Overview
Shiftlab’s forecasting and insight tools give you real-time visibility into how your scheduled labor aligns with expected and actual business performance. Through visual charts and mid-week indicators, you can compare forecasted demand, scheduled coverage, and actual results to ensure operational efficiency throughout the week.
The schedule summary widgets provide a real-time snapshot of key performance metrics for the schedule you are currently viewing. These widgets display:
Total number of scheduled employees
Total paid hours
Expected production based on forecasted performance
Actual production as real-time results come in
This summary offers immediate visibility into how your scheduled labor aligns with business performance, allowing you to monitor progress and make informed adjustments throughout the week.
When to Use It
Use these forecasting and insight tools when:
Building schedules and aligning labor coverage with forecasted sales.
Monitoring weekly performance to ensure you are meeting sales targets.
Adjusting labor mid-week based on actual sales and punch-clock data.
Reviewing employee performance trends and weekly hours.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Forecast Charts
The chart at the bottom of the schedule displays expected sales for your KPI using the Shiftlab forecast (Green Line).
As shifts are added, a Yellow Line appears showing scheduled labor coverage for each day or hour.
Use this comparison to ensure your coverage aligns with historical performance patterns.
Green Line (Forecast)
When your schedule is empty, the chart shows only the forecasted KPI for the week or per hour if you click on a specific day.
Forecasts are based on historical sales data for your store.
Day View
Click any day along the top of your schedule to drill into coverage and hourly forecasts.
This helps ensure breaks occur during slower forecasted periods—not during expected peak times.
Yellow Line (Scheduled Hours)
As you build the schedule, scheduled hours overlay the forecast.
Use this to confirm that labor coverage aligns with projected demand.
Purple Line (Actual Performance)
Once sales data begins flowing, Actual Gross Profit displays as a Purple Line, showing real performance versus plan.
Current Week Insights
Throughout the active week, Shiftlab surfaces real-time indicators to support schedule execution:
You will see if your store is meeting weekly sales targets.
The system highlights the #1 salesperson next to their name.
Each employee displays Actual Hours (top) vs Scheduled Hours (bottom).
Hour Status Indicators
Red Clock – Employee has exceeded their role’s weekly hours (overtime risk).
Green Clock – Employee is within their allotted hours.
Yellow Clock – Employee is below their expected hours.
Mid-Week Trending Hours
As punch-clock and sales data flow in:
Weekly trending hours appear, showing how actual hours compare to scheduled hours.
You will also see Actual GP vs Planned GP, helping you understand mid-week performance.
Additionally:
Sales activity appears next to each employee.
Hovering over their sales displays the measured KPI (e.g., Gross Profit per Monitored Traffic).
Mid-Week Punch Clock Data
Punch-clock flags on scheduled shifts provide real-time attendance insights:
Red Flag – Time Clock Variance
Appears when an employee:
Clocked in early or late
Clocked out early or late
Hovering over the flag reveals:
Breaks taken
Scheduled shift times
Actual punch-in/punch-out times
Summary of attendance issues
Yellow Flag – Scheduled Break
Hovering over the yellow flag shows:
Break duration
Scheduled break time
