Using Coverage Forecasting

The Forecasting tool helps you predict staffing needs based on historical data, contractual requirements, and seasonal patterns.

Accessing Forecasting

1. Navigate to Operations > Scheduling > Forecasting in the sidebar.
2. The forecasting dashboard loads with predictions based on your scheduling data.

Forecasting Dashboard

The dashboard shows:

• Staffing Demand Prediction — Projected guard hours needed per site.
• Coverage Gaps — Periods where scheduled guards fall below requirements.
• Overtime Projections — Guards likely to exceed regular hours.
• Cost Forecast — Estimated payroll based on projected schedules.

How Forecasting Works

Atlock analyzes:

• Historical patterns — Past scheduling data to identify trends.
• Site requirements — Minimum guard coverage per site/shift.
• Guard availability — Who is available, on leave, or reaching overtime.
• Seasonal adjustments — Higher demand periods (holidays, events).

Using Forecast Data

Identify Coverage Gaps

1. Review the gaps view showing understaffed periods.
2. For each gap:
   • See which site needs additional coverage.
   • See the time window.
   • See how many additional guards are needed.
3. Create shifts to fill gaps directly from the forecast view.

Plan Overtime

1. Review overtime projections.
2. Identify guards approaching overtime thresholds.
3. Reassign shifts to distribute hours more evenly.

Budget Planning

1. Use cost forecasts to project payroll expenses.
2. Compare against budget targets.
3. Adjust scheduling to stay within budget.

Managing Time-Off Requests

1. Navigate to Scheduling > Vacation Requests (or from the Teams section).
2. View all pending time-off requests:
   • Guard name.
   • Requested dates.
   • Reason.
   • Impact on coverage.
3. Approve or Deny with a reason.
4. Approved time-off automatically blocks the guard from scheduling on those dates.

Tip: The forecasting tool factors in approved time-off when calculating coverage.

Tips & Best Practices

• Review forecasts weekly when planning next week's schedule.
• Address coverage gaps proactively rather than scrambling day-of.
• Use forecasting data in client meetings to justify staffing recommendations.
• Monitor overtime closely — It's often cheaper to hire additional guards than pay overtime.

Troubleshooting

Forecast seems inaccurate

• Forecasting improves with more historical data. New accounts will have less accurate predictions.
• Verify site requirements are configured correctly.

Coverage gaps not showing

• Ensure minimum coverage requirements are set for each site.
• Check the date range of the forecast view.

Related Articles

• Creating a New Shift
• Managing Shift Swaps and Exchanges
• Processing Payroll Runs
• Using the Analytics Dashboard