Understanding support package pricing is crucial when evaluating Shyft as your workforce scheduling solution. Support packages provide the assistance, guidance, and troubleshooting help that businesses need to successfully implement and maintain their employee scheduling systems. With the right level of support, companies can maximize their return on investment while ensuring smooth operations across retail locations, healthcare facilities, warehouses, and other workplaces with complex scheduling needs. Shyft offers tiered support options designed to accommodate organizations of various sizes and with different requirements, from basic technical assistance to comprehensive enterprise-level support with dedicated account management.
The pricing structure for Shyft’s support packages aligns with the diverse needs of businesses utilizing workforce management software. Whether you’re a small retail operation looking for essential support or a multi-location enterprise requiring advanced implementation assistance and ongoing consultation, understanding the available options helps you budget appropriately and ensure your team receives the necessary help to leverage Shyft’s employee scheduling and shift marketplace capabilities effectively. This comprehensive guide will walk through everything you need to know about Shyft’s support package pricing, helping you make an informed decision that balances cost considerations with your organization’s operational needs.
Essential Support Package: Foundation for Success
The Essential Support Package serves as Shyft’s entry-level support option, designed to provide fundamental assistance for businesses implementing the platform. This tier offers core support services while maintaining affordability for smaller organizations or those with straightforward scheduling needs. Understanding what’s included helps determine if this level meets your requirements or if you should consider more comprehensive options.
- Standard Business Hours Support: Access to support representatives during regular business hours (typically 8am-5pm in your region’s time zone) for troubleshooting and assistance.
- Email Ticket System: Submit support requests through a dedicated ticketing system with response times typically within 24-48 hours.
- Knowledge Base Access: Complete access to Shyft’s documentation, tutorials, and self-help resources for common questions and procedures.
- Basic Implementation Guide: Standard documentation for setting up your Shyft platform, including user management and initial configuration.
- Software Updates: Automatic delivery of platform updates and maintenance releases to ensure system stability and security.
The Essential Support Package typically follows a per-user pricing model, making it scalable for growing businesses. This approach allows organizations to start with a manageable investment while focusing on core implementation and training needs. While suitable for organizations with in-house technical capabilities or simpler scheduling requirements, businesses with complex operations might find the response times and limited implementation assistance insufficient. For small business scheduling features, this package often provides adequate support to get started with Shyft’s platform.
Professional Support Package: Enhanced Assistance for Growing Businesses
The Professional Support Package represents Shyft’s mid-tier offering, balancing comprehensive support with reasonable costs for medium-sized businesses or those with more complex scheduling needs. This package builds upon the Essential tier with additional services and faster response times, making it suitable for organizations that rely heavily on efficient workforce scheduling across multiple departments or locations.
- Extended Support Hours: Access to support representatives beyond standard business hours, often including early morning, evening, and weekend coverage for critical issues.
- Faster Response Times: Priority ticket handling with response times typically within 4-8 business hours for standard issues and 2-4 hours for critical concerns.
- Phone Support: Direct telephone access to support specialists for more immediate assistance with complex problems or time-sensitive issues.
- Guided Implementation: Personalized setup assistance including configuration reviews and best practice recommendations for your specific industry.
- Admin Training Sessions: Structured training for system administrators covering advanced features and configuration options.
The Professional Support Package typically follows a tiered pricing structure based on organization size and usage volume. This model provides predictable costs while ensuring appropriate support levels as your business scales. The package is particularly valuable for businesses in sectors like retail, hospitality, and healthcare where scheduling complexities require more hands-on assistance and training. The extended support hours also accommodate businesses operating outside traditional 9-to-5 schedules, ensuring help is available when needed most.
Enterprise Support Package: Comprehensive Solutions for Complex Organizations
The Enterprise Support Package represents Shyft’s premium support tier, designed specifically for large organizations with complex workforce management needs spanning multiple locations, departments, or operating models. This comprehensive package provides the highest level of assistance and strategic guidance, ensuring maximum value from your Shyft implementation while minimizing operational disruptions.
- 24/7/365 Support Coverage: Round-the-clock access to support specialists for assistance at any time, crucial for organizations with continuous operations.
- Dedicated Account Manager: A specific point of contact who understands your business needs, provides strategic guidance, and advocates for your organization.
- Custom Implementation Plan: Tailored deployment strategy addressing your specific organizational structure, integration requirements, and business objectives.
- Fastest Response SLAs: Guaranteed response times of 1-2 hours for critical issues and 4 hours for standard requests, backed by service level agreements.
- Advanced Integration Support: Specialized assistance with connecting Shyft to existing HR systems, payroll platforms, and other business software.
Enterprise Support pricing typically follows a customized model based on organization size, complexity, and specific requirements. While representing a more significant investment, this package delivers substantial value through reduced downtime, optimized configuration, and strategic guidance. For organizations in sectors like supply chain or airlines where scheduling inefficiencies can have major financial implications, the comprehensive support justifies the additional cost through operational improvements and risk mitigation. The advanced features and tools available with this tier enable sophisticated scheduling capabilities across large, complex workforces.
Specialized Support Add-Ons: Customizing Your Support Experience
Beyond the standard support packages, Shyft offers specialized add-on services that can be purchased to enhance your support experience. These supplementary options allow organizations to customize their support coverage based on specific needs without upgrading their entire package. Understanding these options helps businesses optimize their support investment by focusing on areas of greatest importance.
- Advanced Training Packages: Comprehensive training programs for administrators and end-users, available as virtual sessions or on-site workshops for larger implementations.
- Technical Account Management: Dedicated technical specialist who provides proactive monitoring, regular health checks, and strategic guidance for complex deployments.
- Custom Development Hours: Pre-purchased development time for customizations, specialized reports, or unique integrations specific to your business needs.
- Data Migration Services: Expert assistance with transferring existing scheduling data, employee information, and historical records into the Shyft platform.
- Quarterly Business Reviews: Structured assessment sessions to evaluate platform performance, identify optimization opportunities, and align with evolving business needs.
These add-on services are typically priced either as one-time purchases or as recurring supplements to your base support package. This flexibility allows organizations to address specific needs without overcommitting to unused services. For example, businesses transitioning from legacy systems might invest in data migration services initially, while growing organizations might prioritize training packages to ensure proper adoption. The customization options available through these add-ons make Shyft’s support structure adaptable to various organizational requirements and integration capabilities.
Implementation Support and Onboarding: Setting the Foundation
Implementation support represents a critical component of Shyft’s overall support package pricing, as the initial setup phase often determines long-term success with the platform. Different support tiers offer varying levels of implementation assistance, from basic guidance to comprehensive project management. This phase establishes how effectively your organization will utilize Shyft’s scheduling capabilities from day one.
- Implementation Planning: Strategic preparation including timeline development, resource allocation, and milestone establishment tailored to your organization’s size and complexity.
- Data Structure Configuration: Expert guidance on setting up departments, roles, skills, locations, and other organizational elements within the platform.
- System Integration: Technical assistance connecting Shyft with existing HR systems, time clocks, payroll platforms, and other business-critical software.
- Administrator Training: Comprehensive education for system managers covering configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and best practices.
- End-User Adoption Strategy: Proven methodologies for introducing the platform to employees, including communication templates and training materials.
Implementation support pricing varies significantly between packages, with Essential offering basic self-service resources, Professional providing guided implementation with some customization, and Enterprise delivering full-service implementation with dedicated project management. Organizations should consider their internal technical capabilities, timeline requirements, and complexity when evaluating implementation options. Proper implementation significantly reduces long-term support needs and maximizes return on investment. For businesses undergoing digital transformation, the support and training provided during implementation establishes the foundation for successful launching your first schedule.
ROI Considerations for Support Package Selection
When evaluating support package pricing, calculating potential return on investment helps justify costs and identify the most appropriate tier for your organization. Support services contribute to ROI through various mechanisms, including reduced downtime, faster issue resolution, improved adoption rates, and optimized utilization of platform features. Understanding these factors enables more strategic decision-making about support investments.
- Operational Efficiency Gains: Higher support tiers typically lead to more optimized configurations, resulting in time savings for scheduling managers and employees.
- Reduced Implementation Timeline: Enhanced implementation support accelerates deployment, allowing organizations to realize benefits sooner.
- Minimized Productivity Disruptions: Faster response times and proactive support reduce schedule-related disruptions that could impact operations.
- Improved Adoption Rates: Better training and support resources increase employee utilization, maximizing the platform’s impact across the organization.
- Strategic Optimization: Advanced support tiers provide guidance on leveraging Shyft features for specific business challenges and opportunities.
Organizations should conduct a cost-benefit analysis comparing the incremental cost of higher support tiers against the potential operational improvements and risk mitigation they provide. While smaller organizations with straightforward scheduling needs might find the Essential package sufficient, businesses with complex operations often achieve better ROI from Professional or Enterprise support due to the significant impact of scheduling efficiency on their bottom line. Cost management considerations should include both direct support costs and the potential value of improved scheduling practices. The scheduling software ROI often increases substantially with appropriate support levels.
Selecting the Right Support Package for Your Business
Choosing the most appropriate Shyft support package requires careful evaluation of your organization’s specific needs, technical capabilities, operational complexity, and budget constraints. The right support tier balances cost considerations with the level of assistance required to maximize platform benefits. This assessment should involve stakeholders from various departments to ensure all requirements are considered.
- Organization Size and Complexity: Larger organizations with multiple locations or departments typically benefit from higher support tiers due to implementation complexity and ongoing management needs.
- Technical Expertise Availability: Companies with limited in-house technical resources often require more comprehensive support packages to compensate for this gap.
- Operational Criticality: Businesses where scheduling directly impacts revenue or service delivery should prioritize faster response times and more comprehensive support.
- Implementation Timeline: Organizations with aggressive deployment schedules may require higher-tier packages with dedicated implementation assistance.
- Integration Requirements: Companies needing complex integrations with existing systems should consider packages that provide specialized integration support.
Many organizations find that starting with a higher support tier during implementation and the initial months of operation provides significant value, even if they later transition to a lower tier once systems are stable and staff are properly trained. Shyft offers flexibility in adjusting support levels as needs evolve. For industry-specific guidance, explore Shyft’s solutions for retail, healthcare, or other relevant sectors. Understanding your requirements when selecting the right scheduling software helps determine appropriate support needs.
Support Package Pricing Models and Structures
Shyft employs various pricing models for support packages, each designed to align with different organizational structures and usage patterns. Understanding these models helps businesses anticipate costs and select the most economically advantageous option for their circumstances. Pricing transparency is essential for proper budgeting and evaluating the total cost of ownership for the Shyft platform.
- Per-User Pricing: Support costs calculated based on the number of active users in the system, scaling proportionally as your workforce grows or shrinks.
- Tiered User Bands: Fixed price ranges corresponding to user count brackets (e.g., 50-100 users), providing predictability while accommodating growth.
- Percentage of Subscription: Support costs calculated as a percentage of your base Shyft subscription price, typically ranging from 15-25% depending on the support tier.
- Fixed Annual Fee: Predetermined yearly cost based on organization size and complexity, providing budget certainty regardless of minor fluctuations in usage.
- Hybrid Models: Combinations of base fees plus variable components for specialized services or exceptional support needs beyond standard package inclusions.
Organizations should evaluate these models in the context of their growth projections, seasonal fluctuations, and budget structures. While per-user pricing offers flexibility for organizations with variable staffing, fixed annual fees may be more advantageous for stable workforces seeking predictable costs. Many businesses find that the overview of pricing models helps them understand different approaches to support costs. The total cost of ownership should consider both immediate support costs and long-term value provided through improved operations.
Conclusion: Maximizing Value from Your Support Investment
Support package pricing represents a critical component of your overall investment in Shyft’s workforce scheduling platform. The right support level ensures smooth implementation, effective ongoing operations, and maximum utilization of the platform’s capabilities to address your organization’s unique scheduling challenges. While cost considerations are important, the value delivered through reduced administrative burden, improved scheduling efficiency, and enhanced employee experience typically outweighs the support investment when appropriately matched to your needs.
To maximize the return on your support investment, actively engage with available resources, participate in training opportunities, establish clear internal processes for support utilization, and regularly evaluate your support needs as your organization evolves. Remember that support packages can often be adjusted as your requirements change, allowing you to scale assistance up or down based on current priorities. By viewing support not as a mandatory cost but as a strategic investment in operational excellence, organizations can leverage Shyft’s expertise to transform their workforce scheduling processes for greater efficiency and employee satisfaction. The combination of powerful team communication tools and effective support creates a foundation for scheduling success across industries and organizational sizes.
FAQ
1. How does Shyft determine which support package is right for my business?
Shyft recommends support packages based on several factors including your organization’s size, industry, technical capabilities, implementation timeline, and operational complexity. During the sales process, a Shyft representative will assess these elements through consultative discovery to recommend the most appropriate support tier. Factors like 24/7 operations, multi-location deployment, and integration requirements typically indicate the need for more comprehensive support packages. For organizations with in-house technical expertise and simpler scheduling needs, basic support options may be sufficient.
2. Can we upgrade or downgrade our support package after implementation?
Yes, Shyft allows organizations to modify their support packages as needs evolve. Many customers choose higher-tier support during implementation and the initial months of operation, then adjust to a different level once their system is stable and staff are properly trained. Upgrades can typically be implemented immediately, while downgrades usually take effect at contract renewal periods. Support adjustments may require contract amendments and potentially affect pricing based on commitment terms and timing. Your account manager can provide specific details about the process and any associated costs.
3. Are there additional costs beyond the base support package pricing?
While Shyft’s base support packages cover most standard assistance needs, certain specialized services may incur additional costs. These can include on-site training, custom development work, specialized integrations, data migration services, or extended hours implementation support. Emergency support beyond contracted service levels might also involve premium fees. Shyft provides transparent documentation of these potential additional costs during the contracting process. Organizations should discuss any anticipated special requirements with their Shyft representative to ensure all potential costs are accounted for in budgeting.
4. How does support package pricing compare to industry standards?
Shyft’s support package pricing aligns competitively with industry standards for workforce management software, typically ranging from 15-25% of base subscription costs depending on the support tier. The company emphasizes value delivery through targeted support offerings rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. When comparing costs, organizations should consider not just the base price but the specific services included, response time guarantees, availability hours, and implementation assistance. The comprehensive nature of Shyft’s higher-tier packages often delivers greater value than seemingly cheaper alternatives with more limited coverage.
5. What implementation support is included in each package?
Implementation support varies significantly between Shyft’s support tiers. The Essential package includes basic setup documentation, access to standard configuration guides, and limited assistance via email. The Professional package adds guided implementation services with designated specialists, configuration review sessions, admin training webinars, and data import assistance. The Enterprise package provides comprehensive implementation support including project management, custom configuration development, on-site training options, extensive integration assistance, and post-implementation optimization reviews. Each tier’s implementation support is designed to align with the complexity level of organizations typically selecting that package.
