HS: Generating Labor Optimization (formerly Activity Based) Forecasts

The first step in creating an efficient schedule is to generate your forecast for the week.  This allows you to use historical data to influence how you schedule.  

To start generating a forecast, click on the Forecasting tab, then Create Sales Forecast in the appropriate week. On the page that appears, click Select Weeks.

Check the boxes next the weeks you’d like to use for the weeks forecast.  You must choose at least five weeks, and eight usually generates a fairly good forecast.  Those two choices are included in the Favorites list.

Please Note:  It is a good idea to be aware of weeks that include abnormal events (bad weather, holidays, promotions, etc.).  Be on the lookout for memos describing such events, and select your weeks accordingly.

When finished, click Apply Weeks.

You are able to view the supplied data in weekly or daily views…

… and either numerically or graphically.

Please Note:  The matrix HotSchedules uses, rounds up labor at .25 team members.  For example, if the matrix says you need 5.25 servers, HotSchedules will present six servers for the schedule.

You can always adjust the weeks used in the forecast by clicking the pencil icon next to Current Week Selection.

If there are special circumstances that may affect your sales, you can add adjustments to the forecast.  For example, weather may play a factor in your sales.  The Weather Widget will provide weather information for your forecast, and even suggest adjustments based on past sales figures.  Simply click the suggestions to apply the adjustment.

For all other adjustments, click Add Adjustments.

Choose whether you want to adjust your forecast by dollar amount or percentage.  

Then, click Create Adjustment.

Name the adjustment, select the days and times it will be in effect, plus the dollar or percentage.  
Repeat as necessary.  

When finished, check the boxes next to all adjustments needed that week, and click Apply Adjustment.

View the weeks your forecast’s data is based on, plus adjust them if desired.

View any adjustments you have added for this particular forecast due to special events.

Switch between days of the week with the various sub-tabs.

Toggle to full-screen mode to give yourself a little more screen real estate.

Add new Ad Hoc adjustments by hovering over a line, and clicking the plus icon.  These adjustments will only affect this week’s forecast, and will not be available for future forecasts.

Toggle between numeric and graphical views.

When the week’s forecast is as it should be, click Save Forecast at the bottom of the page. 

Memos

You may want to attach a note or memo to a specific week to remind you of unusual happenings in future forecasts.  To add a memo, click the appropriate forecasted week,  

You are able to add memos either in the Current Forecasted Weeks section, or in the Week Selections window of that week.  Read memos, then, by clicking their icon that appears.

Revenue Centers

If you forecast for Revenue Centers, you can expand a time interval by clicking the corresponding arrow when viewing their daily projections.  This allows you to view each RVC’s forecasted number for that particular interval of time.

To view an entire week of projected RVC data, click the Week view and select the RVC arrow to expand.