HotSchedules vs ShiftNote

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Our analysts compared HotSchedules vs ShiftNote based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Employee Scheduling Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

HotSchedules Software Tool
ShiftNote Software Tool

Product Basics

HotSchedules is a cloud-based shift scheduling tool within the Fourth HR ecosystem. It assists with a variety of core employee scheduling tasks, including assigning shifts, tracking time and managing labor.

It helps optimize time and labor costs by analyzing sales patterns, forecasting demand and optimizing workforce allocation through seasons. The built-in messaging portal improves communication and keeps the team on the same page.

Businesses can create custom dashboards to track business-specific KPIs, employee performances and attendance. Employees get unique portals to view assigned tasks, swap shifts and communicate with team members.

A built-in wage and labor compliance module helps maintain compliance with state and federal labor laws. The mobile app provides push notifications for scheduling conflicts and compliance issues to stay agile and compliant from anywhere.

Pros
  • Convenience and accessibility
  • Scheduling functionality
  • Efficient automation
  • Diverse integrations
Cons
  • Learning curve
  • Inconsistent support services
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ShiftNote is a cloud-hosted solution that offers a manager’s logbook to create shift notes electronically while accessing them from anywhere. The intuitive logbook simplifies communication between employees and managers.

Businesses can design and edit shifts online, create and assign tasks, send messages and share documents across locations. It significantly reduces the time spent in creating weekly or monthly schedules. An internal email structure helps delegate shifts and roles. Businesses can access accurate forecasts to prepare for possible customer influx.
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$40/Location, Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$34.95 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Save Time: Build schedules and assign shifts more effectively and save time spent on these activities.
  • Improve Communication: Communicate with team members, update schedule changes, swap shifts and more directly through the platform to keep up with all critical and urgent scheduling revisions.
  • Reduce Labor Costs: Generate store reports on labor costs and sales and assess overall labor practices to help inform future budgets.
  • Encourage Employee Engagement: Managers can provide employees direct access to the schedule through the mobile app, allowing them to access and request changes to the schedule, which boosts engagement.
  • Ensure Compliance: Configure labor rules to document shift transactions, control labor costs, and comply with industry, state and federal legislation.
  • Accurate Forecasting: Ensure accurate forecasts using tools that help cut operational costs, boost revenue from sales and increase customer satisfaction and experiences.
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  • Fast Scheduling: Use a duplication tool to repeat set shifts while expediting the scheduling process. Create new schedules using customizable templates while speeding up schedule-building processes. 
  • Streamline Communications: Use an internal email function to send prompt shift updates while establishing accountability. Inform teams about shift modifications using an internal messaging capability. 
  • Manage Multiple Locations: Scale it to manage multiple locations. Step in to resolve scheduling and other issues at any branch. 
  • Manage Leaves and Shift Swaps: Manage shift swaps and leaves while approving or rejecting the requests. Communicate decisions through appropriate channels. 
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  • Scheduling: Build schedules with customizable templates and intuitive drag-and-drop tools. Approve or deny shift change requests, define rules to limit overtime and manage employee availability from a dashboard.
  • Time and Attendance: Track clock-in and clock-out times, collect information on tip and break entries, and allow employees to access their timecards and payroll histories. Managers can set up alerts to notify employees when they miss a time punch. Set geo-fencing rules using the mobile WebClock to track employee locations.
  • Labor Forecasting: Access the following forecasting features:
    • Schedule Optimization: Standardize scheduling rules and automate recurring tasks using predictive scheduling across multiple branches and locations.
    • Scheduling Visibility: Manage labor analytics to measure critical KPIs like overall performance, cost per labor, sales patterns and labor cost to keep restaurants competitive.
    • Store-Level Forecasting: Analyze historical data to identify weekly sales patterns and help managers allocate workforces efficiently. Send alerts for overtime and other potential compliance issues.
  • Labor Management: Calculate minimum staffing requirements, plan shift breaks, and generate suggested headcounts to ensure that any given shift always has the proper number of staff members.
  • Scheduling and Wage Compliance: Adhere to local and federal regulations with:
    • Predictive Scheduling: Stay up to date with local laws and evolve as regulations shift. Prepare and adapt to compliance changes before they go into effect.
    • Break and Meal Management: Set up rules to automatically schedule meal and break times for staff members. Receive notifications of missed break times and automatically calculate break pay impacts.
    • Overtime Management: Track employees going into overtime and allow managers to swap overworked staff with other employees.
    • Certifications: Receive certificate expiry alerts and define automation to request updated documents from employees, managers and other team members.
  • POS Integration: Employees can track time and clock in and out of work from a POS system. Pull sales and operational data from POS to forecast weekly and seasonal sales patterns and workforce requirements.
  • Health Surveys: Generate digital health surveys to gain extra visibility into the business. Use CDC-tailored surveys and health screening tools to ensure employees are safe to come to work.
  • Manager Logbook: Manage physical and digital logbooks that help track tasks, maintenance objectives and food safety information, such as temperature.
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  • Shift Scheduling: Plan employee schedules while making shift changes as per staff availability and requests. Maintain schedules for multiple departments while modifying them according to needs. 
  • Task Management: Share and manage annual task calendars using an advanced task management module. Schedule tasks while monitoring workflow processes. 
  • Performance Management: Monitor employee performance using the stat tracking and key performance indicator function. Maintain staff schedules and digital logbook entries while arranging meetings for multiple branches. 
  • Sales Forecasting: Forecast sales using historical data to set weekly labor and operational budgets. Generate MIS reports to get detailed business insights. 
  • Event Calendar: Use the calendar view to get information on upcoming events while broadcasting company-specific events. Mark dates, leave comments and share with teams to keep everyone on the same page. 
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Product Ranking

#7

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

#41

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 1149 reviews
Great User Sentiment 8 reviews
86%
of users recommend this product

HotSchedules has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 1149 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

86%
of users recommend this product

ShiftNote has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 8 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.5 (14)
3.75 (1)
4.2 (94)
n/a
4.37 (426)
n/a
4.4 (388)
4.4 (7)
4.0 (227)
n/a

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Convenience and Accessibility: Users appreciate the system’s remote accessibility, which saves time and enhances productivity for both employees and managers.
Scheduling Functionality: The platform offers a comprehensive package of scheduling tools, including shift swapping, time off, blackout dates and availability management.
Efficient Automation: Automation such as auto-scheduling, sick pay and holiday calculations simplifies administrative tasks for managers.
Diverse Integrations: Users report that integration with other modules like payroll systems, POS solutions and HR software enhances productivity and workforce management.
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Easy to Use: Users have praised ShiftNote's user-friendly interface, finding it easy to navigate and utilize for scheduling and communication purposes.
Improved Communication: The platform facilitates better communication among team members, allowing for seamless shift changes and updates.
Performance Tracking: ShiftNote enables managers to monitor employee performance, providing insights into attendance, punctuality, and overall efficiency.
Shift Swaps: Employees can easily request and manage shift swaps through the platform, streamlining the process and reducing scheduling conflicts.
Reporting Features: ShiftNote offers reporting functionalities, allowing managers to generate reports on various metrics such as labor costs, attendance, and scheduling efficiency.
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Learning curve & complexity: The interface can be challenging for beginners, requiring significant time and effort to learn and navigate effectively.
Inconsistent customer support: Users report long wait times or difficulty resolving complex issues, leading to potential frustration and delays.
Pricing concerns: Additional fees beyond the monthly subscription can add up, making it more expensive than competitors.
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Limited Mobile App: The mobile app needs improvement, users say it could be more reliable and have more features.
Customization is Lacking: Users want more flexibility to customize reports and notifications to fit their specific needs.
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Let's dish on the good, the bad, and the ugly of HotSchedules based on what folks have been saying lately. HotSchedules seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. Users dig that it's pretty straightforward to use and can be a real time-saver, especially when it comes to wrangling schedules and keeping everyone in the loop. It's like having a personal assistant who's always on top of things. But, there's a catch – it can be a bit pricey, and some users feel like it's missing some bells and whistles that other scheduling software has. Think of it as a reliable car that gets you from point A to point B, but maybe doesn't have all the fancy features like a sunroof or heated seats. So, who's HotSchedules a good fit for? Well, if you're running a business in the hospitality industry, like a restaurant or hotel, and you need a solid scheduling tool that won't leave you scratching your head, HotSchedules could be your jam. It's especially handy if you've got a bunch of hourly employees and multiple locations to juggle. However, if you're on a tight budget or need a software with all the latest gadgets, you might want to shop around a bit. There are other options out there like Homebase or When I Work that might be more your style.

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Want to make a "shift" in how you manage employee scheduling? ShiftNote is generally well-received by users for its user-friendly design, effective communication features, and ability to simplify shift scheduling and management. Users praise its intuitive interface, which is accessible across multiple devices, making it a breeze to use on the go. However, some users have reported occasional technical glitches and expressed a desire for more advanced features and integrations. Despite these minor drawbacks, ShiftNote is lauded for its ability to enhance team coordination and operational efficiency across various sectors, particularly in the hospitality and retail industries. Its strength lies in its simplicity and ease of use, making it a great option for businesses looking to streamline their scheduling processes without a steep learning curve. While it may lack some advanced features found in other scheduling software like When I Work or Homebase, its intuitive design and focus on core scheduling functionalities make it a suitable choice for small to medium-sized businesses in fast-paced industries where efficient scheduling is paramount.

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Top Alternatives in Employee Scheduling Software


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