Sling

Overview

Sling is an all-in-one workforce management platform built specifically for restaurants, retail stores, and businesses with hourly shift workers. It combines scheduling, time tracking, team communication, and task management in a single intuitive application designed to save managers time while improving team coordination.

Features

Smart Scheduling

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Create schedules quickly with visual builder
• Availability Tracking: Employees set when they can and cannot work
• Conflict Alerts: Automatic warnings for double-bookings and availability conflicts
• Schedule Templates: Save and reuse common schedule patterns
• Shift Copy: Duplicate previous week's schedules with one click
• Color Coding: Visual organization by role, shift type, or location
• Schedule Publishing: Send schedules to entire team with notifications
• Multi-Location: Manage multiple store or restaurant locations

Time Clock

• Mobile Clock-In: Employees punch in/out from their smartphones
• Kiosk Mode: Use tablet as shared time clock for team
• GPS Geofencing: Ensure employees are on-site when clocking in
• Facial Recognition: Prevent buddy punching with photo verification
• Break Tracking: Automatic meal and rest break recording
• Time-Off Requests: Employees request time off through the app
• Timesheet Editing: Managers can adjust entries with audit trail
• Overtime Tracking: Monitor hours and receive overtime warnings

Labor Cost Management

• Real-Time Labor Costs: See current labor spending as schedules are built
• Budget Targets: Set daily, weekly, or monthly labor budgets
• Forecasting: Predict labor needs based on historical data and sales
• Cost Alerts: Notifications when approaching budget limits
• Labor Reports: Detailed analysis of labor costs by department, location, or time period
• Sales Integration: Connect with POS systems for labor-to-sales ratio tracking

Team Communication

• Group Messaging: Chat with entire team or specific groups
• Announcements: Broadcast important updates with read receipts
• Direct Messages: One-on-one communication between team members
• Shift Notes: Attach information to specific shifts
• File Sharing: Distribute menus, procedures, and training materials
• Message Scheduling: Schedule announcements for future delivery

Shift Management

• Shift Trading: Employees can offer shifts to coworkers
• Manager Approval: Control which trades happen automatically
• Open Shifts: Post available shifts for employees to claim
• Shift Reminders: Automated notifications before shifts begin
• Late Clock-In Alerts: Notify managers of tardiness
• Callout Management: Track no-shows and late arrivals

Task Management

• Task Lists: Create daily to-do lists for shifts and employees
• Recurring Tasks: Set up regular duties that repeat daily, weekly, or monthly
• Task Assignment: Assign specific tasks to roles or individuals
• Completion Tracking: Employees check off completed tasks
• Photo Verification: Employees can attach photos to completed tasks
• Shift Notes: Add context and instructions to tasks

Industry-Specific Features

For Restaurants

• Position-Based Scheduling: Schedule by role (servers, cooks, hosts)
• Shift Meal Tracking: Track employee meals for inventory and accounting
• Section Assignment: Assign servers to specific sections
• Kitchen vs Front of House: Separate scheduling views by area
• POS Integration: Connect with Toast, Square, Clover, and other restaurant POS systems

For Retail

• Peak Hour Scheduling: Ensure adequate coverage during busy times
• Sales-Based Forecasting: Schedule based on predicted foot traffic
• Multi-Department: Manage schedules across different store departments
• Seasonal Staffing: Handle fluctuating staffing needs

Mobile Apps

• iOS and Android: Native apps for employees and managers
• Manager View: Full scheduling and management capabilities on mobile
• Employee View: Simplified interface for viewing schedules and clocking in
• Offline Access: View schedules without internet connection
• Push Notifications: Instant alerts for schedule changes and messages

Integration Options

• Payroll: QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, Paychex, Square Payroll
• POS Systems: Toast, Square, Clover, Lightspeed, Revel
• Accounting: QuickBooks, Xero
• HR Systems: BambooHR, Namely

Benefits

• Save Scheduling Time: Build schedules in minutes, not hours
• Reduce Labor Costs: Real-time visibility prevents overstaffing
• Improve Communication: Keep team connected and informed
• Prevent Time Theft: GPS and facial recognition ensure accurate time tracking
• Increase Accountability: Task lists ensure critical duties are completed
• Simplify Compliance: Automatic break and overtime tracking
• Reduce No-Shows: Shift reminders decrease missed shifts

Pricing

Sling offers several pricing tiers:

Free Plan:

• Employee scheduling
• Shift trading
• Time-off requests
• Team messaging
• Up to 100 employees

Premium ($2/user/month):

• Time clock functionality
• GPS geofencing
• Task management
• Labor cost tracking
• Advanced reporting

Business ($4/user/month):

• All Premium features
• Facial recognition
• Payroll integrations
• POS integrations
• Priority support
• Multiple locations

All paid plans include a 14-day free trial. Annual billing offers discounts.