather than waiting for end of day reports. Many businesses use a view similar to the live attendance dashboard to monitor operations.

What is the benefit of digital time and attendance compared to paper timesheets?

Digital time and attendance reduces manual data entry, removes illegible handwriting and automatically totals hours. It also links clocked hours back to the roster for easier review. These improvements come from tools such as the digital time and attendance module which centralises records.

Can workforce management software reduce buddy punching and inaccurate clock ins?

Yes, workforce management tools often include features like photo capture at clock in so you know the right person is starting the shift. This reduces fraudulent entries and protects payroll accuracy. A common example is a selfie based clock such as the photo proof time clock.

How does workforce management software integrate with payroll systems?

Workforce management software can export approved timesheets directly into payroll, which reduces manual entry and improves accuracy. Hours, allowances and leave types flow through automatically. Many organisations connect their scheduling and attendance to payroll engines using links like the Xero payroll integration.

Can workforce management tools map different pay rates and roles for payroll?

Yes, modern platforms allow you to set up pay items and roles so that exported timesheets include the correct classifications. This is especially helpful when staff work in multiple positions. These mappings are usually configured inside payroll links such as the MYOB payroll integration.

How does workforce management software handle complex award interpretation?

Many workforce management tools include an award rules engine that calculates overtime, penalties and loadings based on your chosen award. This reduces reliance on spreadsheets and manual checking. In some platforms this is provided through a dedicated award interpretation feature that works with exported timesheets.

Does integrating workforce management with payroll reduce pay day errors?

When rostered hours, clocked hours and leave all flow into payroll automatically, there is less room for keying mistakes. Managers can approve timesheets once and be confident the same data reaches payroll. This streamlined process is supported by exports from tools like the digital timesheets integration.

Can a workforce management system support multi site payroll processing?

Yes, multi site businesses can consolidate hours from different locations into one payroll run while still tracking site based costs. Workforce management software stores the site or cost centre on each shift or timesheet entry. Those details are preserved when sending data through a connector such as the Xero payroll workflow.

How does workforce management software improve day to day staff communication?

With workforce management software, staff can receive shift updates, announcements and reminders through a central work channel instead of personal apps. This keeps information in one place and makes it easier to manage access. Many teams use a built in chat such as the employee team chat app to support this.

Can workforce management tools help separate work chat from personal messaging apps?

Yes, they often include their own messaging features so managers do not need to rely on WhatsApp or personal SMS for shift communication. This protects privacy and keeps work conversations in a company controlled space. A dedicated work channel like the team chat feature is a common solution.

How does integrated chat support changes to schedules and time off?

Integrated chat lets managers discuss schedule changes, cover requests and leave questions where the relevant data already lives. Staff can confirm new times quickly without losing the context of which shift or day is affected. This works well when messages sit beside tools such as open shift management.

What is the benefit of linking communication tools directly to rosters and timesheets?

Linking communication to rosters and timesheets reduces confusion because everyone sees the same version of the schedule when decisions are made. If a shift moves, the updated time is visible alongside the conversation. Workforce platforms often combine these elements with features like simple roster views so staff can check details easily.

Can workforce management software improve how announcements reach shift based staff?

Yes, instead of sending announcements by email that staff may not read before a shift, workforce management tools can deliver messages through the same app employees use to check their roster. This leads to faster acknowledgement and fewer missed updates. Many businesses use a central channel inside the employee team chat environment for this purpose.

How does workforce management software connect with HR onboarding processes?

Workforce management software often links directly to HR onboarding so new employees can be set up once and then appear automatically in rosters, time clocks and payroll exports. This avoids double entry and speeds up the time to first shift. In some systems this is powered by an employee onboarding module within the same platform.

Can workforce management tools help manage leave as part of broader HR workflows?

Yes, many workforce management platforms include leave workflows so employees can request time off and managers can approve it inside the same system that handles their shifts. Approved leave then flows into attendance and payroll. Some businesses handle this through a dedicated leave management feature that links to scheduling.

How does workforce management software support licence and certification compliance?

Workforce management tools can store licence and certification details and warn you when they are close to expiry, so unqualified staff are not placed on certain shifts. This reduces compliance risk and audit stress. These records are typically maintained in a component like the licence and certification management tool.

Can digital HR records in workforce management software replace paper contracts and files?

Digital HR records allow you to store contracts and key employment documents securely online so they are easy to find and less likely to be misplaced. They also support remote hiring because paperwork can be completed without a physical office visit. Many organisations manage this through a digital employment contracts feature inside their workforce platform.

How does workforce management software help HR teams stay aligned with Fair Work requirements?

Workforce management software gives HR teams a single view of rosters, hours, leave and qualifications, which makes it easier to check that practices line up with Fair Work rules. Some platforms also provide guidance tools to help interpret obligations. An example is an AI Fair Work compliance assistant that supports decision making without replacing formal advice.

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Top workforce management tools

Effortless scheduling, time and attendance

Top staff management software

Effortless staff management

Staff management software delivers digital solutions that enhance workforce oversight for businesses. RosterElf offers an all-in-one cloud-based platform to simplify scheduling, time tracking, and communication, making management effortless.

Employee scheduling

Manage schedules online or through mobile app

Create and share employee schedules from anywhere using our web platform or mobile app. Speed up scheduling with reusable templates or by copying past schedules, making workforce management a breeze.

Digital Time and Attendance

Accurate timesheets, 100% of the time

Ditch paper timesheets and outdated clock-in systems with RosterElf’s digital time and attendance solution. Choose between our tablet app or the convenience of GPS-enabled smartphone clock-ins, allowing employees to log hours from their phone. Managers can seamlessly review and approve worked hours by comparing scheduled shifts with actual clock-in data, simplifying payroll processing.

Staff Avails

No more chasing employees

Managing casual or flexible employees’ availability can be a headache. With RosterElf's scheduling software, you no longer need to track down staff or manage availability records manually. Employees input their availability directly into the system, and our "Perfect Match" algorithm automatically recommends the best-suited team members for each shift, saving you time and hassle.

Leave and Vacation Management

Leave and vacation management

Easily manage and approve employee time-off requests, including sick leave and absenteeism, with RosterElf’s smart tools. Approved leave is automatically integrated into payroll exports, saving you time. Manage various leave types—annual, sick, unpaid, and carers' leave—and seamlessly export them to payroll systems like Xero and MYOB.

HR Reporting & Analytics

Insights that drive efficiency

RosterElf’s dynamic reporting provides real-time data to refine demand forecasting, optimise scheduling, and manage labor costs. With customisable reports and live insights, managers gain the critical information needed to enhance efficiency and boost profitability.

Embrace Efficiency

Next level team management

Navigating a versatile workforce demands both precision and flexibility. RosterElf redefines scheduling and availability with cutting-edge automation, ensuring seamless operations and continuous enhancement to align with contemporary business needs.

What others say

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“Really detailed and helpful. First time user of a rostering software and I was provided with clear and easy to follow instructions with the promise of being available for any further questions or help that I might need in the future. Would definitely recommend”

Partap singh Thind Posted December 05, 2025

“We are extremely happy with Roster Elf, it's a great improvement on the previous system we were using. Sean and all the staff have been fantastic, really know their stuff and make using RosterElf a pleasure.”

Andrew Nathan Posted November 13, 2025

“Sean was an amazing help, very patient and thorough.”

Monica Van De Laak Posted October 16, 2025

“I can see my roster, enter availability, put leave in advance and clock on and off easily.”

MC

Mary C. Posted October 13, 2025

Benefits

Why a workforce management tool is essential

Optimised scheduling

A WFM tool helps create efficient schedules, balancing workloads and ensuring the right staff are in place to meet demand, reducing overtime and under-staffing.

Enhanced accuracy

Streamline data entry and reduce errors with automated processes for tracking hours, leave, and shifts, improving overall accuracy in workforce management.

Real-time insights

Gain immediate access to real-time data on staff performance, attendance, and scheduling, enabling quick decision-making and adjustments to stay on track.

Cost control

Monitor labor costs and track productivity with detailed reporting, helping you stay within budget and maximise operational efficiency

Compliance management

Ensure adherence to labor laws and company policies with automated compliance tracking and documentation, reducing the risk of legal issues and penalties.

Employee engagement

Facilitate better communication and transparency with employees through easy-to-use scheduling and leave request features, boosting morale and job satisfaction.

Features

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App notifications

Make sure no one misses a thing

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Connect with Xero

Easily connect RosterElf with Xero

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Employee availability

Let employees submit work preference

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We’re Dedicated to Your Success

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At RosterElf, our team of scheduling experts is committed to providing unlimited support, whether you're getting started or need help along the way. We’re here to ensure your success every step of the journey.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Workforce management software questions? We have the answers

Workforce management software centralises employee data so you can build rosters that respect skills, availability and labour targets in one place. It replaces manual spreadsheets with rules based scheduling. Many teams rely on tools like the auto scheduling feature to generate optimised rosters in seconds.
Modern workforce management tools let you save roster patterns and reuse them instead of rebuilding from scratch. You can copy last week’s schedule, make small tweaks and publish in minutes. This is much easier when you use a system with features like reusable roster templates.
Because rosters, availability and roles are stored in one database, the system can warn you if you try to schedule the same employee in two places at once. This reduces last minute reshuffles and improves fairness. Many organisations combine this with staff availability management so conflicts are caught early.
Yes, many platforms let you publish unfilled shifts to eligible employees so they can volunteer to cover them from their app. Managers keep control by approving who gets each shift. This type of workflow is supported by features like the open shifts system.
Workforce management software can show projected wage costs as you build or edit rosters so you see the impact of each shift on your budget. This helps managers balance coverage and cost instead of guessing. Real time costings are available in views like the labour budgeting dashboard.

Workforce management software usually includes digital time clocks so staff can clock in and out using a tablet or phone. Hours are recorded automatically and compared with the roster. A common approach is to use clock in points like the tablet kiosk time clock for on site teams.
Yes, many systems let employees clock in from a mobile device with GPS enabled so you know they are at the correct location when their shift starts and ends. This helps reduce time theft and protects remote operations. One example is a geofenced mobile clock like the GPS geofencing feature.
A good workforce management platform provides a live attendance view that shows who has clocked in, who is late and where gaps are appearing. This lets managers respond quickly rather than waiting for end of day reports. Many businesses use a view similar to the live attendance dashboard to monitor operations.
Digital time and attendance reduces manual data entry, removes illegible handwriting and automatically totals hours. It also links clocked hours back to the roster for easier review. These improvements come from tools such as the digital time and attendance module which centralises records.
Yes, workforce management tools often include features like photo capture at clock in so you know the right person is starting the shift. This reduces fraudulent entries and protects payroll accuracy. A common example is a selfie based clock such as the photo proof time clock.

Workforce management software can export approved timesheets directly into payroll, which reduces manual entry and improves accuracy. Hours, allowances and leave types flow through automatically. Many organisations connect their scheduling and attendance to payroll engines using links like the Xero payroll integration.
Yes, modern platforms allow you to set up pay items and roles so that exported timesheets include the correct classifications. This is especially helpful when staff work in multiple positions. These mappings are usually configured inside payroll links such as the MYOB payroll integration.
Many workforce management tools include an award rules engine that calculates overtime, penalties and loadings based on your chosen award. This reduces reliance on spreadsheets and manual checking. In some platforms this is provided through a dedicated award interpretation feature that works with exported timesheets.
When rostered hours, clocked hours and leave all flow into payroll automatically, there is less room for keying mistakes. Managers can approve timesheets once and be confident the same data reaches payroll. This streamlined process is supported by exports from tools like the digital timesheets integration.
Yes, multi site businesses can consolidate hours from different locations into one payroll run while still tracking site based costs. Workforce management software stores the site or cost centre on each shift or timesheet entry. Those details are preserved when sending data through a connector such as the Xero payroll workflow.

With workforce management software, staff can receive shift updates, announcements and reminders through a central work channel instead of personal apps. This keeps information in one place and makes it easier to manage access. Many teams use a built in chat such as the employee team chat app to support this.
Yes, they often include their own messaging features so managers do not need to rely on WhatsApp or personal SMS for shift communication. This protects privacy and keeps work conversations in a company controlled space. A dedicated work channel like the team chat feature is a common solution.
Integrated chat lets managers discuss schedule changes, cover requests and leave questions where the relevant data already lives. Staff can confirm new times quickly without losing the context of which shift or day is affected. This works well when messages sit beside tools such as open shift management.
Linking communication to rosters and timesheets reduces confusion because everyone sees the same version of the schedule when decisions are made. If a shift moves, the updated time is visible alongside the conversation. Workforce platforms often combine these elements with features like simple roster views so staff can check details easily.
Yes, instead of sending announcements by email that staff may not read before a shift, workforce management tools can deliver messages through the same app employees use to check their roster. This leads to faster acknowledgement and fewer missed updates. Many businesses use a central channel inside the employee team chat environment for this purpose.

Workforce management software often links directly to HR onboarding so new employees can be set up once and then appear automatically in rosters, time clocks and payroll exports. This avoids double entry and speeds up the time to first shift. In some systems this is powered by an employee onboarding module within the same platform.
Yes, many workforce management platforms include leave workflows so employees can request time off and managers can approve it inside the same system that handles their shifts. Approved leave then flows into attendance and payroll. Some businesses handle this through a dedicated leave management feature that links to scheduling.
Workforce management tools can store licence and certification details and warn you when they are close to expiry, so unqualified staff are not placed on certain shifts. This reduces compliance risk and audit stress. These records are typically maintained in a component like the licence and certification management tool.
Digital HR records allow you to store contracts and key employment documents securely online so they are easy to find and less likely to be misplaced. They also support remote hiring because paperwork can be completed without a physical office visit. Many organisations manage this through a digital employment contracts feature inside their workforce platform.
Workforce management software gives HR teams a single view of rosters, hours, leave and qualifications, which makes it easier to check that practices line up with Fair Work rules. Some platforms also provide guidance tools to help interpret obligations. An example is an AI Fair Work compliance assistant that supports decision making without replacing formal advice.

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4.8 stars by 1570 users

100+ countries

30,000+ users

Workforce Management Tool

Smart workforce, simple solutions

Effortless scheduling, time and attendance

Effortless staff management

Simplify with automation

Manage schedules online or through mobile app

Schedule your team from anywhere

Accurate timesheets, 100% of the time

Ensure accurate timesheets every time

No more chasing employees

Streamline employee availability management

Leave and vacation management

Simplify leave and vacation management

Insights that drive efficiency

Use data to improve efficiency

Next level team management

Improve team management with automation

Reviews from our customers

Why a workforce management tool is essential

Optimised scheduling

Enhanced accuracy

Real-time insights

Cost control

Compliance management

Employee engagement

But there's more to explore

App notifications

Connect with Xero

Employee availability

Always here, always ready to help

Frequently asked questions

Start your free 15 day RosterElf trial today