Employee Scheduling Software
4.7/5 (305 reviews)7shifts is a mobile and web-based employee scheduling tool designed entirely for shift workers in the restaurant industry. Create schedules quickly and manage staff availability, shift swaps & time-off requests all in one central app. With free downloadable mobile apps for iPhone and Android, the web-based software is readily accessible to all staff. Employees and managers can communicate with each other in real-time using team chat tools.
Employees can make a note of their availability - on a set recurring or weekly basis - within the app for managers to take into account when planning the schedule. If an employee is unable to work a shift, they can reassign their shift to another staff-member via a bidding process.
Pros
It is easy to understand, set up and the customer service is extraordinary!
Cons
I wish there were more manager capabilities in the mobile app, but the app has improved already since it was first launched, so I imagine it will only get better.
7Shifts has been a tremendous timesaver! We used to spend so much time transferring requests to our paper scheduling forms. Now we can just work directly in the app. Saves paper too! Our staff is incredibly happy we've made this technological leap. Takes some stress out of their already busy lives by being able to switch shifts online. It has also alleviated the issue of "misreading" their schedule. As managers, we love that we no longer have to hear that excuse. Ha ha! Managing overtime is incredibly easier on 7Shifts. Prior to the app, we relied on floor managers to make judgement calls regarding shift exchanges when senior managers weren't available. Labor considerations didn't get factored into decisions and we would run higher labor numbers. Now that fewer managers are part of the shift exchange decisions, we know that the appropriate factors are being implemented into the decision making. The floor managers appreciate not having the pressure of making a decision that could negatively impact a shift. Posting and editing schedules in real time also alleviates issues. We would have people switch shifts and then forget. Now it goes immediately into their schedule once approved. Confusion alleviated!!! We don't use the auto-fill option but find that manually scheduling is so much more efficient in the app than it was on paper. I also love that you accept requests for features/functions and compile them for consideration. The service has always been wonderfully friendly and fast. The tutorials are really helpful and well done. I can't say enough good things. Thank you for creating such a user friendly app. Makes our busy restaurant lives so much easier!
Pros
Easy to use
Great tutorials
Fast and friendly support staff
Efficiency for reviewing labor
Incredibly communication tool between staff and management
Consider suggestions for functions and features and notify you if they become implemented
Fair price for the power of the product
Thanks for the great, in-depth review Tory. We're happy to hear that 7shifts is helping alleviate the classic "misreading the schedule" problem for Beaver Street Brewery. Cheers!
I used to make schedules through Excel, and would have employees email time off requests and availability changes. This software makes everything so much easier. It is so easy to use - copy schedules from week to week, move around shifts, copy shifts, etc. This app made me like making the schedule!
It's also employee-friendly - they can give up and pick up shifts, and manager can approve them. They can communicate with each other through chat. Phone numbers and emails are available, so employees can easily contact each other.
Pros
No glitches ever (previous app we used glitched and made errors to employees' schedules)
Budgeting tool
Ability to put in events
Color coding departments and jobs
Ability to print PDF schedule
Communication (chat and message options)
Employees can trade shifts
Availability and time off request features are perfect
Multiple locations allows you to use employees at different sites, but you can see in lighter color where they are already scheduled to work
Great value for the price
They keep making it better and will let you know when an update has been made
Cons
There's a minimal international fee charged monthly for 7Shifts. But that's all!
Wow, wow, wow. Thanks for the kind words Arpita. We love hearing that you and your team are using every feature available in 7shifts to help Reggae Shack Cafe make scheduling less of a chore. Rock on!
7shifts ties together many organizational tools that has improved communication in our restaurant immensely. We make fewer scheduling errors, our staff can easily contact managers and coworkers through the messaging feature, amendments to the schedule keep everyone in the loop with notifications and the manager log book helps us stay on top of issues and address them quickly and effectively.
I originally decided to try the software because I thought it would save time and keep our BOH and FOH schedules cohesive. It pays for the time it saves and adds much more value with all of the additional features. Don’t hesitate to give it a try!
Pros
Our supervisors use the manager logbook and it has been extremely helpful in keeping everyone up to speed on daily operations, issues and ideas. We act much quicker when addressing problems with staff and maintenance, and reduce the distortion of facts when compared to transferring information along a chain of conversations. This is a valuable feature not to be overlooked.
Cons
Some of our staff members have been experiencing freezing and glitching in the app. Some staff are resistant to change and there was a lengthy transition time to get everyone on board. Now that it’s in place almost every new employee loves the interface and is eager to sign up.
Amazing! Thanks so much for the fantastic, detailed review Shannon. We're thrilled to hear that 7shifts is providing your team with so much value. We looking forward to making 7shifts even more indispensable in the future :)
I can't imagine going back to the old way of doing things! When I've had questions or suggestions the 7shifts team has been prompt to respond and follow up.
Pros
Saves so much time over our old way of using an excel spreadsheet and having to keep track of paper time-off requests. Very easy to start using right away and great advanced features to use once you get into using the software! It was always a headache keeping track of vacation requests and changing availabilities - but now the computer flags them immediately. Employees feel more in control being able to electronically submit days-off requests and availability. Employees are easily able to see who's working or not in order to get their shifts covered/switched. Setting up shift templates and having the computer fill out the schedule according to employee availability is awesome. Employees being able to instantly see schedule and changes when they are made is great!
Cons
I'll never go back to excel for scheduling if that counts as a con?
Lynn, hearing that you will never go back to Excel again is the highest praise we can review. Thanks so much for the great review!
14-day free trial, no credit card required.
Entrée: from $39.99/month (billed annually) or $43.99/month (billed monthly).
The Works: from $69.99/month (billed annually) or $76.99/month (billed monthly).
Gourmet: from $135.00/month (billed annually) or $149.99/month (billed monthly).
All prices are per location.
7shifts also offers volume discounts for franchises, restaurant groups and chains.
Below are some frequently asked questions for 7Shifts.
7Shifts offers the following pricing plans:
Starting from: $40/month
Pricing model: Subscription
Free Trial: Available
14-day free trial, no credit card required.
Entrée: from $39.99/month (billed annually) or $43.99/month (billed monthly).
The Works: from $69.99/month (billed annually) or $76.99/month (billed monthly).
Gourmet: from $135.00/month (billed annually) or $149.99/month (billed monthly).
All prices are per location.
7shifts also offers volume discounts for franchises, restaurant groups and chains.
7Shifts offers the following features:
7Shifts has the following typical customers:
Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, Small Business
7Shifts supports the following languages:
English, French
7Shifts has the following pricing plans:
Subscription
7Shifts supports the following devices:
Android, iPhone, iPad
7Shifts integrates with the following applications:
ADP Workforce Now, Breadcrumb POS, CAKE, Clover, Koomi POS, Square Point of Sale, Square for Restaurants, Squirrel in a Box+, TouchBistro, TouchBistro
7Shifts offers the following support options:
FAQs, Forum, Knowledge Base, Online Support, Phone Support, Video Tutorials
I used to schedule my staff with an excel spreadsheet, screenshot and posted to a Facebook Forum. It was a madhouse trying to deal with shift swaps and reading the staff clockin/out cards to match their shifts. With a growing company this just wasn't gonna cut it anymore. 7shifts popped up in my personal Facebook feed and the rest is Kismet. The software has helped clean up so many of my payroll processes, allows my staff to switch shifts with only others of the same experience level or higher (so I ALWAYS have a manager on shift and not a hoard of brand new employees), helps my managers reach staff more easily, is so easy to understand that I haven't had to train the new staff on it and combined with the 7punches Clock-in/out software- I can relax knowing my staff can't clock in if they aren't on the schedule and my staff can breathe easily with the ability to calculate their paycheck in advance! The staff at 7shifts has always been extremely helpful and always welcoming for suggestions and updates. I can't imagine moving to any other system and am so glad I found it!