get the most from your resources

by Jim Yarrow

FCIS gives you the ability to leverage your staff and resources like never before. You can schedule meetings, appointments and plan projects quickly and reliably. You can schedule usage of expensive equipment and assets too, like meeting rooms or specialized equipment.

and due to the multiple points of access for FCIS, this information can be accessed literally from anywhere in the world, even without FirstClass client software. all you need to have is access to a web browser, where you can check, change and update your calendars. You can also link the calendars to special reminders which you can send to your email or even an alphanumeric pager.

for businesses that need to take advantage of multiple staff members over multiple shifts, FCIS allows excellent flexibility. for example, let's consider a typical restaurant's staffing needs. the restaurant manager can pull the schedule up within FirstClass, and view the staffing for the week. she can then view all of the open slots for the staff for the week. each staff member can have multiple blockouts indicated on their calendars for times they are unavailable.

the manager can then schedule the staff within FirstClass by the designated time each week. rather than wasting staff time by requiring staff to come in to the office, they can receive email notification in their email boxes for scheduled times. they can also log in and view the weekly schedules. corporate management can have an overview, being able to log into each store's calendars for the week.

managers from other stores, who may have a staffing problem, can look at other stores, view scheduling at other stores, and availability of staff, for possible requests to work at additional stores.

use of a centralized scheduling system like this results in several savings for the business. 1) reduced overtime as staff at other locations can be tapped more easily; 2) reduced failure of staff to meet work requirements due to the fact that it is now easier to get schedules for the week; 3) less wasted time, due to the fact that restaurant staff does not have to waste time checking the schedule for employees calling in; 4) better corporate management, due to direct viewing of schedules in real time.

this is just one example of how the scheduling/calendaring features could be used for a retail business to reduce expenses and increase efficiency.

next we will review client platform flexibility.

Next: Client Platform Flexibility

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