Comparative Analysis of Schedule Management Software Solutions

This report critically examines schedule management software, focusing on Acuity Scheduling, Wrike, and Findmyshift. The investigation aims to identify the most accurate and significant software by evaluating their features, cost, reliability, efficiency, and desirability. The report provides a detailed comparison, including a critical review of each software's strengths and weaknesses, such as Findmyshift's higher cost and lack of training. Criteria for evaluation are set, and a weighted matrix is used to compare the software. The findings highlight Findmyshift as the top choice, based on its reliability, cost, and efficiency, despite its lower desirability due to the lack of training and higher cost. The report concludes with recommendations for software implementation, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right tools for improved project management and profitability.

SCHEDULE
MANAGEMENT

Executive Summary
The main aim of investigation will be finding out three most accurate and significant
software of scheduling management at work out of 5. This investigation will be significant in
order to identify which type of software will be best suited after evaluating all its features, cost,
budget, specification, advantages and demerits of other software as well. In terms of cost,
Findmyshift is not that much good so this is the biggest issue which anyone could find while
dealing with software. Findmyshift is recommended that they should be lowering down their cost
and including training sessions for its clients and customers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
AIM OF INVESTIGATION............................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
SIGNIFICANCE..............................................................................................................................1
LIST OF AVAILABLE SOFTWARE............................................................................................2
SOFTWARE SELECTION.............................................................................................................3
CRITICALLY REVIEW.................................................................................................................3
SET CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION...........................................................................................4
DISCUSSION ON WEIGHTING CRITERIA................................................................................5
EVALUATION MATRIX...............................................................................................................5
JUSTIFICATION............................................................................................................................5
DISCUSSION ON RESULTS.........................................................................................................6
DISCUSSION ON PROBLEMS.....................................................................................................6
RECOMMENDATION...................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................9

TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Softwares of Schedule Management................................................................................2
Figure 2: Acuity Scheduling............................................................................................................3
Figure 3: Wrike................................................................................................................................4
Figure 4: Findmyshift......................................................................................................................5
Figure 5: Upkeep.............................................................................................................................6
Figure 6: SimplyBook.me................................................................................................................7

AIM OF INVESTIGATION
The main aim of investigation is to find out three most accurate and significant software
of scheduling management at work out of 5. This report will be discussing various kinds of
software related to Scheduling management like that of Acuity Scheduling, Wrike, Findmyshift,
Upkeep and SimplyBook.me. Further selection of 3 most suitable software will be done based on
their cost, reliability, efficiency and desirability. Then identification of criteria for evaluation will
be performed so that weightage to all criteria could be given with justifying them as well.
INTRODUCTION
Schedule management is that process which is meant to communicate, develop and
maintain all procedures that are related to time and resources (Jiang and Xie, 2018). This will be
the timetable for the project and programme planning and organising work according to given
time and resources or cost. So in this assignment will focus on 3 main software of schedule
management will be discussed including weighting criteria and justification of which software.
In order to make work easier and assessing clients with payments, reminders and booking these
schedule management software is required to be implemented within organisations. The proper
selected software must be correct in all essential requirements so that it is helping firm to
increase their profits by reduce in time taken for other non-profitable activities. So some of the
most important software for schedule management will be:
 Acuity Scheduling
 Wrike
 Findmyshift
 Upkeep
 SimplyBook.me
SIGNIFICANCE
This investigation will be significant in order to identify which type of software will be
best suited after evaluating all its features, cost, budget, specification, advantages and demerits of
other software as well. Software will be required to as those resources of company that is
enabling them for the execution of various types of projects but they could also be limited. There
is responsibility of project management team to plan, allocate and monitor all resources which
are allocated to assignment that is proving to be problem resolving tool and technique. Most
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importantly they need to consider the project initiation or implementation cost with the effective
communication system. So this cost could rise at any point of time making it difficult for
company as they will be having limited resources to be applied for project. These of the some
limitations will be highlighting significance of scheduling management that are required to be
applied within projects.
LIST OF AVAILABLE SOFTWARE
Software would be making work and activities of company easier with the cost of
implementation could be sometimes higher than others. Scheduling is that part of project
management which enable listing up of deliverables and milestones of including initiation and
end dates as well. Mainly in field like that of construction and engineering will be mostly
important as these sectors will be having management of time and resources with the available
cost and scope of project. So there is some software that is used for schedule management that
will be having parts like that of cost, resources, reliability and efficiency for company.
Figure 1: Softwares of Schedule Management
[Source: Adeli and Karim, 2014]
Acuity Scheduling- This one is like having personal assistant at time of scheduling the daily
based task of working. With this, professionals could book their appointment and schedule all its
activities. Acuity scheduling is mainly used as the personal assistant for scheduling works for
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better appointments with clients and customers as well (Acuity Scheduling, 2018). This will be
saving most of the time and cost for company and thus giving them chance to pay in more easy
and fast manner. The monthly cost of this software is $15 which is having special features like
that of free trial, development of cloud SaaS web and mobile android native. With this software
client could easily see whether their business party is having time or not when are they available
and calendars are adjustable as per time zone as well.
Figure 2: Acuity Scheduling
[Source: Acuity Scheduling, 2018]
Wrike- This software will schedule and manage multiple work or projects of professionals so
they could bring their work from messenger and emails to Wrike. This will be organising all
working of professional and then brining up their timetable on task list which is visualising
complete day plan and on Kanban boards as well (Wrike, 2018). The starting price for Wrike will
be around $9.80 per month per professional user while for business users it is $24.6 per month
under this customers are also getting free trial. Training in regard to this software will be based
on various category like webinars, in person, live online and documentation as well which is
having 24*7 online support systems.
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Figure 3: Wrike
[Source: Wrike, 2018]
Findmyshift- This software is developed for creating and sharing anytime and anywhere the
scheduling of staff using any kind of web browser (Findmyshift, 2018). Findmyshift is one of the
best scheduling software that will be used by any professional or business. There are many basic
features that are making this software to stand differently from others like that of shift reminder,
text messaging and reports with first month free trials. The cost of this software is slightly higher
than others which are around $35 per month while it would not be having any sort of training.
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Figure 4: Findmyshift
[Source: Findmyshift, 2018]
Upkeep- This will be maintaining asset management solution for the whole team which is a
modern type of software to be used. Upkeep is mainly used by manufacturing, hotel, oil and gas,
distribution, restaurants, education, churches, food processing and packaging, construction,
facilities management, warehousing, municipalities and fleet (UpKeep, 2018). This software is
very much popular among those industries which are having multiple maintenance from tablets
and desktop of clients and team of company. All updates will be notified timely as work is been
created or changed so that business is running effectively. The starting price for this software
will be about $25 per month based on user and if bill is given annually then price will be $29.
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Figure 5: Upkeep
[Source: UpKeep, 2018]
SimplyBook.me- It is offering extensive but rather simple online booking systems which are
working for all the companies (SimplyBook.me, 2018). All type of companies and services could
be using Simplybook.me like that of education, event management, hair salons, private trainers,
Gyms, consultants and financial advisors as well. Under this clients could synchronise all their
appointments, calendars, membership and sell products as well.
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Figure 6: SimplyBook.me
[Source: SimplyBook.me, 2018]
SOFTWARE SELECTION
After listing all the 5 available software for the task this part will be selecting 3 software
based on their cost, reliability and efficiency from all the above. So for this schedule software
Wrike, Acuity scheduling and Findmyshift will be used and evaluated from the rest software
available. All these software are very accurate, important and cost effective for schedule
management in this order these are chosen.
CRITICALLY REVIEW
All these software are having differentiated identity which is helping professionals to set
their daily objective and work according to that (Ahmed, Mohamed and Ali, 2017). Like in case
of Wrike which is helping in setting up multiple activities to be done in proper scheduling task.
Findmyshift
According to Kerzner and Kerzner (2017) this software is regarded to as one of the best
among all listed above as it is worth standing as per its reliability, cost, efficiency and
desirability and the under evaluation matrix gave it 9.1 out of 10. This is the most effective tool
making lot of work easier as contacts are recorded and available simply. While Valenko and
Klanšek, (2017) indicated that using this software in application is much difficult to operate
including in browser as well and also having problem with reject shift features.
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Acuity scheduling
As per Pop, Dobre and Kolodziej, (2016) this software will be helping and enabling
clients to look up for appointment out from the busy schedule. This also helps to share time and
calendar with the co-workers so that all are having their correct schedule in way that each
member is having correct schedule. On other hand it was noticed by Adeli, and Karim, (2014)
that it’s so many features which would be making Acuity scheduling overwhelming or
confusing. There must be having that phone support system within this software so that if
anything goes wrong than contacts in phone book would be to rescue. If this feature of phone
support is not there than it will be increasing cost and time consuming.
Wrike
In view of Verzuh, (2015) there are many features that are there within Wrike like that of
multiple chart options, easy commenting via e-mail facility, grabbing visual of projects within 30
seconds and customising reporting. Binder, J., (2016) included that for this software should be
operated only after its training is completed as without knowing in depth about Wrike it would
be difficult to operate regularly.
SET CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
Comparison Acuity Scheduling Wrike Findmyshift
Reliability 1 1 2.25
Cost 1.2 1.5 3.2
Efficiency 2 1.5 2.5
Desirability 2.5 3.3 1.15
Total 6.7 7.3 9.1
The above stated table will be showing certain criteria for evaluating which software is
best and mostly suitable for company. The comparison criteria of all these software will be cost,
reliability, desirability and efficiency will be evaluated and then each of them will be given
rating out of 10. Each of these criteria is very much essential that will be dealing with choosing
that which is having higher rating than that of other software. Cost of software includes its
implementation, controlling and carrying of all possible activities as well. Reliability will be
scope of software up to which it is dealing activities and task of organisation whereas efficiency
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is working and operating up of software. While desirability will be access of customers that how
many of them are viewing particular software to be easily used and implemented.
DISCUSSION ON WEIGHTING CRITERIA
Each of these is given weightage for their cost, efficiency, reliability and desirability of
all the software which are given rating out of 1-5 (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). So based on this
weighting criteria the highest is given to be Findmyshift. So this software according to rating, is
best from the other rest. There are 3 categories of weighting criteria that indicated by 3 various
colours like orange representing Low, green representing moderate and red for high. So based on
this matrix Findmyshift is regarded to as best software which is having higher reliability, cost
and efficiency while low desirability. As Findmyshift is not having any sort of training so it is
not that much popular among people they find it more difficult to carry. Cost is also higher than
any other software mentioned here in above section.
EVALUATION MATRIX
Comparison Acuity Scheduling Wrike Findmyshift
Reliability Low Low High
Cost Moderate Low High
Efficiency Moderate Low High
Desirability High High Low
High Moderate Low
JUSTIFICATION
From the above evaluation matrix, it will be evaluated that in terms of reliability, cost and
efficiency, Findmyshift is the best suited. While the other two are not that much good in terms of
reliability or efficiency but they are also not charging high cost as well. As the cost of
Findmyshift is more than any other but then also as far as reliability and efficiency is concern it
is good that other mentioned here (Valenko and Klanšek, 2017). So as per the matrix
Findmyshift is most perfect from all the above whereas it must be having training sessions for its
users so that they could find it more helpful than others.
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DISCUSSION ON RESULTS
Findmyshift is regarded to as the best software in regard to 2 of the most important
criteria like that of reliability and efficiency as well while in terms of desirability, Findmyshift is
not that much good. It was found out that Findmyshift is most reliable and efficient from Acuity
Scheduling and Wrike so company should be implementing and using this only.
DISCUSSION ON PROBLEMS
In terms of cost, Findmyshift is not that much good so this is the biggest issue which
anyone could find while dealing with software. At time of addressing or choosing this software,
it is required to identify its demerit as well. So cost will be its biggest problem which is too high
and on other hand it is also not desirable.
RECOMMENDATION
From the above, it is recommended that cost of Findmyshift is very high so it should be
lowered down or must be controlled with having higher desirability in terms of its access as well.
Whereas Findmyshift is also not having any sort of training sessions due to which is not making
customers to use it more effectively.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Adeli, H. and Karim, A., 2014. Construction scheduling, cost optimization and management.
CRC Press.
Ahmed, M.S., Mohamed, A., and Ali, J.A., 2017. Real time optimal schedule controller for home
energy management system using new binary backtracking search algorithm. Energy and
Buildings, 138, pp.215-227.
Binder, J., 2016. Global project management: communication, collaboration and management
across borders. Routledge.
Jiang, G.P. and Xie, L., 2018. Associated Control Research for Software Project Schedule and
Budget Based on Function Point Method. DEStech Transactions on Computer Science and
Engineering, (csse).
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Pop, F., Dobre, C. and Kolodziej, J., 2016. Adaptive scheduling algorithm for media-optimized
traffic management in software defined networks. Computing, 98(1-2), pp.147-168.
Valenko, T. and Klanšek, U., 2017. An integration of spreadsheet and project management
software for cost optimal time scheduling in construction. Organization, Technology and
Management in Construction: an International Journal, 9(1), pp.1627-1637.
Verzuh, E., 2015. The fast forward MBA in project management. John Wiley & Sons.
Online:
Acuity Scheduling. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://www.capterra.com/p/128285/Acuity-Scheduling/>.
Findmyshift. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://www.capterra.com/p/115536/Findmyshift/>.
Scheduling Software. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through: <https://www.capterra.com/scheduling-
software/>.
SimplyBook.me. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://www.capterra.com/p/140086/Simplybook-me/>.
UpKeep. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through: <https://www.capterra.com/p/145635/UpKeep/>.
Wrike. 2018. [Online]. Accessed through: <https://www.capterra.com/p/168274/Wrike/>..
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APPENDIX
Comparison Acuity Scheduling Wrike Findmyshift
Reliability Low Low High
Cost Moderate Low High
Efficiency Moderate Low High
Desirability High High Low
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