# Workforce planning software: Prepare, Protect, Perform - Prepare for any operational reality - Empower and grow your people - Match talent decisions to your strategy [Let's start the conversation ](#contact) [2-minute overview](/node/35916) Workforce intelligence that knows how to reach your goals --------------------------------------------------------- Strategic workforce planning bridges the gap between where you are now and where you need to be. It gives your teams the clarity to act quickly and the confidence to prep for the future. Planning for seasonal peaks, workforce changes, or company growth is easier when your decisions are guided by real-time data and intelligence. Our workforce planning software brings finance, operations, and HR together, making it easier to manage budgeting, capacity planning, and shifting skill requirements. AI supports you every step of the way. It provides forecasting, scenario testing, and data-driven recommendations, helping you reduce guesswork and reveal unseen opportunities. It’s strategy in motion, with tools that bring your workforce plans to life. ### Workforce planning software in action #### Workload budgeting Build a labor model shaped by your sales volume, customer traffic, or seasonal trends. Understanding these demand drivers helps you plan more accurately, so you're never over or understaffed. Our software helps you: - Get the right number of staff using custom inputs like sales or traffic data that match your business needs - Calculate labor costs using simple rules based on your budget and business data Match labor needs to your budget #### Capacity planning Forecast your future staffing needs and identify any skill gaps in your teams before they impact performance. Our capacity planning tools enable you to: - Anticipate any upcoming capacity issues by visualizing long-term staffing - Get the best mix of full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees Empower managers with recommendations sourced through AI #### What-if scenario modeling Imagine the impact of any potential staffing, budget, or business change, then test a range of responses. You’ll: - Build a powerful defense against future issues - Learn what’s feasible by testing and comparing business strategies and outcomes in minutes Share, review, and publish results with full visibility #### Labor analytics and reporting Put workforce understanding to work by setting goals in our easy-to-configure dashboards. You'll collect powerful data and bring it to life using workforce analytics to: - Monitor KPIs by team, department, or timeframe - Drill into metrics with filters and hierarchies Combine with additional data sets for context-rich reporting. #### Cross-functional alignment Bring HR, Finance, and Operations together in one system to plan more effectively and make better decisions. Our software enables you to: - Keep everyone in the loop by eliminating silos and version control issues - Increase planning accuracy and speed Achieve accountability by giving key players access to your source of truth. > The results we’ve experienced with UKG are tremendous. Store managers can accurately plan their staffing needs well in advance and make data-driven decisions, so our stores always have the right people with the right skills in the right place. This not only helps keep customers happy but ensures we have the ideal mix of employees, which creates a better experience for them, all while keeping us on budget. > > — KATIE LITTLE, Labor Operations Manager, Costa Coffee ### Start your workforce planning with these insights #### [Labor Optimization Made Simple with UKG Strategic Workforce Planning](https://www.ukg.com/blog/hr-leaders/labor-optimization-made-simple-ukg-strategic-workforce-planning) In today's tight labor markets, businesses must engage in labor optimization to enhance employee efficiency and productivity while reducing costs. Discover how UKG Strategic Workforce Planning can help your organization adapt to change, stay competitive, and achieve long-term success by ensuring you have the right people with the right skills in the right places at the right time. #### [3 Pressing Workforce Uncertainty Trends and How Executives Can Tackle Them with HCM](https://www.ukg.com/learn/resources/infographic/3-pressing-workforce-uncertainty-trends-and-how-executives-can-tackle-them) See how intelligent human capital management technology helps you navigate uncertainty by empowering workers, improving productivity, and making smarter people decisions. #### [Future-Proof Your Retail Workforce: The Power of UKG Pro Strategic Workforce Planning](https://www.ukg.com/learn/resources/webinar-replay/future-proof-your-retail-workforce-power-ukg-pro-strategic-workforce-planning) Watch this webinar replay to see how UKG Pro Strategic Workforce Planning, powered by AI, can help your retail organization: ### Frequently asked questions about workforce planning #### What is strategic workforce planning software? Strategic workforce planning software helps organizations forecast labor needs, analyze future staffing gaps, and connect workforce plans to business goals. #### How does UKG use AI in workforce planning? UKG uses AI to support labor forecasting, scenario testing, and recommendations. AI helps managers and planners model outcomes faster and respond with confidence. #### Can UKG support both short-term and long-term planning? Yes. UKG supports short-term scheduling and forecasting, as well as long-term capacity planning, scenario modeling, and workforce budgeting — all in one ecosystem. #### Who uses workforce planning tools? HR, operations, finance, and frontline managers all use workforce planning tools. Our software helps teams agree on staffing strategies and act on shared data. #### What types of businesses benefit from UKG workforce planning? UKG supports businesses of all sizes — from multi-location retailers and manufacturers to global enterprises — offering scalable planning tools that meet complex needs.