Managing a large, flexible workforce is one of the biggest challenges for UK businesses today. From event staffing agencies to hospitality suppliers, retail chains, and recruitment firms, keeping track of shifts, payroll, compliance, and communication can be overwhelming without the right system in place.
That’s where workforce management software comes in. The best solutions automate scheduling, simplify payroll, and keep your team connected wherever they are. With the UK’s shift towards flexible and temporary work, the demand for efficient software for workforce management has never been higher.
In this guide, we review the top 5 best workforce management software in the UK and explain why these software lead the way for event and temporary staffing businesses.
Understanding Workforce Management Software
Workforce management software is a digital tool that helps organisations plan, schedule, and monitor their employees’ work. It streamlines everything from shift allocation and attendance tracking to timesheets, payroll, and performance analysis.
In simpler terms, it’s a centralised system that ensures the right people are in the right place, at the right time – while saving managers hours of administrative work.
Modern workforce management system software often includes:
- Scheduling tools to automate rota planning.
- Timesheet tracking for accurate payroll and compliance.
- Mobile apps for communication and shift updates.
- Reporting dashboards for real-time performance insights.
For industries such as hospitality, retail, and events, it’s not just a convenience – it’s essential for smooth operations and legal compliance.
How We Chose the Best Workforce Management Software
To identify the best workforce management software in the UK, we assessed leading providers based on five key factors:
- Ease of Use: How intuitive and user-friendly is the platform for both managers and employees?
- Industry Relevance: Does the software suit sectors like events, hospitality, or retail?
- Features: Scheduling, timesheets, payroll, reporting, and compliance tracking.
- Scalability: Can it handle seasonal or high-volume staffing needs?
- Support and Integration: Is there responsive customer service and connectivity with other tools such as payroll or CRM systems?
Every tool in this list satisfies the evaluation criteria. Liveforce, in particular, offers functionality suited to temporary and event-driven teams.
The Top 5 Workforce Management Software in the UK
#1 Liveforce – Best for Event and Temporary Staffing
When it comes to managing flexible, temporary, or project-based teams, Liveforce is the go-to choice in the UK.
Designed specifically for event staffing agencies, hospitality suppliers, and experiential marketing companies, Liveforce simplifies every step of the workforce management process.
Key Features:
- Smart scheduling: Assign shifts across multiple projects, venues, or events with ease.
- Crew App: A dedicated mobile app where staff can view shifts, apply for jobs, and track payments in real time.
- Automated timesheets and payroll: Ensure accurate pay and reduce administrative errors.
- Compliance tracking: Automatically collect and manage worker documentation to remain GDPR-compliant.
- Centralised communication: Share updates, confirm attendance, and handle last-minute changes from one dashboard.
Best for:
Event production agencies, hospitality staffing, festivals, promotional work, and any business managing hundreds of temporary crew members.
Why It’s #1:
Unlike generic scheduling tools, Liveforce is built around the unique challenges of the UK event and temporary staffing market. It provides a complete, online workforce management software solution that connects agencies and crew through a single, easy-to-use platform.
#2 Zellis ONE Workforce Management – Best for Enterprise HR Integration
Zellis is a leading UK-based HR and payroll provider with decades of experience serving British businesses. Its Zellis ONE Workforce Management module offers end-to-end workforce control designed specifically for UK organisations.
Key Features:
- Deep integration with UK payroll and HR systems.
- Advanced time and attendance tracking with compliance to UK labour laws.
- Demand forecasting to optimise shift coverage.
- Built-in Working Time Directive safeguards and compliance alerts.
Why It’s Great:
Zellis excels for enterprise-level organisations looking for a unified HR, payroll, and workforce management platform. It’s ideal for businesses that prioritise compliance and need a solution designed around UK regulations.
#3 Rotageek – Best for Retail and Public Sector Scheduling
Rotageek is a UK-born scheduling platform trusted by retailers, healthcare providers, and public sector organisations. It uses AI-driven insights to predict staffing needs, helping managers build efficient rotas that balance labour costs and employee satisfaction.
Key Features:
- AI-powered forecasting for smarter scheduling.
- Mobile self-service portal for staff to view and swap shifts.
- Integration with payroll and HR systems.
- Real-time attendance monitoring and reporting dashboards.
Why It’s Great:
Rotageek combines smart forecasting with a deep understanding of UK workforce dynamics. It’s particularly well-suited to retail and healthcare businesses with complex staffing patterns and compliance requirements.
#4 Planday – Best for Hospitality and Shift-Based Teams
Planday, part of the Xero ecosystem, is widely used by hospitality and retail businesses across the UK. It helps managers streamline rota creation, track hours, and communicate with staff through one intuitive platform.
Key Features:
- Shift templates for quick and repeatable scheduling.
- Staff availability tools to avoid scheduling conflicts.
- Integrated payroll and compliance tracking for UK businesses.
- Mobile app for real-time communication between teams.
Why It’s Great:
Planday is ideal for hospitality teams, restaurants, and retail operations that depend on flexible, shift-based work. It’s simple to use, scalable, and integrates seamlessly with Xero for payroll – making it an excellent all-rounder for UK SMEs.
#5 ADP Workforce Management – Best for Compliance and Payroll Integration
ADP is a global HR and payroll leader with a strong UK presence. Its Workforce Management suite provides scheduling, time tracking, and performance analytics, all underpinned by ADP’s renowned payroll technology.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive UK payroll and HR integration.
- Time and attendance tracking with custom reporting.
- Compliance management aligned with UK employment law.
- Mobile app access for both managers and employees.
Why It’s Great:
ADP is an excellent option for medium to large UK organisations that need powerful workforce management tools combined with best-in-class payroll processing. It’s ideal for companies that require scalability and strict compliance control.
| Software | Best for | UK relevance | Scheduling | Time & attendance | Mobile app | Payroll integration | Compliance tools | Sector fit (examples) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liveforce UK use | Event and temporary staffing | Designed for UK agencies and crews | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | GDPR workflows, document tracking | Events, hospitality suppliers, experiential |
| Zellis ONE Workforce Management | Enterprise HR/payroll environments | UK HR & payroll provider | Yes | Yes | Yes | Native with Zellis payroll | Working Time Directive safeguards | Large multi-site operations |
| Rotageek | Retail and healthcare scheduling | UK-founded, UK clients | Yes (AI forecasting) | Yes | Yes | Via integrations | Compliance and audit trails | Retail, clinics, public sector |
| Planday | Hospitality and shift-based teams | Strong UK presence | Yes (templates) | Yes | Yes | Xero & others | Rota, holiday & HR records | Restaurants, venues, retail |
| ADP Workforce Management | Medium–large organisations | UK arm of global provider | Yes | Yes | Yes | ADP payroll | Policy controls & reporting | Corporate, multi-region teams |
Notes: Features are presented for guidance only. Confirm exact capabilities, integrations and pricing with each provider.
Key Benefits of Workforce Management Software
Using the right workforce management software delivers measurable business benefits:
- Better Scheduling Efficiency: Automatically match staff availability with shifts and eliminate double bookings.
- Reduced Administrative Costs: Digital timesheets and automated payroll reduce manual data entry and errors.
- Improved Compliance: Store essential worker documentation and maintain GDPR and employment law compliance.
- Increased Workforce Engagement: Mobile apps keep employees informed and empowered to manage their own shifts.
- Accurate Payroll: Direct integration between scheduling and payroll systems ensures staff are paid correctly and on time.
In industries like events and hospitality, these advantages can make a huge difference in profitability and reputation.
How to Choose the Right Workforce Management Software
Choosing the right workforce management software solution depends on your business type, workforce size, and specific operational needs. Here’s a simple checklist to help:
- Define your requirements.
Decide whether you need rota planning, payroll integration, performance tracking, or all three. - Consider your industry.
Some tools are built for hospitality, others for corporate environments. Liveforce, for example, focuses on event and temporary staffing. - Evaluate ease of use.
Look for a clean interface and mobile access for both managers and employees. - Assess scalability.
Can the software grow with your business as you onboard more staff or clients? - Check integrations.
Ensure the platform connects with your payroll, CRM, or accounting systems. - Compare pricing.
Understand how workforce management software costs vary – from monthly subscriptions to per-user pricing models. - Request a demo.
Always trial the software before committing to ensure it meets your workflow needs.
How Liveforce Helps UK Businesses Manage Their Workforce
Liveforce goes beyond traditional scheduling by creating a seamless connection between agencies and crew.
Key Benefits for UK Event and Staffing Businesses:
- Centralised control: Manage multiple projects, clients, and events from one dashboard.
- Mobile workforce empowerment: The Liveforce Crew App allows workers to view, apply, and manage jobs on the go.
- Automated timesheets: Reduce admin time and ensure prompt, accurate payroll.
- GDPR-compliant workflows: Safely collect and store worker data and documentation.
- Transparent communication: Keep your crew updated instantly with shift changes, reminders, and alerts.
Why UK Businesses Choose Liveforce
Liveforce isn’t just another online workforce management software – it’s built specifically for industries that rely on flexible, temporary staffing.
Whether you manage staff for a festival, corporate event, or hospitality venue, Liveforce brings clarity and control to every shift.
Workforce management software has become a cornerstone for UK businesses that depend on flexible, reliable staffing. The right solution not only saves time but also ensures compliance, accuracy, and happier employees.
Among the top 5 workforce management software in the UK, Liveforce stands out for its deep understanding of the event staffing and temporary work sectors.
With its powerful scheduling, compliance, and communication tools, Liveforce offers everything agencies and venues need to stay efficient and compliant.
👉 Ready to optimise your workforce? Book your free demo with Liveforce today.
