The Challenge
Our client, a busy logistics company, had a requirement to increase the workforce availability to meet customer needs. This was a critical requirement
to enable the company to improve customer service. However, they also needed to contain, or if possible even reduce the overall wage costs.
The Solution
Alpha Zero Consultants helped our client deliver this change. Our consultant undertook a current state analysis of the business processes and matched
that against the demand forecasts. Proposals were then developed proposals to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
The proposals included the design of an annualised hours working scheme to ensure staff were available to meet our client’s business needs. The scheme
involved the purchase of a total number of hours which could be called on by the company in variable quantities over the year in order to flex
available workforce capacity to meet the seasonal business demand. This flexible working scheme enabled the company to respond to that seasonal
nature of the business at an more competitive cost point.
Alpha Zero communicated the plans for the new scheme directly to staff, ensuring that they were kept well informed, which ensured a smooth transition
to the new scheme. Alpha Zero implemented a pilot of the annualised hours scheme, which they monitored over a six month period. At the end of the
trial period, our consultants reported back to the management team, and also to staff. Excellent communication with staff throughout the project
ensured immediate buy-in to the benefits of the scheme. The successful pilot scheme led to a permanent change in workforce availability with the full
implementation of the annualised hours scheme.
Alpha Zero successfully managed the whole project - the design of the new scheme, the implementation of the scheme and communication to staff of the change.
Benefits
- Increased workforce availability
- Improved customer responsiveness
- Improved staff morale resulting from greater opportunities to take increased time off
- Higher basic salaries for permanent staff
- More predictable earnings enabling better financial planning
- Cost effective solution
