Shiften

Shiften is a cloud-based shift-scheduling platform designed to automate workforce planning for large service operations, including healthcare, retail, and hospitality. It uses constraint-based optimization to assign shifts, balance coverage, and minimize labor costs while respecting employee availability, skill requirements, and regulatory constraints. The system supports demand forecasting, shift templates, and preferences, enabling managers to generate compliant schedules quickly while reducing manual edits.

Shiften originated in a small tech startup in the early 2010s and evolved into a widely adopted enterprise solution. It emphasizes an API-first design, multi-tenant architecture, and modular services for scheduling, time tracking, and payroll integration. The platform offers a web interface and mobile apps for workers to view and request changes, swap shifts, or submit time-off requests.

Key features include constraint-aware scheduling, overtime and rest-period controls, coverage alerts, swap and cover workflows, real-time analytics, and scenario planning. It integrates with common HRIS and payroll systems, supports data privacy and role-based access, and provides audit trails for compliance purposes.

Adoption has been linked to reductions in overtime costs, improved shift fill rates, and higher employee satisfaction due to better visibility and control over schedules. Critics note potential biases in demand forecasts and the need for transparent governance around automated decisions.

See also workforce management, scheduling software, labor optimization.