What are the most successful WFM strategies for companies?

1 Align WFM with business objectives

One of the most successful WFM strategies for companies is to align their WFM processes and policies with their overall business objectives and vision. This means that WFM should not be seen as a separate or isolated function, but as an integral part of the business strategy and culture. By aligning WFM with business objectives, companies can ensure that their workforce is aligned with the customer needs, expectations, and preferences, as well as the organizational goals, values, and priorities. This can also help to create a clear and consistent communication and feedback loop between the management, the employees, and the customers, and to foster a sense of ownership and accountability among the workforce.

2 Leverage data and technology

Another successful WFM strategy for companies is to leverage data and technology to support and enhance their WFM processes and decisions. Data and technology can help companies to gain insights into their workforce trends, patterns, and behaviors, as well as their customer demand, preferences, and feedback. By using data and technology, companies can also automate and streamline their WFM tasks, such as forecasting, scheduling, tracking, and reporting, and reduce the errors, costs, and inefficiencies associated with manual or outdated methods. Moreover, data and technology can help companies to create more flexible, agile, and responsive WFM solutions, such as remote work, hybrid work, self-service, and gamification, that can adapt to the changing needs and preferences of both the workforce and the customers.

3 Engage and empower the workforce

A third successful WFM strategy for companies is to engage and empower their workforce to participate and contribute to their WFM processes and outcomes. Engaging and empowering the workforce means that companies should involve their employees in the WFM planning, decision-making, and evaluation, and give them the autonomy, tools, and resources to manage their own work and performance. By engaging and empowering the workforce, companies can increase their employee satisfaction, motivation, and retention, as well as their productivity, quality, and innovation. Furthermore, engaging and empowering the workforce can help companies to create a more collaborative, diverse, and inclusive WFM culture, where employees can share their ideas, feedback, and best practices, and learn from each other.

4 Monitor and improve WFM performance

A fourth successful WFM strategy for companies is to monitor and improve their WFM performance on a regular basis. Monitoring and improving WFM performance means that companies should measure and evaluate their WFM results and impacts, using relevant and reliable metrics and indicators, such as service level, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, cost efficiency, and revenue growth. By monitoring and improving WFM performance, companies can identify their WFM strengths and weaknesses, and take corrective and preventive actions to address their WFM gaps and opportunities. Additionally, monitoring and improving WFM performance can help companies to continuously learn and innovate their WFM processes and practices, and to keep up with the changing market and customer demands.

5 Benchmark and learn from best practices

A fifth successful WFM strategy for companies is to benchmark and learn from the best practices of other companies in their industry or sector, or across different industries or sectors. Benchmarking and learning from best practices means that companies should compare and contrast their WFM performance and practices with those of their competitors or peers, and identify the areas where they can improve or excel. By benchmarking and learning from best practices, companies can gain a competitive advantage and a strategic edge in their market, and enhance their WFM capabilities and competencies. Moreover, benchmarking and learning from best practices can help companies to adopt and adapt the proven and successful WFM solutions and innovations of other companies, and to avoid the common and costly WFM pitfalls and mistakes.

6 Integrate WFM with other functions

A sixth successful WFM strategy for companies is to integrate their WFM processes and practices with other functions and departments of their organization, such as finance, human resources, marketing, operations, and sales. Integrating WFM with other functions means that companies should coordinate and collaborate their WFM activities and objectives with those of other functions, and create a holistic and synergistic WFM approach that supports and enhances the overall organizational performance and value. By integrating WFM with other functions, companies can optimize their resource allocation and utilization, and reduce the duplication, fragmentation, and conflict of their WFM efforts. Furthermore, integrating WFM with other functions can help companies to create a more customer-centric and value-driven WFM culture, where every function and employee contributes to the customer satisfaction and loyalty.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?