A Matter of Time (and Money)
Time is often considered the most precious resource of all, because once it is spent, it can never be replenished. While there is no way to create new time, retailers can reduce the amount of time spent on such tasks as scheduling and payroll with automated workforce management technology. And as the old saying goes, time equals money.
Cavender’s, the Tyler, Texas-based retailer of specialty Western footwear and apparel, takes a no-nonsense approach to workforce management that would make the flintiest pioneer proud. The company has been using time and attendance, HR, and payroll applications from workforce management software and services provider Kronos Inc. for approximately three years. Automating these processes across these areas of workforce management has produced positive results for the retailer in a number of areas.
“Key benefits we have realized from the solutions include reducing the amount of time store managers spend on payroll from four hours to 30 minutes,” said Jim Thompson, CFO, Cavender’s, which operates stores under the Cavender’s Boot City and Cavender’s Western Outfitter banners. “We have also significantly improved accuracy of sales-commission calculations and achieved a substantial reduction in payroll corrections.”
Other pay-related benefits Cavender’s has realized include improving the accounting for compensation of non-sales activities for store staff. There are other advantages as well.
“We have also been able to roll out a consistent scheduling platform across the chain,” explained Thompson. “There is improved visibility for district managers and corporate management into scheduling by store managers.”
Cavender’s has been live on the Kronos scheduling solution for approximately nine months. Immediate benefits include the implementation of a consistent methodology for scheduling and better alignment of scheduled labor with forecasted demand. The retailer has also been able to develop key labor drivers, improve visibility into scheduling activities, and share best scheduling practices across the organization.
Furthermore, in a feature sure to delight anyone associated with a retailer’s legal team, by automating scheduling Cavender’s has helped ensure compliance with Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. But that’s not all.
“Longer-term benefits include managing labor budgets more effectively, monitoring store performance, and improving reporting and analytics for store and district managers as well as corporate management,” Thompson said.
Later in 2015 and into 2016, Cavender’s plans to roll out Kronos software that will support employee self-service HR functionality. That rollout will be followed by implementations of Kronos hiring, mobility and analytics applications.
“Our entire team is extremely satisfied with the solution and the Kronos methodology toward implementation,” Thompson concluded.