Understanding Workforce Management Software

Managing a modern workforce is complex. Workforce management software can help to smooth the process, which is why many employers consider it critical to the day-to-day running of their business.

Workforce management (WFM) strategically allocates people and resources to tasks, tracks attendance, and ensures compliance with ever-changing workplace laws.

Workforce management software can optimise the payroll by ensuring accuracy and streamlining essential HR functions, such as time tracking and absence management with payroll.

WFM helps improve employee relations through better scheduling and communication. Accurate staffing resources covering peak business hours help to improve your company’s customer service. Plus, staying in control of your labour costs boosts your bottom line.

Essentially, your objectives are to optimise productivity and reduce non-compliance risk. WFM is the solution that can help you achieve these objectives.

The Role of Workforce Management Software in Payroll Processing

Workforce management software integrates with payroll by capturing accurate, up-to-date time and attendance data. Automated workflows ensure compliance and reduce the risk of errors, meaning that your payroll calculations are as timely and accurate as possible.

Data is automatically captured on-platform through time tracking and absence management tools. Integration with payroll software ensures a smooth transfer of data between the different platforms.

Using a range of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), ADP Marketplace and ADP API Central optimises the process by providing instant, automatic data sharing.

Time tracking and leave are directly fed into your payroll calculations, creating one single source of truth. This automation eliminates the need for manual data entry, resulting in a smoother process and reducing the risk of errors and non-compliance.

Benefits of Integrating Workforce Management Software with Payroll Systems

The benefits of integrating Workforce Management Software with Payroll Sofware are innumerous. Synchronising workforce data with payroll minimises errors, meaning your people are paid the right amount every time.

There are also time-saving benefits. HR teams don’t have to transfer data between incompatible systems manually. This automation reduces your administrative burden, saving you time and resources.

Integrated central systems also provide better security and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Tax codes are applied automatically, and the systems can flag any potential legal issues with overtime and absence allowance in accordance with UK government regulations.

Real-time insights lead to better-informed decision-making, and integrating your WFM with payroll can be enlightening for HR teams and senior management. By tracking wages, employee hours, accrual balances and employee performance all in one place, you can tangibly see the results of your recruitment and productivity strategies–and how they influence your bottom line.

Challenges and Considerations

Integrating new workforce management software with existing payroll systems isn’t without its challenges.

It can be a resource-heavy operation, and the time and resources required will depend on your current setup. If you already use a WFM system, the process will be more straightforward as you already have much of the data needed for integration. However, relying on manual systems with several data repositories could take considerably longer to streamline this all into one place. Proper planning and an integration timeline can mitigate any issues.

Another challenge businesses face is incompatibility. Certain software will struggle to integrate properly, and if that’s the case, it’s wise to consider investing in a new HR and payroll system that can handle both seamlessly. It will save you time and resources in the long run.

It’s important to choose software that meets your company’s specific needs. Consider this a strategic investment; the process should involve stakeholders in HR, payroll, and accounting to ensure you’re making the right choice in line with broader organisational goals.

When shopping around, prioritise functionality and integration and thoroughly scrutinise the options based on brand credibility, customer feedback, and available support.

You need a solution that can scale with your business, so choose a solution built for flexibility and growth. A well-oiled system should be able to handle increased workloads and complexities as they arise, saving you time and money as your business grows.

Case Studies/Success Stories

Sage chooses ADP as its global payroll partner. Sage struggled to find a payroll and HR solution suitable for a large organisation of its size, but with ADP, they simplified their global payroll management with ease.

“We went with ADP. It is the market leader in multi-country payroll operations and has a highly scalable solution, so we can expand and adapt to our business's needs,” says Charlotte O’Driscoll, Sage's Global Payroll and People Projects Director.

Sage’s challenges:

  • With 14 separate payroll solutions in use globally, Sage grappled with fragmented processes. The challenge of consolidating these disparate processes into a unified ‘one source of truth’ solution was essential.
  • Each country's unique set of rules, regulations, banking systems, and compliance requirements added further layers of complexity.
  • Operating globally presented significant challenges for Sage as a multinational entity.

How ADP helped:

  • ADP's cloud-based GlobalView platform simplifies global payroll management. It offers a unified system of record for employee data while accommodating local payroll regulations to ensure compliance.
  • ADP Celergo is tailored for smaller territories, enabling HR and payroll professionals to manage multi-country payroll efficiently and effortlessly access employee data. It streamlines changes, calculations, and reporting by standardising international payroll processes and providing compliance support tools.
  • Both solutions offer staff a user-friendly ‘self-service’ portal for accessing pay statements and tax information.

When integrated properly, workforce management software combined with payroll can revolutionise your HR functions, providing streamlined efficiency and total compliance for your business.

Centralising employee information will save time and resources — and increase the quality of your data. With one system:

  • Data automatically flows between HR, time and payroll systems, giving you confidence in reporting.
  • Improved user experience for your people — helping you to engage your workforce better.
  • Minimise compliance risks by eliminating manual data entry between systems.

ADP is the trusted global solution, with state-of-the-art technology designed for easy payroll and workforce management software integration.

ADP’s cloud-based software allows companies of all sizes to benefit from simplified data management and correct, error-free payroll.

Book a demo to see how ADP can help streamline your workforce management and payroll today.