Workforce forecasting and scheduling for hourly employees

Simplify schedule making, optimize staffing levels, control labor costs, and stay compliant with labor laws – all in one place. 

With Homebase’s weather and sales forecasting tools, you can track and modify your scheduled labor and make sure you’re hitting your targets.

One easy app to manage your hourly team.

Get your team in sync with our easy-to-use, all-in-one employee time tracking app.

Forecast smarter

Plan smarter with Homebase’s advanced sales and weather forecasting. Our powerful tools help you make informed, data-driven decisions when it comes to scheduling your team.

Homebase analyzes your sales trends and local weather patterns, so you can predict customer demand and adjust staffing levels accordingly. Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to smart scheduling that keeps the right number of employees working at the right times. 

Homebase also integrates with your point-of-sale provider to help you make better financial decisions, manage your labor costs, and easily set your monthly sales forecasts. 

Schedule faster

Build schedules in minutes. Ditch the scheduling headaches and streamline your process. Homebase’s employee scheduler offers automated shift allocation, flexible work schedules, and more. 

Creating and managing schedules has never been easier. 

Smart scheduling suggestions

Homebase offers smart scheduling suggestions based on sales trends and historical data. Use these insights to quickly create optimized schedules without spending hours crunching numbers. It takes the guesswork out of scheduling.

You can also set rules for black-out dates, time-off requests, and keep track of your team’s changing availability.

Drag-and-drop simplicity

Homebase’s user-friendly interface allows you to effortlessly drag and drop shifts to assign them to employees. No more complicated spreadsheets or manual calculations. With a few clicks, schedules can be created, modified, and adjusted in no time.

Template-based scheduling

Use templates or auto-scheduling based on your team’s latest availability, sales forecasts, and labor targets. 

Homebase allows you to create schedule templates that can be used time and time again. This is especially helpful if your business uses recurring shifts or consistent scheduling patterns. 

Automated shift notifications

Homebase automates shift notifications, saving you the hassle of individually informing employees about their schedules. Once the schedule is finalized, employees receive notifications via email or the Homebase mobile app, keeping everyone in the loop and on the same page.

Quick availability and time-off management

You can easily access employee availability and time-off requests in the Homebase app. This makes factoring in employee preferences and handling time-off requests a breeze. No more digging through spreadsheets or paper forms – everything is centralized and easily accessible.

Empower your teams

Homebase helps your employees work better together. Automatically send helpful reminders for shifts, clock outs, and schedule updates. Send announcements or documents to employees so your HR and compliance team knows when they’ve been reviewed or signed.

Inform staff quickly 

Simplify your day-to-day communication. Homebase’s free employee messaging app has a built-in chat tool to make it easy to stay connected. Know that your team has all the information they need to succeed, in the palm of their hand. 

FAQ’s

What is sales forecasting?

Sales forecasting is the process of estimating future sales for your business. It helps you make informed decisions about financial matters like budgeting and wage management. By analyzing historical sales data or using market research, you can predict short-term and long-term performance. 

Sales forecasting allows for better resource allocation, workforce management, and planning for future growth.

Using accurate data is the most important element of efficient forecasting. When you sign up for Homebase and integrate your point-of-sale, you can track your labor costs and sales together and run a smarter business. Homebase has integrations with the top POS providers, including: 

• Square
• Clover
• Shopify
• Vend
• Toast
• Pay Anywhere
• Poynt
• Talech
• Upserve
• Lightspeed
• Revel

How does sales forecasting work for hourly workers?

When it comes to sales forecasting for businesses with hourly workers, integrating data from point-of-sale systems can provide valuable insights. By tracking labor costs and sales together, you can make smarter decisions. 

Historical sales data, pipeline management, and accurate market research are key elements in creating an effective sales forecast. Forecasting helps in managing labor costs, cash flow, and other financial resources, helping you optimize resource allocation and make informed decisions about benefits and future revenue targets.

What are different sales forecasting methods?

There are several different sales forecasting methods you can use to predict future sales. Here are some common methods:

1. Historical Data: This method involves analyzing past sales data and trends to forecast future sales. By identifying patterns and trends from historical data, you can make estimates about future sales performance.
2. Market Research: Market research involves gathering information about the target market, including customer preferences, buying habits, and market trends. This data helps you make predictions based on current market conditions and consumer behavior.
3. Expert Opinion: Seeking insights and opinions from industry experts or experienced professionals can provide valuable input for sales forecasting. Their knowledge and expertise in the specific industry can help you make more accurate predictions.
4. Lead Generation Analysis: This method involves analyzing leads or potential customers to estimate future sales. By evaluating the quality and quantity of leads and considering conversion rates, you can make predictions about how many leads may turn into actual sales.
5. Sales Forecasting Software: Using sales forecasting software tools can automate the process and provide more accurate predictions. These tools use algorithms and data analysis to generate forecasts based on factors such as historical sales data, market trends, weather forecasts, and customer behavior.

What is a sales forecast example?

Let’s go over an easy-to-understand sales forecast example. Last month, Joe’s Pizza had $150,000 of monthly recurring revenue. For the last 12 months, their sales revenue grew 12% monthly. Their monthly costs were around 1% each month. 

Joe’s Pizza would conduct the following calculation: 

($150,000 X 1.12) – ($150,000 X .01) = $166,500

Homebase makes it easy to determine accurate sales data to calculate your sales forecast with ease. Sign up for Homebase today to integrate your sales history in with your scheduling, time tracking and payroll, and you’ll see for yourself how utilizing the platform can take the guesswork out of your monthly forecasts.