Effective staff management is vital for success in the hospitality sector, from cozy pubs to luxury hotels. Recent industry studies indicate that well-implemented scheduling can boost productivity by as much as 15%. As the hospitality landscape evolves, with increasingly complex shift patterns and demands, UK businesses are turning to specialized rota software as an essential tool for workforce management.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the top staff rota software options available for UK hospitality businesses in 2025. But first, let's examine the key features that set apart the best rota management solutions in the industry:
Here, we’ve reviewed some of the best staff rota software to help manage staffing levels, boost productivity, and enhance employee satisfaction.
Deputy is a popular choice for hospitality businesses due to its versatility and ease of use.
Key Features:
Why It’s Great for Hospitality: Deputy simplifies shift management, ensures compliance with labour laws and helps reduce absenteeism and time theft through automated reminders. The app also supports team communication to manage scheduling conflicts making it ideal for dynamic hospitality environments.
Pricing: Starts at £2.40 a user per month.
Rotacloud is designed specifically for UK businesses, making it a go-to option for hospitality managers looking for rota scheduling software.
Key Features:
Why It’s Great for Hospitality: Rotacloud’s UK-focused features, such as compliance with local employment laws, company policies and bank holiday scheduling, make it a top pick as hospitality rota software for restaurants, hotels, and bars.
Pricing: Starts at £2.50 a user per month.
Although primarily designed for restaurants, 7shifts is versatile enough to support a wide range of hospitality businesses looking to manage employee availability.Key Features:
Why It’s Great for Hospitality: 7shifts focuses on improving operational efficiency and employee satisfaction, helping businesses reduce scheduling errors and control labour costs.
Pricing: Free for small teams; paid plans start at £21 per month for up to 30 employees.
Planday is a robust platform that supports shift management and workforce collaboration, a perfect solution for businesses of all sizes looking for hospitality rota software.
Key Features:
Why It’s Great for Hospitality: With its staff scheduling and analytics capabilities, Planday helps managers make data-driven decisions while managing staff costs and fostering a more connected workforce.
Pricing: Starts at £2 a user per month.
When I Work is a simple yet powerful staff rota app for scheduling and team communication.
Key Features:
Why It’s Great for Hospitality: Its user-friendly design employee scheduling app make When I Work ideal for smaller hospitality businesses looking for a straightforward solution to manage employee hours and profit margins.
Pricing: Free for up to 75 employees with basic features; paid plans start at £2 a user per month.
Bizimply is tailored for hospitality and retail industries looking for an all-in-one solution, offering comprehensive workforce management tools to manage staff availability, set availability, and resolve scheduling conflicts.
Key Features:
Why It's Great for Hospitality: Bizimply's focus on employee satisfaction and shift cost management makes it a favourite for multi-location businesses like restaurant chains and hotel groups. It allows managers to efficiently create schedules, manage leave, and handle time off requests.
Pricing: Starts at £100 per location, per month.
Humanforce is a powerful time management system designed to simplify shift management and improve employee satisfaction. With over a decade of experience, it offers robust solutions for complex scheduling needs.
Key Features:
Why It's Great for Hospitality: Humanforce excels at handling complex staffing needs for larger businesses while maintaining employee satisfaction and productivity. It helps prevent double booking and ensures efficient management of employee names and schedules.
Pricing: Custom pricing based on business requirements.
PARiM is a highly-rated staff rota software specifically designed for industries with complex scheduling needs, including hospitality.
Key features:
Why It's Great for Hospitality: Offers robust solutions for managing complex hospitality workforce needs with unlimited users and advanced features for handling irregular hours and multiple locations.
Pricing: Starts at £39 per month for unlimited users
Findmyshift is a cost-effective option for small hospitality businesses, offering an intuitive platform to create schedules and manage staff efficiently.
Key features:
Why It's Great for Hospitality: Purpose-built for hospitality with flexible scheduling capabilities, self-service options, and mobile access that saves managers 15+ hours weekly on administrative tasks.
Pricing: €22 per month for 20 users.
These additional options provide more choices for UK hospitality businesses seeking effective staff rota management solutions. When selecting software, consider factors such as business size, specific scheduling needs, budget constraints, and desired features to find the best fit for your organization.
What is staff rota software?
Staff rota software helps businesses create and manage employee schedules. It’s especially useful in hospitality where schedules can change often.
Why is staff rota software important for hospitality businesses?
It makes scheduling easier and more accurate, reduces mistakes, and helps make sure you always have the right number of staff working.
What features should I look for in staff rota software?
Look for features like:
Can staff rota software handle last-minute changes?
Yes, good staff rota software allows you to make quick changes and notify your staff immediately, so everyone stays updated.
How does staff rota software benefit my business?
It saves time, reduces scheduling errors, improves staff satisfaction, and helps you manage labor costs more effectively.
Can it help improve communication with my staff?
Yes, many staff rota software solutions include messaging features, making it easy to communicate schedule changes and other important information.
How do I choose the best staff rota software for my business?
Consider your specific needs, the size of your team, and your budget. Look for software that is user-friendly and offers the features that are most important to you.
Are there free options available?
Yes, some staff rota software offers free versions with basic features. However, paid versions usually offer more advanced features and better support.
Is it difficult to set up staff rota software?
Most staff rota software is designed to be user-friendly and easy to set up. Many providers offer tutorials and customer support to help you get started.
What kind of support can I expect from staff rota software providers?
Support can vary, but many providers offer customer service through email, phone, or live chat. Some also provide online resources like guides and FAQs.