In today’s dynamic business environment, effective employee scheduling is paramount for organizational success. With the proliferation of open source software, companies have access to a plethora of tools to streamline their workforce management processes. To help you navigate through the myriad options available, we’ve curated a list of the 18 best open source employee scheduling software for 2024.
What is open source employee scheduling software
Open source employee scheduling software is a type of software designed to help businesses efficiently manage and organize employee work schedules. Unlike proprietary software, open source solutions offer their source code freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and distribute.
This provides users with greater flexibility, control, and transparency over their scheduling processes. These software solutions typically include features such as:
Shift Management: Allows managers to create, edit, and assign shifts for employees based on various parameters such as availability, skill set, and workload.
Employee Availability: Enables employees to input their availability preferences, allowing managers to consider these preferences when creating schedules.
Time Tracking: Tracks employee work hours, breaks, and overtime, helping ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations.
Communication Tools: Provides communication channels for managers to notify employees of schedule changes, shift swaps, or important announcements.
Reporting and Analytics: Generates reports and analytics on employee scheduling data, helping managers optimize schedules for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Integration: Integrates with other business systems such as payroll software, HR management systems, and time and attendance tracking tools for seamless workflow management.
How does open source employee scheduling software work
Open source employee scheduling software operates through a series of interconnected modules and functionalities designed to streamline the scheduling process. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how it typically works:
User Authentication: Users, including managers and employees, log in to the software using unique credentials.
Employee Data Management: Managers input employee information into the system, including contact details, job roles, skills, and availability preferences.
Shift Creation and Assignment: Managers create shifts based on operational needs, specifying details such as date, time, duration, location, and required skill set. They then assign these shifts to eligible employees, considering factors such as availability and skill level.
Availability Management: Employees input their availability preferences into the system, indicating their preferred working hours, days off, and any constraints.
Schedule Generation: The software automatically generates schedules based on input data, taking into account factors such as employee availability, labor laws, staffing requirements, and business rules.
Top picks for 2024
Tackle: The Scheduler That Does the Work for You
Tackle is a powerful, free time-tracking software designed to make time management effortless, especially for professionals who rely heavily on their calendars. Unlike traditional time trackers that require constant manual input, Tackle works behind the scenes by integrating directly with your Google or Outlook calendar, automatically capturing and categorizing your time without disrupting your workflow.
Automatic Time Tracking That Just Works
Tackle eliminates the need to manually log your hours. As you go about your day, attending meetings, working on tasks, or handling client calls, Tackle automatically records your calendar events and activities. It intelligently organizes them using custom tags, AI-powered rules, and automations, so your time is sorted and visualized clearly without extra effort.
Insights That Drive Smarter Decisions
You’re not just tracking time; you’re unlocking insights. Tackle turns your captured data into easy-to-understand dashboards and reports that show where your time is spent. This can help executives and teams:
- Measure productivity and team efficiency
- Identify time sinks and process bottlenecks
- Justify billable hours with confidence
- Ensure alignment with strategic initiatives
Built for Teams and Individuals
Tackle is trusted by companies like Roblox, Deel, and Lightspeed Ventures, and it scales well whether you’re a solo founder or leading a growing team. It’s beneficial for customer-facing professionals, consultants, and knowledge workers who need to make every hour count.
Get Started for Free
Tackle offers a one-click setup, making it easy to start tracking your time without any complex onboarding. You can begin with the free version and explore premium features as your needs grow.
In short, Tackle transforms time tracking from a tedious chore into a seamless, insight-rich tool that helps you and your team get the most out of every day. If you’re ready to stop guessing where your time goes and start using it better, Tackle is a smart place to start.
Easy!Appointments: Easy Online Scheduling for All
Easy!Appointments supports online booking for individuals or teams, offering features such as appointment and customer management, configurable services and service providers, business workflow and booking rules, Google Calendar synchronization, email notification support, group session support, API and webhook interfaces for automations and integrations, and more.
Despite a steady increase in starts from 2016 until now, Easy!Appointments seems to be slowing down. You can see by the contributions graph below, but also if you go to the repository, code hasn’t been merged in during the last two months.
TimeTrex Community Edition: Employee Scheduling and Payroll Management
TimeTrex Community Edition offers open-source employee scheduling software and a payroll management suite for small and medium-sized organizations. It is available only as a self-deployed option. Over 50 developers from around the world collaborated to develop this system, which supports attendance, leave management, scheduling, and payroll management features.
With the open-source community edition, you can manage scheduling, leave requests, and payroll at no cost.
Key Features
Scheduling
It helps users automate complex and straightforward multi-week repeating and rotating schedules. Employees can access their schedules from any browser and sync them with smartphones.
Leave Management
Employees can submit vacation requests and personal time off from within the platform. Configure employee requests to fit various levels of the organizational hierarchy.
Time Tracking
TimeTrex lets organizations monitor employee attendance in multiple ways using a web browser. Users can set up the number of accruals to track sick days, vacation days, and banked time. Employees can also view their accrued time off.
Staffjoy: A Self-Hosted Open Source Scheduling Solution
Staffjoy’s open-source employee scheduling software is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises to facilitate workforce scheduling and provide helpful notifications. It is only available as a self-hosted solution.
It comprises Chomp, Suit, Mobius, and other open-source mobile repositories available on GitHub. It features shift management, time-off management, employee roles, time and attendance tracking, multiple location attendance, and time-based tokens.
Nevertheless, the company is no longer operational, and active development has ceased. The code is open-source and is available for free.
Key Features
- Scheduling: Staffjoy inputs compliance rules and schedules employees in response to forecasted requirements. It considers compliance requirements when preparing a schedule.
- Shift Management: Employees can enter available hours in the weekly planner. It also allows them to check for open shifts and choose or swap them.
- Timeclock: The platform helps track check-in and check-out hours. Attendance records can be reviewed and utilized for payroll.
- Employee Roles: Users can add jobs by title, category, and function. They can assign shifts based on their roles in every shift.
- Time-Off Requests: Employees can submit time-off requests, which are then reviewed and approved or declined by managers.
OptaWeb Employee Rostering With OptaPlanner: Advanced Scheduling for Any Organization
OptaWeb Employee Rostering with OptaPlanner is employee scheduling software with an open architecture that optimizes employee shift scheduling for companies of all sizes. It is an open-source constraint-solving web application that combines:
- Metaheuristics
- Artificial intelligence algorithms
- Constraint-solving techniques
Versatile Optimization Platform
This helps streamline scheduling and solve planning problems. The platform is embeddable and solves optimization problems. It is compatible with all Java Virtual Machine languages and runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows. You can download the source code from the internet for free and customize the platform to fit your needs.
Key Features
- Employees and Skills: Create detailed employee profiles that include skills and preferences to schedule tasks effectively.
- Tenants: Users can define a tenant for every department or business. It comprises generated datasets from multiple industries like security guard shifts, help centers, factory assembly lines, call center employees, and hospitals.
- Spots: This feature highlights unassigned tasks. Open spots can display the required skills necessary to fill them.
- Constraints: Users can define multiple constraints and sort them by soft, medium, and hard constraints while deciding schedules. It also displays schedule-based constraint issues. They can add more constraints when required.
- Shift Management: Manage employee shifts based on skills, time-off requests, availability, and task requirements. It allows users to create new shifts, assign employees, and delete existing shifts. They can pin employees to specific shifts. Users can create weekly schedules and define the publishing period.
Auto Shift Planner: An Open-Source Automated Scheduling Tool
Auto Shift Planner is a versatile, open-source app designed to automate the creation of employee shift schedules. It uses advanced heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms to ensure efficient and balanced rostering. Suitable for businesses of various sizes, it simplifies the scheduling process by accommodating specific constraints, such as:
- Operating hours
- Required weekly hours
- Mandatory breaks
Its ability to handle complex shift requirements while considering employee preferences makes it an invaluable tool for efficient workforce management. Auto Shift Planner is free to use.
ServiceMax: A Comprehensive Field Service Management Platform
ServiceMax is a comprehensive field service management platform designed to enhance efficiency and productivity for businesses with field service operations.
Advanced Field Service Scheduling
ServiceMax excels as an employee scheduling software due to its advanced features, such as dynamic scheduling and dispatch, which ensure the right technician is assigned to the right job at the right time. Its mobile capabilities enable field workers to:
- Access work orders
- Update job statuses
- Capture customer signatures in real time
This ensures seamless communication and operational efficiency. Pricing for ServiceMax varies based on the specific needs and size of the business, with tailored solutions designed to provide the best value for their field service management requirements.
mHelpDesk
Overview: mHelpDesk is an ideal solution for field service teams, offering a suite of features including job management, dispatching, and billing. It is designed to streamline operations for service-oriented businesses, enabling efficient scheduling and management of field technicians.
Key Features:
- Job Management: Centralizes job creation, tracking, and management, allowing dispatchers to assign tasks to field technicians effectively.
- Dispatching: Facilitates real-time assignment of jobs to technicians based on factors such as proximity, availability, and skill set, optimizing resource allocation.
- Billing Integration: Seamlessly integrates with billing and invoicing systems to automate billing processes and ensure accurate invoicing for completed jobs.
Suitability: mHelpDesk is well-suited for field service businesses such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical services, and landscaping, where efficient scheduling and dispatching of technicians are essential for timely service delivery.
TimeForge
Overview: TimeForge is tailored for retailers and store operators, providing comprehensive employee management tools including scheduling, attendance tracking, and payroll management. It is designed to address the unique scheduling needs of retail businesses, optimizing workforce efficiency and productivity.
Key Features:
- Employee Scheduling: Offers advanced scheduling features such as shift planning, shift swapping, and schedule forecasting to optimize labor allocation and minimize overstaffing or understaffing.
- Attendance Tracking: Tracks employee attendance in real-time, allowing managers to monitor punctuality, absenteeism, and compliance with scheduled shifts.
- Payroll Management: Streamlines payroll processing by integrating with payroll systems, automating time and attendance data synchronization, and calculating wages accurately.
Suitability: TimeForge is particularly suitable for retail businesses with varying staffing requirements, multiple locations, and fluctuating customer demand, helping them optimize employee scheduling to meet operational needs and maximize sales opportunities.
Open HRMS
Overview: Open HRMS is a comprehensive HR management solution that simplifies employee scheduling alongside other HR functions such as attendance tracking and leave management. It offers an integrated platform for managing various aspects of human resources, enhancing organizational efficiency and employee satisfaction.
Key Features:
- Attendance Tracking: Tracks employee attendance through biometric devices, mobile apps, or web-based clock-in/out systems, providing real-time visibility into workforce availability.
- Leave Management: Automates leave requests, approvals, and accruals, streamlining the process of managing employee absences and ensuring compliance with company policies and labor regulations.
- Shift Planning: Enables managers to create, edit, and publish employee schedules based on predefined templates, employee availability, and workload requirements.
Suitability: Open HRMS is suitable for organizations of all sizes and industries seeking a unified HR management solution, offering scalability, flexibility, and customization options to meet diverse scheduling needs and compliance requirements.
OptaPlanner
Overview: OptaPlanner harnesses AI-driven optimization algorithms to solve complex scheduling and resource allocation problems. It is suitable for organizations facing intricate scheduling challenges across various domains, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and transportation.
Key Features:
- Constraint-based Scheduling: Generates optimal schedules by considering multiple constraints such as resource availability, task dependencies, and shift preferences.
- Real-time Optimization: Dynamically adjusts schedules in response to changing conditions or disruptions, ensuring continuous optimization and adaptability.
- Resource Allocation: Allocates resources efficiently to maximize utilization and minimize idle time, improving productivity and cost-effectiveness.
Suitability: OptaPlanner is ideal for organizations with large-scale scheduling requirements, intricate resource dependencies, and dynamic operating environments, offering advanced optimization capabilities to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness.
Staffjoy
Overview: Staffjoy is specifically designed for businesses employing hourly workers, such as restaurants, cafes, and retail stores. It simplifies scheduling processes for businesses with variable staffing needs and high employee turnover rates.
Key Features:
- Shift Management: Enables managers to create and manage shifts efficiently, considering factors such as employee availability, skill level, and labor laws.
- Shift Swapping: Facilitates seamless shift swapping among employees through an intuitive interface, minimizing scheduling conflicts and improving workforce flexibility.
- Mobile Accessibility: Provides mobile-friendly scheduling tools, allowing employees to view their schedules, request time off, and communicate with managers on-the-go.
Suitability: Staffjoy caters to the unique scheduling requirements of businesses with hourly workers, offering user-friendly features and mobile accessibility to streamline scheduling processes and enhance employee satisfaction.
Key features and considerations
When evaluating open source employee scheduling software, several key features should be considered:
User interface and usability
The software’s user interface plays a pivotal role in its effectiveness. Evaluate the intuitiveness of its design and the ease with which users can navigate through various functionalities.
Look for features like drag-and-drop scheduling, color-coded calendars, and clear visibility of shift assignments to streamline the scheduling process. A user-friendly interface enhances adoption rates among both managers and employees, minimizing training time and maximizing productivity.
Integration capabilities
Seamless integration with existing software systems is essential for efficient workflow management. Ensure that the scheduling software can integrate with other critical tools such as payroll systems, HR management software, time and attendance tracking systems, and communication platforms.
Compatibility with standard file formats and APIs facilitates data exchange and automation, eliminating redundant data entry tasks and reducing the risk of errors.
Customization options
Every business has unique scheduling requirements and preferences. Opt for software that offers robust customization options to tailor the scheduling process to your organization’s specific needs.
This includes the ability to define custom shift types, set scheduling rules and constraints, configure approval workflows, and adjust parameters such as overtime calculations and labor cost tracking. Customizable templates for recurring schedules, seasonal fluctuations, and special events enable agile adaptation to changing operational demands.
Support and community
Access to reliable support resources and an active user community is crucial for resolving issues promptly and maximizing the software’s potential. Evaluate the availability of comprehensive documentation, user guides, tutorials, and knowledge bases to aid in software implementation and troubleshooting.
Additionally, assess the responsiveness and expertise of the software vendor’s customer support team, including channels for contacting support and average response times. Active user forums, discussion groups, and online communities provide valuable insights, best practices, and peer-to-peer support, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
Benefits of Using Employee Scheduling Software
The High Cost of Poor Scheduling
Did you know that 80% of employees’ timesheets in the U.S. contain errors due to poor scheduling practices? Inefficient scheduling not only wastes time but also impacts productivity, employee morale, and even compliance with labor laws. For organizations of all sizes, managing employee schedules manually can lead to:
- Errors
- Increased costs
- Dissatisfied staff
As organizations grow and their workforces become more diverse, scheduling complexities also increase. Factors such as varying shift preferences, skill levels, compliance regulations, and fluctuating demand make workforce management a significant challenge.
The Imperative for Modern Scheduling Solutions
Failing to address these issues can result in financial losses, high turnover rates, and operational inefficiencies. This is why organizations today must adopt innovative employee scheduling solutions to stay competitive.
The Value of Employee Scheduling Software
Tackling the challenges of ineffective employee scheduling calls for solutions that streamline processes and enhance productivity for your organization. Fortunately, employee scheduling software can deliver long-term value for organizations of all sizes.
Here are a few of the benefits of employee scheduling software.
Automation and time savings
Workforce scheduling software automates the entire process, taking into account employee:
- Availability
- Skills
- Labor demand
Managers can generate optimized schedules with just a few clicks, reducing administrative burden. The automation of scheduling allows your organization to focus on growth and strategy rather than spending excessive time on routine scheduling tasks.
Enhanced communication
Modern scheduling tools are equipped with built-in communication features, enabling employees to stay updated on shift assignments and changes in real-time. Notifications keep everyone informed, minimizing confusion and miscommunication. Employees can conveniently:
- Access schedules through mobile apps
- Receive alerts for upcoming shifts
- Request adjustments as needed
Improved accuracy
With AI-powered conflict detection, these scheduling tools prevent double bookings and guarantee that every shift has adequate coverage. This enhances operational efficiency and reduces the need for last-minute efforts to fill staffing gaps.
By integrating with payroll systems, scheduling software also helps verify that your employees are compensated accurately, minimizing payroll discrepancies.
Employee empowerment
Self-service portals enable employees to swap shifts, request time off, and update their availability without having to navigate cumbersome approval processes. This autonomy boosts morale and engagement. When your employees feel they have more control over their schedules, they experience higher job satisfaction and loyalty to the company.
Data-driven insights
Analytics features help organizations forecast labor needs, identify inefficiencies, and optimize staffing levels. By analyzing trends, you and your team can make informed decisions about workforce planning. Data-driven insights can also reveal patterns in absenteeism, overtime usage, and peak work hours, helping your organization make strategic adjustments.
Choose Tackle!
Tackle offers robust time tracking and efficiency insights features tailored for various business needs. While Tackle excels in providing comprehensive time management solutions, it’s important to note that it doesn’t directly compete with open source employee scheduling software, which focuses specifically on scheduling employees’ shifts, managing their availability, and optimizing workforce allocation.
Open source employee scheduling software typically offers features such as shift management, employee availability tracking, shift swapping, and integration with other business systems. However, it may lack some of the advanced time tracking and efficiency insights capabilities provided by Tackle.
In comparison, Tackle’s advanced features such as AI-powered tracking, customizable workflows, and actionable analytics set it apart in the realm of time management solutions. It provides businesses with valuable insights into their team’s productivity and efficiency, helping them make data-driven decisions to optimize resource allocation and maximize ROI.
Therefore, while Tackle offers a comprehensive solution for time tracking and efficiency insights, it’s not a direct substitute for open source employee scheduling software, which serves a distinct purpose in workforce management. Depending on the specific needs of a business, either Tackle or open source employee scheduling software may be the better choice.
Conclusion
Effective employee scheduling is vital for maximizing productivity and ensuring smooth operations. With the abundance of open source employee scheduling software available, businesses have the opportunity to streamline their workforce management processes while remaining cost-effective and adaptable to their specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free employee scheduling app?
Yes, there are several free employee scheduling apps available for businesses. These apps typically offer basic scheduling functionalities such as creating and managing shifts, tracking employee availability, and sending notifications. While free options may have limitations compared to paid versions, they can still be effective for small businesses or teams with straightforward scheduling needs.
How do I make a free employee schedule?
Making a free employee schedule can be done using various online tools or software platforms that offer free scheduling features. Start by selecting a suitable free scheduling program or app, then input employee availability, assign shifts based on workload and employee preferences, and communicate the schedule to your team. Be sure to explore the available features and customization options to create a schedule that meets your business requirements.
Is there a free scheduling program?
Yes, there are free scheduling programs available for businesses of all sizes. These programs offer essential scheduling features such as shift creation, employee availability tracking, and communication tools. While some free scheduling programs may have limitations compared to paid versions, they can still provide valuable assistance in organizing and managing employee schedules effectively. It’s essential to research and compare different free scheduling programs to find the one that best suits your needs.
