PlanIt Police Blog

 I don't know about you but for me, every time my smartphone has an update, I get a little queasy inside.

Will I lose my apps?

Will it take hours?

Will it use up all of my storage?

After going through all of these questions in my head, I remember how responsive the customer service has been in the past with my cell phone provider. I am most relieved. I continue with the update and voila! It feels like a brand new phone.

Some of the questions I think about when updating my phone, may be similar to some questions you're having about implementing law enforcement scheduling software.

Will it take weeks to learn? Will it use up all of our budget? What will we lose in the process? Well, to answer one of your questions... 

Once implementing law enforcement scheduling software there are 3 things you will have to say goodbye to: 

1. Paper Forms
2. Duplicate Work
3. Headaches

There are functions built into law enforcement scheduling systems that streamline processes to eliminate these 3 things. 

1. Paper Forms

Now your forms such as overtime submissions, time sheets, shift trades, and time off, can be produced and stored electronically.

The piles of papers will be reduced and you will be able to easily access all archived forms.

According to The Paperless Project, "In the U.S., companies spend more than $120 billion a year on printed forms, most of which outdated themselves within three months’ time."

2. Duplicate Work

Share one schedule that updates in everyone's account to save you time.

Everyone will be able to log into the real-time version of the schedule.

So you can stop making edits to each printed out version or excel file every time there is a change, and start making the change in just one spot.

3.Headaches

Clear your head and let automation handle some of the work by...

• detecting minimum staffing
• sending mass alerts for open special assignment shifts
• documenting hours for payroll into separate OT, time off, and regular shift banks

The automation that the system will provide for you, will reduce scheduling errors. Fewer scheduling errors = fewer headaches.

Make sure that the scheduling software you go with has a plan for implementation and will help you whenever you need it.

The last thing you need is for your new system to create more headaches than you had before. 

Ask other departments what they are using...

Do they like their software?

Is it easy to use?

Does it streamline processes?

Do they receive great customer service?

Does it fit the budget?

Find out here if PlanIt Police will fit in your budget.

To see the real effects of implementing law enforcement scheduling software, we interviewed East Lampeter Township Police Department.

They have saved over 10 hours per week on scheduling with PlanIt Police scheduling software. They were able to eliminate paper forms, duplicate work, and headaches. See their case study below!