The Workforce Management Podcast

The ShopWorks

The Workforce Management Podcast discusses the technologies, strategies and everything you need to know about workforce management, including time and attendance, employee scheduling, labour demand forecasting, workforce analytics and much more. We pay particular attention to AI and how that is changing the landscape.  We aim to help you navigate through the complex Workforce Management world, tackle the most pressing questions and give you a complete understanding of all the aspects involved in the subject. 

  1. NOV 3

    AI Value Track - Episode 3

    Welcome to Episode 3 of The AI Value Track — our brand-new podcast series helping you cut through the AI noise and actually use it in your business. In this final episode of the series, Simon  sits down with Ed Hogg (CEO, SolvedBy.AI) and James Bolle (Head of Data & Insights, ReThink Productivity) to tackle one of the biggest strategic questions leaders face: 👉 Should you build your own AI tools, or buy them off the shelf? We keep it simple and explore: Build vs buy decisions tied to strategy and IP When generic problems justify off‑the‑shelf tools Niche bottlenecks and owning differentiated capability Real costs of talent, data architecture and compute Governance, scope control and reliability expectations Data quality, sourcing and security by design Measurable pilots, baselines and explainability EBITDA impact, inference costs and ROI discipline Ethics beyond bias, oversight and customer impact Partner contracts, IP protection and reuse limits Scaling blockers across finance, compliance, HR and IT Regulations to watch including EU AI Act and GDPRIf you’re thinking about making AI a real part of your business — not just a buzzword — this episode will help you make smarter, lower-risk decisions. Tune in and learn how to get your AI projects off the ground — and keep them moving. The Workforce Management Podcast is delivered to you by ShopWorks Workforce Solutions, provider of cloud-based Workforce Management Software, Time and Attendance Software, Employee Scheduling Software and Labour Demand Forecasting for the modern workforce manager.

    29 min
  2. OCT 26

    AI Value Track - Episode 2

    Welcome back to The AI Value Track – a brand-new podcast series where we’re cutting through the hype and helping you actually use AI in your business. In this second episode, Simon Hedaux (Co-Founder of ReThink Productivity) is joined by Ian Hogg (CEO, ShopWorks) and James Bolle (Head of Data & Insights, Rethink Productivity) to talk about something most people miss: 👉 You’re probably using AI every day – and you don’t even realise it. We dig into the three types of AI tools most businesses are already using (or should be): Personal tools like ChatGPT (and how to use them properly)Embedded AI is already inside your email, CRM or video callsAI-native tools that are built to do the job of a person We also explore: Personal LLMs as thinking partners and draft acceleratorsEmbedded AI in email, slides, CRM, and meetingsAI‑native tools mapped to roles like SDR and legalAgents that act: scrape, configure, reset, and scheduleQuality, speed, and evidence versus laziness concernsTraining, culture, and best‑case sharing for adoptionGuardrails, verification, and human‑in‑the‑loop controlReal‑world cases in support, retail, facilities, and QSRIf you're still thinking of AI as "that tool someone in marketing uses," this episode will open your eyes to what's already happening — and how to level up. Tune in and see how much AI you’re already using — and what more you could be doing with it. The Workforce Management Podcast is delivered to you by ShopWorks Workforce Solutions, provider of cloud-based Workforce Management Software, Time and Attendance Software, Employee Scheduling Software and Labour Demand Forecasting for the modern workforce manager.

    33 min
  3. 05/15/2023

    Why is data engineering so important for WFM and AI?

    Are you ready to dive into the world of AI and workforce management? Then join us for this episode, where we explore the crucial role of data engineering and why it's so essential for WFM and AI. Our guest expert, Ed Hogg Managing Director of our sister company SolvedBy.Ai, explains what data engineering is and how it differs from data science. We delve into the importance of platform-wide AI solutions and bespoke customer AI and why data engineering is so crucial for workforce management systems that use AI. We also discuss the tasks that data engineering can do for workforce management software, such as ensuring data is in the correct format and creating a fully automated process to make sure all data needed to train an AI is in the right place. So, tune in and join us for a thrilling conversation on the importance of data engineering in AI and workforce management. Don't miss out on the chance to learn from our expert guest and discover the key factors that can help your business thrive. And if you want to dive deeper, head over to our blog post.  Read the full blog here: https://solvedby.ai/blog/consulting/why-is-data-engineering-important-for-wfm-and-ai/  The Workforce Management Podcast is delivered to you by ShopWorks Workforce Solutions, provider of cloud-based Workforce Management Software, Time and Attendance Software, Employee Scheduling Software and Labour Demand Forecasting for the modern workforce manager.

    10 min
  4. 05/11/2023

    What factors does an AI take into account when building a rota?

    Do you find it tedious and time-consuming to manually create your team's work rota? Are you looking for a way to streamline the scheduling process and ensure fairness? Look no further than the power of AI technology. In this episode, we'll explore the world of auto-scheduling and how works. Our guest expert Ed Hogg, Managing Director of our sister company SolvedBy.Ai, breaks down the steps involved in scheduling a rota and explains how auto-scheduling differs from Workforce Management (WFM). But that's just the beginning. We'll answer your burning questions, like where the auto-scheduling tool gets its data and whether a perfect rota is possible (spoiler alert: it is!). We explore the various factors an AI considers when building a rota, from staff preferences to business rules to minimum staff levels. With real-world examples, we'll demonstrate how AI technology can simplify your team's scheduling process and create an optimal rota that takes into account all the necessary factors. Whether you're a business owner or a manager, this episode is a must-listen. Don't miss out on the chance to learn how AI can improve efficiency, save you time, and create a fair and balanced schedule for your team. Tune in now! Read the full blog here : https://solvedby.ai/blog/scheduling/what-factors-does-an-ai-take-into-account-when-auto-scheduling-a-rota/  The Workforce Management Podcast is delivered to you by ShopWorks Workforce Solutions, provider of cloud-based Workforce Management Software, Time and Attendance Software, Employee Scheduling Software and Labour Demand Forecasting for the modern workforce manager.

    8 min

About

The Workforce Management Podcast discusses the technologies, strategies and everything you need to know about workforce management, including time and attendance, employee scheduling, labour demand forecasting, workforce analytics and much more. We pay particular attention to AI and how that is changing the landscape.  We aim to help you navigate through the complex Workforce Management world, tackle the most pressing questions and give you a complete understanding of all the aspects involved in the subject.