Skiis and Biikes was founded in 1978 and is a leading Canadian retailer specializing in ski and bike equipment. With locations in Mississauga, Toronto and Collingwood, this company is passionate about connecting outdoor enthusiasts to create a safe and accessible community that gets people outside!
Under her leadership, Skiis and Biikes adopted TimeWellScheduled’s cloud-based scheduling software to replace their previous system. Since its implementation, Liz has observed significant improvements in scheduling flexibility, payroll administration, and communication between managers and employees.
We spoke with Liz and her team to learn more about her experience with TimeWellScheduled and its transformative impact on Skiis and Biikes’ operations.
One of Skiis and Biikes retail stores is located in the bustling commercial district of Mississauga – a city celebrated for its thriving retail economy and proximity to a variety of outdoor recreation areas including scenic biking trails, conservation parks, and popular ski destinations.
Other locations in Collingwood, Toronto, and the Caledon Ski Club all cater to the unique needs of their communities while upholding the company’s commitment to high-quality customer service and technical expertise.
Skiis and Biikes specializes in outdoor activity equipment, offering a wide range of gear, apparel, and technical services. They employ a dedicated team of 60 to 110 staff across all locations in order to sufficiently prioritize employee support.
Challenge #1: Outdated and Unintuitive Software
Before adopting TimeWellScheduled, Skiis and Biikes was struggling with an outdated scheduling system that hindered daily operations instead of supporting them. The previous software was not user-friendly and lacked the intuitive design needed for a fast-paced retail environment. Even after years of use, managers often found themselves reaching out to the service provider for support—only to discover that solutions were rarely straightforward. This inefficiency ultimately led to wasted time and resources.
“Nothing intuitive… Often had to seek support from (our old) service provider, even after years of use, but (they) rarely had an easy solution.”
Solution #1
After just a few days, Skiis and Biikes noticed the intuitive and user-friendly design of TimeWellScheduled, eliminating the need for frequent technical support while allowing for seamless navigation. The customization options provided flexibility to adapt the software to Skiis and Biikes’ specific needs, making it an ideal fit for their retail environment.
“We can change and adjust so many little things very easily to meet our needs.”
If technical support was ever needed, TimeWellScheduled ensured their team was responsive and eager to help. Their prompt assistance ensured that any questions or concerns were addressed efficiently, minimizing downtime and keeping operations running smoothly.
Challenge #2: Onboarding and Credential Management
Also, onboarding new employees and managing their credentials was another challenge Liz and her team faced. Their old system possessed security features that were overly complex, making it difficult to assign the correct settings to the right employees.
“Changing credentials was complicated and made it difficult to navigate the right settings for the right people… (not designed for retail workers or managers).”
Solution #2
One of the most significant changes was an easier onboarding system, assisted by improved scheduling efficiency. TimeWellScheduled displays timetables according to individual departments which enables managers to organize shifts more effectively and ensure adequate staffing for each area. Managers can also review daily summaries of employee hours and receive weekly notifications that reveal whether employees are over or under-scheduled. The ability to map out schedules weeks in advance and organize time-off requests within the app reduced disruptions and prevented manager inboxes from being overwhelmed. Even the shift swap function added some much-needed flexibility for employees.
“The hours summary by day is helpful.. (as is) the notice of employees hours for the week.”
“The Shift swap function is great, (as well as) being able to map out schedules weeks in advance.”
Payroll administration also benefited from the robust features of TimeWellScheduled as the system made uploading time records far more efficient, with fewer errors during the approval process. The Record of Employment (ROE) feature became an indispensable tool for managing payroll, saving time and ensuring accuracy. Weekly hours for overtime and lieu time are now easily accessible, giving managers clear insights to improve payroll processes and reduce administrative burdens.
“The ROE feature is an extremely valuable tool for (the) payroll side… (it’s) easy to view weekly hours for overtime and lieu time.”
Challenge #3: Inefficient Communication
Schedule and timecard communication was another weak point for Liz and her team. Their old software system did not offer a centralized platform for managing attendance and shift-related tasks, leaving managers to rely on text correspondence and emails. This approach can often lead to miscommunication and an overwhelming influx of messages, making it difficult to track important updates effectively. Managers needed a solution that could streamline these processes and create a dedicated space for essential notes and conversations.
The inefficiencies in scheduling and communication can detract from more critical aspects of store management, such as serving customers and supporting employees. Thus, Skiis and Biikes needed a solution that would streamline operations and reduce the administrative burden on managers—one that was specifically tailored to the needs of their retail environment. To address the challenges of their outdated scheduling software Skiis and Biikes turned to TimeWellScheduled.
Solution #3
Finally, TimeWellScheduled enhanced accountability and communication. Department managers gained direct access to attendance tracking for their employees, shifting responsibility and oversight away from the General Manager alone. Communication between managers and employees was streamlined through the app, which centralized shift tasks, attendance notes, and updates.
“Department Managers have insight into their own employee attendance (which) increases accountability.”
“(TimeWellScheduled) streamlin(ed) communication regarding attendance and shift tasks through the app, (which) is very beneficial to managers in creating a space for these notes and conversations rather than passing conversation or overwhelming texts and emails.”
Conclusion
With its ease of use, flexibility, and powerful features, TimeWellScheduled transformed Skiis and Biikes’ scheduling and communication processes across all locations. Managers now had the tools to save time, reduce errors, and improve operations, creating a more efficient and organized workplace for both staff and leadership.
