Smart & Final teams with Kronos for workforce management solution

Chelmsford, Mass. Kronos said Tuesday that Smart & Final Stores LLC, operator of approximately 293 retail stores across western United States and northern Mexico, has selected workforce management solutions from Kronos to control labor costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve workforce productivity.

Smart & Final said it expects payback within less than a year. It will use the integrated time and attendance and employee scheduling solutions from Kronos for approximately 6,000 employees across all stores.

Through complete automation and enterprise-wide standardization of critical workforce business processes, Kronos will provide the retailer real-time visibility into labor data that will enable proper enforcement of complex work and pay rules across all stores.

Kronos said its scheduling solution will help Smart & Final deliver enhanced customer service through optimal schedules based on accurate forecasting that aligns labor to demand. With the scheduling process completely automated, managers will achieve consistency in scheduling and will also be able to invest more time in training employees and spend additional time serving customers.

"Our quality products and competitive pricing continues to drive our expansion; however, customer service is at the core of any retailer’s success,” said Dave Baker, director of store labor management systems, Smart & Final Stores. “Through real-time labor data analysis, Kronos will help us further boost productivity to enhance the in-store customer experience. Additionally, Kronos will also help us control labor costs and minimize compliance risks."

Smart & Final required a scalable workforce management solution that could be expanded to include implementations across warehouses and additional locations. The retailer has recently expanded into Colorado and required a standardized solution to support growth.

Smart & Final currently operates approximately 253 stores in Arizona; California; Idaho; Nevada; Oregon; Washington; Colorado; and northern Mexico under the Smart & Final and Cash and Carry Banners along with 40 farmer's market-style stores under the "Henry's Farmers Markets" and "Sun Harvest Markets" banners in California and Texas.