Fourth Hospitality has long been a popular choice for workforce management, but it’s not always the perfect fit for every business. Whether because of cost, complexity, or limitations in adaptability, many hospitality operators are seeking alternatives.
That’s where we come in. Bizimply’s shift management software offers a streamlined, intuitive, and cost-effective solution tailored to the unique demands of the hospitality sector.
In this article, we discuss why Bizimply stands out as a powerful alternative to Fourth Hospitality, providing tools to simplify scheduling, improve team communication, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
As one of the best shift management and staff management software options for restaurants, hotels, and more, Bizimply has become a mainstay in the world of hospitality. Now, let’s discuss why Bizimply may be the perfect partner for you.
What Does Bizimply Do?
Bizimply is a powerful and feature-rich shift management platform trusted by thousands of Irish and UK businesses. The software simplifies staff rotas, time and attendance management, and labour cost optimisation – the perfect tool for restaurants, hotels, events management, tourism businesses, and anything else in the hospitality space.
The workforce management platform is designed to streamline operations for businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors. It offers tools for employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, and human resources management, all accessible through an intuitive, cloud-based system.
With Bizimply’s platform, managers can efficiently create rotas, monitor attendance, approve timesheets, and maintain compliance across multiple locations. Employees benefit from features like viewing schedules, booking time off, and clocking in remotely via the MyZimply app.
By integrating with payroll systems and other business tools, Bizimply also helps organisations optimise labour costs, improve team communication, and boost overall productivity. The feature-rich platform has worked wonders for businesses looking to improve day-to-day operations.
Shift Management & Scheduling
Bizimply offers a full suite of shift management and scheduling tools designed to streamline workforce operations in the hospitality and retail sectors. Its user-friendly interface gives managers the power to create and adjust schedules effortlessly, utilising drag-and-drop functionality and reusable templates to save time and reduce errors.
The platform provides real-time labour cost tracking, allowing businesses to monitor expenses and ensure compliance with labour regulations. Employees benefit from the MyZimply app, which delivers schedules directly to their devices, facilitating time-off requests and improving communication and engagement.
For multi-location businesses, Bizimply offers centralised management, allowing for oversight of operations across various sites from a single dashboard. A centralised approach guarantees consistency and efficiency throughout the organisation.
Scheduling with time and attendance tracking leads to accurate payroll processing and compliance with labour laws. The platform’s comprehensive features make it a valuable tool for businesses aiming to optimise shift management and improve overall operational efficiency.
Time & Attendance Management
Bizimply’s Time and Attendance Management features are designed to streamline workforce operations, allowing for accurate tracking and efficient management of employee hours.
The key components include:
1. Time Clock App: Bizimply offers a versatile Time Clock App that allows employees to clock in and out using various methods:
- Clock-In Kiosk: Utilising an iPad-based kiosk, employees enter a unique 4-digit PIN and have their photo captured to prevent buddy punching. The system operates offline, syncing data once reconnected to the internet.
- GPS Clock-In: Employees can clock in and out via their smartphones, with GPS tracking ensuring they are at the correct location. This feature is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, providing flexibility for remote or mobile staff.
- PC-Based Clock-In: Ideal for remote workers, this web-based option allows employees to manage their time and attendance securely from their desktops by logging into their portal to clock in and out.
2. Real-Time Attendance Monitoring: Managers have access to live updates on employee attendance, so they can monitor who is present, on break, or absent across multiple locations. This real-time visibility aids in efficient shift management and quick decision-making.
3. Automated Timesheets: The system automatically compiles clock-in and clock-out data into digital timesheets, reducing manual errors and saving time. Managers can review and approve these timesheets before seamlessly exporting them to payroll systems, ensuring accurate and timely compensation.
4. Compliance and Security: Bizimply’s Time and Attendance features support compliance with labour laws by accurately tracking hours worked, breaks, and overtime. The photo verification and GPS tracking functionalities enhance security and accountability within the workforce.
E-Signature & Document Management
Bizimply’s e-signature feature, integrated with Dropbox Sign, streamlines managing employee documents with secure, legally binding electronic signatures directly within the platform. The e-signature and document management feature accelerates the signing of contracts and onboarding materials, reducing turnaround times by up to 80%.
The system provides audit trails, offering proof of document access, review, and signature, which enhances compliance and accountability. By centralising document management, Bizimply allows businesses to store signed documents securely, eliminating the need for physical paperwork and simplifying access for managers and HR teams.
Automated reminders minimise the administrative burden of chasing signatures, ensuring timely completion of document-related tasks. This integration not only streamlines HR processes but also contributes to a more efficient and organised workflow within the hospitality and retail sectors.
HR Management
Bizimply’s Human Resources (HR) management features are tailored to streamline HR processes for businesses, particularly those with frontline staff. A few key features surrounding its HR management includes:
- 1. Leave Management: Employees can request time off through the MyZimply App, with managers receiving instant notifications for approvals. The system simplifies complex holiday calculations for hourly staff and ensures compliance by providing access to holiday information and balances.
- 2. Onboarding Checklists: Bizimply facilitates efficient employee onboarding by allowing the creation of checklists that managers complete before new hires begin. By following these checklists, managers ensure that all necessary steps are taken, which promotes a smooth transition for new employees.
- 3. Employee Records: The platform centralises employee information, securely storing HR documents such as contracts and company handbooks in the cloud. Access controls enable managers to determine who can view specific documents, maintaining privacy and organisation.
- 4. E-Signature Integration: Through integration with Dropbox Sign, Bizimply allows for the sending and receiving of legally binding electronic signatures. This feature expedites document workflows, reducing turnaround times and enhancing efficiency.
- 5. Training Records: Managers can log training completed by each staff member and receive notifications when renewals are due. With that, employees remain compliant with required certifications and support ongoing development.
- 6. Employee Engagement Surveys: Bizimply enables the collection of feedback on each shift, providing insights into employee satisfaction and areas for improvement. This fosters a culture of continuous enhancement and responsive management.
Bizimply Connect
Bizimply Connect is a comprehensive communication suite designed to enhance team interaction within businesses, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors. Integrated into the MyZimply app and web portal, it offers instant, secure messaging capabilities that streamline internal communication.
Key Features of Bizimply Connect:
- Instant Messaging: Facilitates real-time communication among team members, allowing for both one-on-one and group conversations. This immediacy means that important information is disseminated swiftly and efficiently.
- Smart Groups: Enables the creation of dynamic groups that automatically update based on criteria such as location and schedule. For example, you can establish separate groups for front-of-house and back-of-house teams, thus ensuring targeted messaging to relevant members.
- File Sharing: Allows users to attach and share various file types within chats, including documents and images, facilitating the distribution of important materials like menus or training documents.
- GDPR Compliance: Guarantees secure data protection by not requiring employees to share personal phone numbers, thereby maintaining privacy and adhering to regulations.
- Work-Life Balance Support: Features settings that allow employees to pause notifications during approved time off, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
Main Benefits of Using Bizimply Connect:
- Improved Communication: Centralising messaging within the Bizimply platform reduces reliance on external apps like WhatsApp, leading to more organised and professional communication channels.
- Operational Efficiency: Facilitates quick coordination for shift changes or covering last-minute absences,maintaining staffing levels without disruption.
- Employee Engagement: Provides a platform for recognising employee achievements and sharing updates, fostering a more connected and motivated workforce.
Bizimply Case Studies
BB’s Coffee & Muffins
BB’s Coffee & Muffins, a café chain with over 50 locations across the UK and Ireland, faced significant challenges managing employee schedules, attendance, and labor costs using Excel spreadsheets.
A manual approach like this led to several inefficiencies and inaccuracies, particularly for head office teams overseeing finance, accounting, payroll, and operations. Store managers also struggled with time-consuming roster creation and tracking of employee-related matters.
To address these issues, BB’s implemented Bizimply’s workforce management platform. The solution provided real-time visibility into employee attendance and labour costs through features like the Timestation App, which facilitates accurate clock-ins and clock-outs. The Bizimply dashboard displayed both predicted and actual labour hours and costs, allowing managers to monitor performance against targets and make necessary adjustments.
The rollout across BB’s 41 locations was seamless, with area managers and employees quickly adopting the system. Dermot McMahon, BB’s CFO, noted, “For the first time we have live visibility on who is working in each of our locations throughout the UK and Ireland at any time. This means we can proactively manage our staff and centrally control labour expenses which is yielding real savings.”
Just through the power of Bizimply’s platform, BB’s Coffee & Muffins quickly boosted operational efficiency, gained better control over labour expenses, and improved overall business performance.
Daisy Green
The Daisy Green Collection, founded in 2012 by former investment banker Prue Freeman, operates 13 unique restaurants in central London, each embodying a vibrant Australian food and coffee culture. These establishments serve patrons from breakfast through late-night dinners, offering diverse menus that cater to various dietary preferences.
To manage their expanding operations efficiently, Daisy Green implemented Bizimply’s workforce management platform. This system streamlined staff scheduling and time management across all locations, allowing employees to view their schedules instantly on mobile devices and facilitating seamless shift assignments between restaurants.
Operations Manager Victoria Hardy highlighted the benefits: “Bizimply gives us an instant view of how we’re doing on sales by restaurant and labour hours, and helps us to forecast upcoming needs.” The integration with their payroll system ensured accurate and timely compensation, boosting staff morale.
This partnership not only enhanced operational efficiency but also allowed Daisy Green to maintain the distinctive character of each restaurant, contributing to their reputation for providing a relaxed and enjoyable dining experience.
Final Thoughts
Bizimply‘s shift management software offers a robust and user-friendly alternative to Fourth Hospitality, delivering enhanced efficiency, real-time insights, and streamlined workforce management tailored to the unique demands of the hospitality sector.
With features designed to improve employee scheduling, optimise labour costs, and simplify compliance, Bizimply empowers businesses to focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences while maintaining operational control.
Whether you’re managing a single location or a multi-site operation, Bizimply’s intuitive platform is a trusted partner for businesses seeking innovative solutions to drive productivity and profitability in the competitive hospitality landscape.
Don’t fall behind the curve, book a demo with Bizimply today and get the most out of your operations.
