Here at Shiftboard we’ve heard a lot of interesting ways to describe our software, but recently I heard what may be one of the best compliments I’ve heard in a while: a volunteer coordinator got an email from one of her volunteers saying that “even a techno-peasant can understand Shiftboard!” Now I know what you’re thinking, we had never heard of this term before either, “techno-peasant,” but it does vividly illustrate the fact that Shiftboard is indeed easy to use, especially for your volunteers and employees.

Shiftboard users don’t fall into one neat little category; there are 85-year-old women who have never had an email address to 30-year-old web developers and 17-year-old festival volunteers. Shiftboard has not been designed with just one type of end user in mind; instead we’ve aimed to make the system easy and accessible to all who want it.

One of the biggest problem that we see is that people go into using Shiftboard with the idea that all software must be complicated and require some savvy IT guy to help set it up. This is far from the truth with Shiftboard, contact us today to get set up and happily scheduling the very same day.

Sometimes smaller enhancements don’t make the blog or new features list. However, it seems the quick & easy fixes often make the biggest impact in a manager’s daily Shiftboard routine. Here are a few updates that are guaranteed to make online scheduling even easier.

-       We’ve added a People Search on the Dashboard so you can find any account from any screen

-       You can customize your automatic “Shift Reminder” messages

-       You can customize the “No Pick-Up” message sent to end users

-       Manager Notes can be sorted by Team or Member across any date range. Of course, just like all other data within Shiftboard the information can be downloaded to Excel in real-time.

-       Members can run their own shift report to view their total hours

-       Last but not least, and certainly the favorite this month is the ability to customize what day of the week shows up first on your calendar.  This setting allows organizations that operate anything different than the standard Monday to Friday schedule to choose their workweek start day.

Thanks to our customers for keeping us in the loop and providing great feedback – enjoy! If you would like any help utilizing these features give us a call at 1-800-746-7531 or email: feedback@shiftboard.com

- Alison

One of the unique aspects of Shiftboard is our ability to work and excel with clients from very different industries. From small businesses of ten workers to hospitals scheduling thousands of individuals, people come to Shiftboard looking for an efficient way to manage their scheduling. We see this diverse client pool as a strength – a symbiotic relationship dynamically beneficial for all parties involved.

Shiftboard does not operate on a one way street. Our clients provide us a wealth of intellectual power and perspective to improve our product. We provide schedulers with a service, they use it and respond, and we incorporate their feedback.  Recently we received enough input regarding a certain feature that we escalated it on the development list. When assigning a shift, you can now assign it to multiple individuals in the same step. Clicking ‘Pick Multiple’ will give you a list of workers who can take the shift. Simply toggle multiple members and click “assign”. Don’t worry, the options to individually assign, bulk assign, auto assign, check availability and enforce seniority still exist.

Our developers are sharp, but our clients’ insight is invaluable. Please keep us in the loop. Share your ideas and suggestions, we are all ears and your thoughts are heard.

- Alison

Major enhancements involving Shiftboard’s Availability Tools are up and rolling.  This development project was in response to many customers’ valuable feedback.  Shiftboard’s online scheduling tools allow users to update and add to their availability 24/7.  All users specify when they are both available and unavailable.  If a manager clicks “Enforce Availability” when assigning shifts only users who have specified they are available will populate.

Employee scheduling is now simpler than ever.

Managers can’t accidentally schedule employees during conflicting hours.  It is is no longer your responsibility to schedule around every doctor, dentist and hair appointment, parent-teacher conference, or a family vacation.  If Jane doesn’t work Fridays the system won’t allow you to schedule Jane on a Friday.  Of course, managers always have the ability to override availability and can schedule any employee whenever necessary.

Sharing this new tool with current Shiftboard customers is fun.  From medical scheduling to event management scheduling, our customers are astounded by the value provided and shocked when I promise there is no additional cost to their monthly fee.

-Alison J.

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http://www.shiftboard.com

http://www.shiftboard.com/web-based-scheduling-case-studies.html

The rule “no texting at work” doesn’t apply to Shiftboard users.  Managers can easily message their employees via text through Shiftboard’s system.

Imagine you are an event management scheduler and just had to reschedule the start time of 15 shifts from 5:00 pm to 4:30 pm.  The text feature allows you to instantly reach and message all affected workers.  Most people don’t have continuous access to the Internet, but most everybody does keep their cell phone with them 24/7.

Texts are received quicker and are much more likely to be read then emails.  A nurse-scheduling manager can text all qualified RN’s who aren’t currently working to try and fill a last minute shift.  After a manager posts a new schedule they can text their employees to let them know it is ready.

Your employees will love you for letting them have immediate access to their schedules and you will feel confident knowing your workers can be messaged in a method that is rapidly becoming the most preferred method of communication.