With a name like “workforce management” software, it probably sounds like such tools are only meant for large corporations – or at least companies with an actual workforce. However, you might be surprised to learn that workforce management systems can also be helpful for teams of one. This is especially true for freelancers or gig industry workers who work with more than one client at a time or on more than one project.
Workforce management systems may integrate a variety of tools from multiple apps that solo entrepreneurs and independent workers already leverage. Having these tools within a single solution can help keep you better organized and may even be more cost-efficient.
If you’re thinking about trying out a workforce management platform as an individual worker, here are four features that may be helpful as well as some things to consider when choosing the best system.
4 Workforce Management Software Features for Solo Professionals
Workforce management software will best fit solo professionals who are running their own business, including freelancers, consultants, and contractors. These roles often have the following functions in common – all of which can be simplified with a workforce management solution.
1. Project Management
Some workforce management systems come with built-in project management tools that let you:
- Track unlimited projects and tasks
- Assign due dates and KPIs
- Prioritize daily tasks while planning for future work
- Keep all project details and files in one spot
- Analyze information about how much time is spent on each type of task
- Receive alerts about any missed assignments
- Monitor real-time budget depletion
If you’re a freelancer working on multiple projects or with multiple companies, staying on top of all these details can feel like a full-time job in itself. Workforce management software tracks all of your milestones and due dates to help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Built-in business analytics tools can also provide you with insights that can help you run your business more efficiently or in a more cost-effective way based on how you’re spending most of your time.
2. Time Tracking
Many consultants and contractors charge by the hour, which means they need to accurately track the time spent on each task to ensure proper billing at the end of the invoicing period. Many workforce management solutions come with time-tracking tools that allow you to track hours to specific projects, tasks, and clients. Some tools, like coAmplifi, also let you track both billable and non-billable hours to make invoicing easier.
Having this information can help you better forecast the amount of time a future project might take and how much work you can take on at once. coAmplifi’s system also uses your time-tracking information to develop a work-life balance percentage based on the amount of time you spend working, which can help ensure you’re not headed toward burnout.
3. Scheduling and Organization
Aside from helping you keep track of due dates, workforce management software can significantly increase your organizational skills and save you time on scheduling. For example, coAmplifi’s calendar tools let you instantly see what’s on your schedule each week. This includes both work and personal commitments, which makes it easy to quickly identify your availability for client meetings.
These systems can also help with general organization by storing all your files, meeting notes, project details, and analytics in one place. This means you only have to remember one login to access everything you need to run your business.
4. Invoicing
Because workforce management solutions typically offer time-tracking tools, some also come with the ability to automatically create a pre-bill for your review based on billable hours logged during a certain time period. Once generated, you can simply adjust the invoice as needed before shipping it off to your client, saving you valuable time.
Workforce Management Software for One: What to Consider
Not all workforce management software is created equal, and some systems may be overkill for just one person. If you’re in the market for a solution that makes sense for your solo practice, consider the following in your decision:
- Cost: You don’t want to pay a premium price for something only you will be using. However, implementing an all-in-one system might mean paying for fewer apps, which is important to keep in mind if you’re currently paying for separate billing, project management, and time-tracking software.
- Number of features: There are a lot of solutions out there designed for large enterprises that include all the bells and whistles, such as demand forecasting, compliance reporting, and HR tools for recruitment and onboarding that won’t be relevant to your business. Pick a solution that has what you need without including everything you don’t.
- Ease of use: You’re going to be using this system every day as part of your daily workflow. Make sure it’s simple and easy to use and that it won’t slow you down with a complex interface.
- Customer support: Look for a solution that has a responsive customer support team so you can quickly get back up and running if you ever encounter any issues.
- Scalability: You never know how your business might grow in the future. Seek a system that can scale alongside your business so you never have to deal with the hassle of trying to change software down the line, even if you do end up hiring a few employees.
Improve Your Productivity and Efficiency With coAmplifi
Workforce management software can help individual workers gain a competitive edge by keeping them more organized, productive, and efficient. With tools like coAmplifi, you can automate administrative tasks to save time, allowing you to take on more client work and increase your profit margin without sacrificing your work-life balance.
Make your work life easier. Schedule your demo now!
