Likelihood to Recommend For small to medium-sized companies HotSchedules works great when business is very static. If you are simply using HotSchedules for a schedule writing tool, it is phenomenal. However, it does miss the mark as a labor control software. Needs more controls to keep managers aware of spending versus historical sales data.
Read full review PAR Technology Corporation (ParTech)
Brink just needs to continue to develop its technology for the every-changing industry.
Read full review Pros Communication is so simple on HotSchedules. Whether it is communicating a new schedule release, or a quick note about tonight's shift we as managers are able to easily communicate and know that it will reach our team through text notifications, or email notifications. The Meal Break planning tool is very useful in being able to help our floor leaders clearly understand and plan for what breaks are needed throughout the shift. This allows them to come up with a strategic game plan quickly and spend more time with our guests. Shift Swaps and Releases are so seamless. This is our favorite tool as it makes helping our team cover shifts extremely easy and painless. On the flip side it also makes staff who want more hours be able to find what is available in real time. Read full review PAR Technology Corporation (ParTech)
Brink has a simple interface for the team to use in their day to day. Brink is mostly simple to reconfigure to our needs in the field. Read full review Cons Clocking In and out can be a little slow. It takes longer to clock in then our previous method. Before we just had a card you swiped and it would clock you in. Took 2 seconds. Now with the Hotschdules method we use it take 30 seconds or so. Not a huge issue but it can add up if you have one computer and a line of employees waiting to clock in. Time Cards. It does not allow you to view someones current time until the "punch" has ended. If the manager would like to check what time the employee clocked in/out from lunch they have to wait until the employee has clocked out for the day before the record is generated. As a shift lead you may send and employee to lunch but forget to note what time you sent them. Awhile passes and you feel like they should be back by now, so you want to go in and see what time they left for lunch but it does not show you that punch record because the employee is still "clocked in" they are just on their "Meal Break" The ability to customize the restrictions for Clocking in and out. You can set it up so that employees can only clock in from a specific location, however if you have a manager who is allowed to work from home they would not be able to clock in without being at the same location as set in the software. It would be nice to see it able to be customized per user. Read full review PAR Technology Corporation (ParTech)
Brink could update its hardware to the sign of the times with guest interactive POS. Appears clunky at times with its processes and steps. Brink needs to be able to edit it reporting features to get the desired result for time clock compliance especially in CA with Meal Break Laws. Brink needs to integrate its time clock process in CA, for a team member to accept or decline time clock edits and to waive a mandatory break. Brink needs better integration with KDS systems to do exactly what we need it to do as our business model develops into the future. Read full review Likelihood to Renew Ease of use, efficiently creating and posting staff schedules.
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Usability 6 Years of Experience provides me the insight on the upgrades and changes that HotSchedules has done to improve the experience of its users. There are so many features that we still have not started or used to the fullest, but we believe that we are currently getting a strong value out of the money that is paid for this product.
Read full review PAR Technology Corporation (ParTech)
Support Rating On rare occasions a phone call has been required to find the solution to a problem, the HotSchedules response staff have been helpful, courteous, and genuinely seem to care for their clients and take pride in what they do. The consistent development and fine tuning of the platform, interface, and mobile environment shows that this is not a program full of people who rest on their laurels.
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I believe Brink has been very responsive to our needs and requests
Read full review Alternatives Considered I have not used any other Scheduling software for employees. As a campground manager in the summer season, we are using campground master for reservations. it is very similar in process to employee scheduling. the ability to the user of that program to set up their own parameters for time and reservations is something that would benefit the employee scheduling software.
Read full review PAR Technology Corporation (ParTech)
I inherited Brink and it works for us for now. But as we grow in CA and other markets, Brink maybe becomes a challenge with time record compliance and the ability to perform up to expectations with KDS systems.
Read full review Return on Investment Saving time on scheduling means our managers can focus more on guest experience, managing the floor and other areas that contribute to the success of our business. Read full review PAR Technology Corporation (ParTech)
Positive impact on its simplicity with our growth and ability to teach and transform our business. Negative impact on the business with time clock compliance in CA. We need more functionality for the Team Member experience in time clock management. Read full review ScreenShots