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.
