Smart Solution for Modern Workforce Planning
Interview with Robert Schüler, Managing Director of plano solutions GmbH
plano solutions GmbH is a software company that specializes in developing solutions for workforce planning. The software enables companies to analyze data and create future-oriented plans. Founded in 2006, plano has evolved through numerous milestones to become one of the leading providers of workforce management by 2023. Continuous adaptation to market requirements has made this success possible.
Robert Schüler, the founder and managing director of plano solutions GmbH, studied business informatics in Ilmenau and started his career as a consultant for staff scheduling. In 2006, he took the step towards self-employment, thereby laying the foundation for the current success story of the IT company. Robert Schüler recalls: 'I recognized early on that there was a market gap for flexible and intelligent software solutions in the area of staff scheduling. I wanted to close this gap.' With headquarters in Ilmenau and additional locations in Germany and Switzerland, since the beginning of 2023, the company has been part of the US-based Allegion group.
Flexibility and Customer Feedback as Success Factors
The core competence of plano solutions lies in developing software for workforce scheduling. This includes not only time tracking but also time management and the subsequent workforce scheduling. "Our software helps companies analyze staffing needs, create rosters, and evaluate employee working hours," explains Robert Schüler. In recent years, the company has focused on innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve forecasts and optimizations in workforce management. A special feature of the software is its flexibility. "Our solution is highly configurable," says the founder.
"This means that our customers can adapt the software to their specific needs and legal requirements without the need for new programming." This adaptability makes plano solutions an attractive partner for companies with complex requirements. Additionally, the software can be installed both locally and in the cloud. "We always keep an ear to the market and let our customers help shape the roadmap. This has contributed to our software maturing over the years and now offers a high level of investment security," emphasizes Robert Schüler.
Employee-centered Planning for Increased Productivity
In the early years, plano's focus was on being able to create schedules at the push of a button. Today, the software offers a comprehensive range of functions, from automated schedule creation to employee involvement. 'We call this Self-Rostering,' explains Robert Schüler. This means that employees can enter their preferences and availabilities directly into the system, which significantly simplifies schedule creation and increases employee satisfaction. The company serves a niche that places demanding requirements on personnel deployment planning and time management. The main customers include companies from the public sector, logistics, airports, and companies from the healthcare system. These industries require tailored solutions that are flexible and adaptable to efficiently meet their complex planning needs. These requirements can be optimally covered by the versatile and innovative solutions from plano solutions.
Traveling across Europe with the 'plano-Spirit'
In addition to Germany, plano is also active in the Benelux countries, Austria, and Switzerland. Robert Schüler's personal motivation is to become relevant throughout Europe and to maintain the 'plano-Spirit' within the company. With a clear focus on innovation, customer retention, and employee satisfaction, plano solutions strives to further expand and strengthen its leading position in workforce scheduling. "We want to become relevant throughout Europe and continue to offer our customers the best possible solutions. In doing so, we rely on continuous innovation and close cooperation with our customers," summarizes Robert Schüler.
The international presence and integration into the Allegion group strengthen the corporate structure. "I am proud that despite the takeover by Allegion, we have retained our ‘plano-Spirit’. We have not lost a single employee – this shows how strong our team is," explains Robert Schüler. Allegion's expertise in security and access technologies complements plano solutions' offerings in timekeeping and workforce scheduling optimally. This synergy allows plano solutions to offer its customers more comprehensive and integrated security and workforce management solutions, thereby increasing efficiency and safety in operations. With a total of 120 employees and an annual total revenue of 26 million EUR in the workforce management sector, plano is well-positioned. Thanks to stable and trustworthy customer relationships, the company is heading towards a promising future.