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Stepping into your shoes, I recognize the challenges you face managing your hotel labor—balancing schedules, minimizing costs, and boosting productivity. This list offers a lifeline to those navigating the dynamic terrain of the hospitality industry. Each software option here streamlines tasks, optimizes your workforce, and, most importantly, saves precious time.

These tools empower your management processes, driving efficiency by automating mundane tasks. They ensure labor laws compliance, predict and control labor costs, and provide real-time insights into workforce productivity.

With these solutions, you can bid farewell to schedule conflicts, inefficiencies, “buddy punching” with biometric clocking, and unnecessary labor shortage and expenses. They cater specifically to pain points like schedule management, overtime costs, and employee engagement, arming you with the means to overcome them. So, dive into this selection, explore these options, and let's take a step closer to achieving operational excellence in your hotel.

What Is A Hotel Labor Management Software?

Hotel labor management software is a technological innovation embraced by hotel owners, managers, HR professionals, and hotel management companies across the globe. This software serves as an essential tool for streamlining, automating, and optimizing various labor-related tasks within a hotel setting.

It's leveraged to manage employee scheduling, monitor time and attendance, predict and control labor costs, ensure compliance with labor laws, and enhance overall workforce productivity. This powerful solution allows hotel businesses to focus on delivering superior guest experiences by reducing administrative burdens, promoting operational efficiency, and improving the bottom line.

Best Hotel Labor Management Software Summary

Best Hotel Labor Management Software Reviews

Best for hospitality workforce compliance

  • Free demo available
  • Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people
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Rating: 4.8/5

Deel is a global HR platform that facilitates the management of hiring, payroll, and compliance for businesses in over 150 countries. It allows companies to hire employees and contractors, automate payroll, and ensure adherence to local laws, reducing the risk of errors and fines. 

Why I Picked Deel: Deel offers automated payroll processing, which is particularly beneficial for hotels that manage a diverse and international workforce, as it supports multiple payment methods, including direct deposits, payroll cards, and digital wallets, accommodating various employee preferences globally. It also offers a comprehensive compliance management system that helps mitigate legal risks related to employment status and labor laws. 

What do you get for free?

Deel offers a free version of the platform for up to 200 people.

Standout features & integrations:

Other standout features include in-house visa and immigration support, benefits administration, time-off tracking, AI-driven career progression frameworks, and multi-language support. Deel integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto, Rippling, BambooHR, Workday, ADP, SAP SuccessFactors, NetSuite, and Slack.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Automated payroll processing
  • In-house visa support
  • Integrates with Deel Engage

Cons:

  • Learning curve for new users
  • Could have more customization options

Best for maintenance labor management

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $35/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.9/5

Click Maint CMMS is a maintenance management software designed to help organizations efficiently handle their maintenance operations. It offers tools for managing work orders, preventive maintenance, assets, and inventory. 

Why I Picked Click Maint CMMS: Click Maint CMMS stood out thanks to its detailed work order management and preventive maintenance scheduling. Your team can assign, prioritize, and track tasks in real time, keeping operations on schedule and reducing downtime. Preventive maintenance features let you build recurring task schedules based on manufacturer recommendations, helping prevent costly breakdowns. These tools keep your team organized and responsive, ensuring maintenance issues don’t interfere with guest comfort.

What do you get for free?

Click Maint CMMS offers a 30-day free trial.

Standout features & integrations:

Other standout features include asset management, which creates a central repository for all assets, including details like asset ID, type, model, location, and warranty information. Additionally, the mobile app enables your team to manage work orders and access asset information on the go, enhancing flexibility and responsiveness in maintenance operations. Click Maint CMMS integrates with HRIS, CRM, and ERP systems.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Automated preventative maintenance scheduling
  • Accommodates businesses of all sizes
  • Mobile access enables technicians to manage tasks on the go

Cons:

  • Could offer more advanced reporting
  • Only for the maintenance aspect of hotel management

Best for drag-and-drop scheduling

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $3.99/user/month + $19/month base fee
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Rating: 4.8/5

Buddy Punch is a time tracking software designed to simplify employee attendance management. It allows businesses to monitor work hours, manage schedules, and handle payroll efficiently.

Why I Picked Buddy Punch: The drag-and-drop interface allows managers to quickly fill open shifts and make adjustments as needed, ensuring that the hotel is always adequately staffed. This is particularly useful in the hospitality industry, where staffing needs can change rapidly due to fluctuating guest volumes. It also offers real-time tracking of employee hours, which ensures accurate and efficient monitoring of labor costs. 

What do you get for free?

Buddy Punch offers a free trial. After the trial ends, you'll need to sign up for a paid plan.

Standout features & integrations:

Buddy Punch offers other features like GPS tracking and geofencing capabilities, attendance monitoring, automated timesheets, customizable notifications and real-time alerts, payroll reporting, and multiple punch-in methods. It integrates with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Zapier, ADP Workforce Now, Gusto, Paychex, Paylocity, PayPlus, SurePayroll, and Workday.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Facial recognition feature for enhanced security
  • Accessible on mobile
  • Efficient time tracking with PTO management

Cons:

  • Could have more advanced reporting options
  • Limited platform customization

Best for boosting productivity with flexible work arrangements

  • Pricing upon request
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Rating: 4.1/5

Softworks is a workforce management solution that's tailored to increase productivity by offering flexible work arrangements. It provides features that enable employees to easily manage their work schedules, which aligns with its objective of boosting productivity through flexible work arrangements.

Why I Picked Softworks: In my selection process, I identified Softworks as a tool that truly stands out for its focus on flexibility. It's not just about managing the workforce but enabling a level of flexibility that empowers employees and ultimately increases productivity. I regard Softworks as best for this category because of its comprehensive feature set that is designed with flexible work arrangements in mind.

What do you get for free?

Softworks does not provide a free version of its software. However, they do offer a free demo, allowing potential users to experience firsthand the software's functionalities and benefits.

Standout features & integrations:

Softworks provides a range of features, including time and attendance tracking, absence management, and scheduling which are particularly valuable for flexible work arrangements. It integrates well with various HR and payroll systems, thus providing a more seamless experience in workforce management.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Detailed tracking for time and attendance
  • Integrates with various HR and payroll systems
  • Comprehensive features supporting flexible work arrangements

Cons:

  • Only offers annual billing
  • Pricing could be a bit steep for smaller businesses
  • Does not offer a free tier

Best for labor cost control in high-turnover industries

  • Free for up to 25 users
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Rating: 4.7/5

TimeForge is a robust labor management system designed to control labor costs, a critical issue in high-turnover industries. It focuses on efficient scheduling, attendance tracking, and labor budgeting, all of which are fundamental in industries with high employee turnover, such as retail and hospitality.

Why I Picked TimeForge: When selecting tools for this list, TimeForge stood out due to its strong emphasis on labor cost control. I found it especially relevant for businesses dealing with high staff turnover, a situation that often results in significant labor cost issues. TimeForge's commitment to helping manage these issues is why I think it is the best tool for labor cost control in high-turnover industries.

What do you get for free?

TimeForge does not offer a free plan or tier. However, they do offer a free trial for potential customers to experience firsthand the tool's capabilities in managing labor costs effectively.

Standout features & integrations:

TimeForge's standout features include automated scheduling, attendance tracking, and an exceptional labor budgeting tool that aids in reducing unnecessary labor costs. As for integrations, it syncs well with several payroll providers and POS systems, enhancing its overall utility for businesses.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Integrates with various payroll and POS systems
  • Excellent labor budgeting tool
  • Specializes in labor cost control

Cons:

  • Can be complex for new users to learn
  • Advanced features may require additional costs
  • No free tier available

Best for fast and efficient temp staff scheduling

  • From $6/user/month

Workerly is a dedicated scheduling software that specializes in facilitating quick and efficient scheduling for temporary staff. It streamlines the process of managing shift patterns, absences, and overtime for temp workers, making it a go-to tool for organizations frequently hiring temporary team members.

Why I Picked Workerly: I chose Workerly for its emphasis on simplifying temporary staffing schedules. Many solutions offer scheduling functionalities, but few focus on the unique dynamics of temporary staffing as Workerly does. This differentiation positions Workerly as an ideal choice for businesses looking for an efficient solution to manage temp staff schedules.

What do you get for free?

Workerly doesn't offer a free tier, but it does provide a free demo for interested businesses to experience its functionality and understand how it can benefit their operations.

Standout features & integrations:

Key features of Workerly include its detailed scheduling functionalities, such as shift swapping, overtime management, employee hours, and automated scheduling. It also offers comprehensive reporting tools for better workforce insight. For integrations, it syncs seamlessly with payroll and HR systems, enhancing its utility within a company's existing software ecosystem.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Integrates with payroll and HR systems
  • Comprehensive scheduling and reporting tools
  • Focused on temp staff scheduling

Cons:

  • Learning curve for some features
  • Pricing can be high for smaller organizations
  • No free tier available

Good for multifaceted operations management in hospitality

  • From $15/user/month, (billed annually).

Inn-Flow is a comprehensive hospitality management software that specializes in providing solutions for various operational aspects such as labor management, accounting, and procurement. The tool's flexibility and extensive functionality make it a prime choice for the complex needs of hospitality industry operations.

Why I Picked Inn-Flow: I chose Inn-Flow for this list because of its multidimensional approach to operations management. Unlike many other tools, Inn-Flow is designed to tackle various facets of hospitality management, making it unique in its scope. Given this broad functionality, I believe Inn-Flow is best suited for comprehensive operations management in the hospitality sector.

What do you get for free?

Inn-Flow does not offer a free plan, but they do provide a free demo for those interested in exploring the platform's capabilities and seeing how it could benefit their operations.

Standout features & integrations:

Inn-Flow excels in features related to labor management, accounting, and procurement, all critical in the hospitality industry. Additionally, Inn-Flow's ability to integrate with various other platforms, such as POS and PMS systems, enhances its usefulness and ease of implementation.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Strong integration capabilities
  • Effective labor, accounting, and procurement features
  • Comprehensive hospitality management tool

Cons:

  • The extensive feature set might be overwhelming for some users
  • Pricing can be high for smaller properties
  • No free plan available

Best for hospitality-focused time and attendance tracking

  • Free demo available
  • From $2/employee/month

Synerion is a workforce management software solution tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of the hospitality industry, particularly in the area of time and attendance tracking. It enables businesses to accurately track and manage staff hours, reducing administrative workload and increasing efficiency and profitability.

Why I Picked Synerion: After comparing several tools, I selected Synerion because of its specialized focus on the hospitality industry. It is distinct in how it caters to the specific demands and challenges of this sector, particularly with regard to time and attendance tracking. Its design makes it an optimal solution for businesses within the hospitality industry seeking to streamline their time and attendance management.

What do you get for free?

Synerion does not offer a free tier of its software. However, interested users can request a free demo to understand the software's capabilities and how it can cater to their business needs.

Standout features & integrations:

Synerion's time and attendance feature offers a robust toolset for managing and monitoring staff hours. It also features absence management, labor costing, a time clock, and employee self-service modules. For integrations, it works well with HR systems, payroll, and other enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, providing a more unified approach to workforce management.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Integrates with HR systems and payroll software
  • Robust time and attendance tracking features
  • Specialized focus on hospitality industry

Cons:

  • Only offers annual billing
  • The user interface could be more intuitive
  • No free tier offered

Best for comprehensive financial and labor management

  • From $20/user/month

M3 is a powerful tool that uniquely combines financial and labor management to offer a comprehensive solution for hotel operations. It stands out for its ability to handle both financial accounting tasks and workforce management in a single platform, perfectly designed for the intricacies of the hospitality industry.

Why I Picked M3: I picked M3 due to its distinctive blend of financial and labor management features. Comparing it to other tools, M3 provides a level of comprehensive management that is rare to find. I believe it is the best for financial and labor management, as it integrates these two essential aspects of hotel operations in one user-friendly interface.

What do you get for free?

M3 does not offer a free version of its software. However, they do provide a demo upon request, allowing you to understand their platform and how it can benefit your business before investing.

Standout features & integrations:

M3 stands out with its robust accounting features that integrate seamlessly with labor management. From cloud-based reporting system for detailed financial reports to easy scheduling, M3 covers it all. It also integrates with hotel effectiveness and many hotel property management systems (PMS), enhancing its functionality in the hotel environment.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Robust accounting features
  • Integration with various property management systems
  • Comprehensive financial and labor management

Cons:

  • Only annual billing available
  • Higher starting price compared to other options
  • No free tier available

Best for seamless integration with hotel operation systems

  • From $10/user/month

Workforce is a dynamic labor management software proficient in blending seamlessly into your hotel operation systems. Its key strength lies in its ability to integrate with a myriad of systems, thus optimizing labor management without disrupting your existing operations.

Why I Picked Workforce: I selected Workforce due to its exceptional integration capabilities. This software stands out because it blends effortlessly with various hotel operation systems, ensuring a harmonious integration without causing any disruption to your current systems. Its excellent integration capabilities make it ideal for those seeking to enhance labor management without overhauling their existing operations infrastructure.

What do you get for free?

Workforce offers a demo version which can be requested from their website. However, they do not provide a free plan or trial period. The demo allows potential users to explore the platform and understand how it can be integrated into their existing systems.

Standout features & integrations:

Workforce's key features include intuitive scheduling, real-time reporting, and employee self-service tools. It also provides robust integrations with payroll, HR systems, and other hotel operation software, offering a comprehensive labor management solution.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Real-time reporting
  • Intuitive scheduling feature
  • Exceptional integration capabilities

Cons:

  • Entry cost might be high for smaller operations
  • Requires a minimum of 15 seats
  • No free plan available

Other Hotel Labor Management Software

Below is a list of additional hotel labor management software that we shortlisted but did not make it to the top 10. Definitely worth checking them out.

  1. Access

    For holistic HR solutions in the hospitality sector

  2. NextCrew

    For streamlining the hospitality staffing process

  3. Quinyx

    For mobile-first labor management

  4. Fourth

    For smart workforce planning and predictive scheduling

  5. Actabl

    For intuitive scheduling and real-time labor optimization

  6. Connecteam

    For efficient smart scheduling

  7. Deputy

    Good for ease of use and seamless employee scheduling

  8. Paylocity

    Good for integrated payroll and HR management

  9. Workday

    Good for comprehensive management of finance, HR, and planning

  10. Bizimply

    Good for simplicity in hotel employee scheduling

Selection Criteria For Hotel Labor Management Software

Having spent considerable time evaluating various hotel labor management tools, I have narrowed down my choices based on a set of specific criteria that I believe are crucial for this type of software. With the hospitality sector's unique demands, these tools need to balance simplicity for users with comprehensive functionality.

Core Functionality

A hotel labor management tool should enable:

  • Efficient scheduling of staff across various roles and shifts
  • Quick and accurate payroll processing
  • Effective tracking of employee performance and productivity
  • Compliance with labor laws and regulations
  • Seamless communication between management and staff

Key Features

The essential features to consider include:

  • Flexible scheduling: Allows managers to build and modify schedules easily, considering factors such as employee availability, shift patterns, and business demand
  • Payroll integration: Seamlessly integrates with payroll systems to ensure accuracy and compliance
  • Reporting and analytics: Provides insightful data on labor costs, employee performance, and schedule efficiency
  • Mobile functionality: Enables managers and staff to access schedules, swap shifts, and communicate from anywhere

Usability

Usability factors specific to hotel labor management tools include:

  • Intuitive design: The software should have a clear, uncluttered interface that's easy to navigate. In a fast-paced hospitality environment, managers don't have time to hunt for hidden features or controls
  • Quick onboarding: Given the high turnover rate in the hospitality sector, the tool should allow new users to get up to speed quickly
  • Role-based access: The tool should provide different access levels based on user roles, ensuring staff only see relevant information
  • Reliable customer support: Timely and effective customer support is crucial for resolving any issues quickly and minimizing disruption to hotel operations.

Most Common Questions Regarding Hotel Labor Management Software

What are the benefits of using hotel labor management software?

Hotel labor management software brings several benefits to the hospitality sector. These include:

  1. Improved scheduling efficiency: These tools allow managers to quickly create, adjust, and communicate schedules, reducing manual effort and minimizing scheduling errors.
  2. Labor cost control: By providing insight into labor costs and trends, these tools can help managers optimize staffing to reduce costs while maintaining service levels.
  3. Increased productivity: Through features such as task tracking and performance reporting, managers can better monitor and improve staff productivity.
  4. Enhanced compliance: These tools often include features to help hotels comply with labor laws, such as automatic tracking of overtime and rest periods.
  5. Better employee experience: By enabling easy access to schedules, shift swaps, and communication with managers, these tools can improve the employee experience and potentially reduce turnover.

How much do hotel labor management tools typically cost?

The pricing of hotel labor management tools varies widely based on the size of the hotel, the number of users, the features included, and other factors. Pricing models often include a base fee for the platform plus a per-user, per-month fee.

What is the typical range of pricing for these tools?

The pricing for these tools typically starts at around $5 per user per month for basic packages and can go up to $30 or more per user per month for more comprehensive solutions.

Which are the cheapest and most expensive software?

While prices vary widely, Deputy and TimeForge are on the more affordable end of the spectrum, with plans starting at around $2 and $1 per user per month, respectively. On the higher end, tools like Workday do not publicly disclose their pricing but are known to be more expensive due to their comprehensive suite of features.

Are there any free options for hotel labor management software?

Some tools, like Deputy, offer a free trial period, but fully free hotel labor management software is rare. These tools involve significant development and maintenance and typically require a financial investment. However, many offer tiered pricing plans to fit different budget levels and needs.

Other Hotel Staffing Software

Here are some other useful tools for hotel staff and labor management.

What Next?

Don't forget to browse around the site for more great hotel management tips, templates, and tools. Plus, join The Hotel GM newsletter for expert tidbits sent right to your inbox!

Cory Masters
By Cory Masters

Cory Masters is a dynamic professional with 10+ years of experience working across hotel and hospitality management, accounting, financial management, office management, and operations. She's passionate about elevating other professionals in the community, using her 4 years as an Assistant Hotel Manager at Four Seasons to share the lessons she's learned about managing guest interactions, reservations, hotel staff, hotel services, hotel management systems, and more.