ScheduleSoft today announced that the Brownwood State School (BSS) correctional facility has selected its 24-7 multi-shift scheduling software. The BSS campus has rehabilitated itself, replacing its outdated DOS-based software with ScheduleSoft’s smart, easy-to-use, point-and-click scheduling software. The BBS correctional facility pays careful attention to scheduling, since BSS is a secure facility that must have correctional officers stationed at multiple locations around the campus at all times. Before installing ScheduleSoft last November, supervisors were taking turns keying in shift assignments on a single computer.

This was a tedious process that consistently lent itself to scheduling errors. With ScheduleSoft, the BSS campus can rotate 461 employees through three shifts per day, every day of the year, with ease. The rules database allows schedulers to quickly spot understaffed shifts and identify workers who are qualified and available to fill them. ScheduleSoft also keeps track of vacation and leave requests, and can lock out blocks of time so that no one can schedule a worker who has been approved for leave. "This was an extremely smooth and easy process," said Ronnie Burchett, the administrative technician responsible for bringing ScheduleSoft to BSS after reviewing a demonstration in 1998.

"ScheduleSoft reviewed our existing schedules and molded the new schedule for us, making the change and adjustments even easier. We received the software, loaded it on our LAN, and immediately began creating our departments, tours, etc. It actually took less than one day to set all employees up on the schedule, make a few adjustments and go with it." Once installed, ScheduleSoft interviews the user to guide them through the collection of information and creation of their first schedule.

For its staffing database, ScheduleSoft requests such information as the number of correctional officers and other workers needed on each shift and the days and times they are available (or not available). For its rules database, ScheduleSoft requests the minimum, optimum, and maximum coverage by shift and position, the skill requirements for each post of duty, the school’s seniority rules, and other policy-related information. Using this information, ScheduleSoft automatically generates “electronic calendars” by date-range, department, individual, or other user-furnished criteria. ScheduleSoft is the most versatile, easy-to-use shift scheduling software on the market. Unlike conventional cut-and-paste scheduling spreadsheets, ScheduleSoft uses a rules-based decision-making system that makes it easy to accommodate complex, constantly changing and conflicting workplace scheduling needs.

ScheduleSoft’s step-by step interview process enables managers to quickly configure ScheduleSoft for their work environment without the need for costly site programming. The software also offers flexible reporting facilities, security features and compatibility with other personnel management tools and databases. ScheduleSoft is readily adaptable to a wide range of hourly and shift-based work environments containing anywhere from a handful of employees to tens of thousands of employees. It is used in industries such as law enforcement, fire departments, hospitals, emergency crews, manufacturing, hotels, custodial, retail, restaurants, transportation, telecommunications, utilities and radio/TV stations.