The power of Merinio's algorithm

You may not be aware, but algorithms are ubiquitous and have a major impact on our daily lives. Whether it's the content we consume on the web, the simple act of ordering food, or searching for a plane ticket, algorithms play a central decision-making role by running at breakneck speed to provide you with a personalized experience. Chances are, you're using one right now.

But what exactly is an algorithm? It's contained in a software and is used to execute commands to a computer. It is a sequence of operations and instructions in a precise sequence that will process data in order to provide a result. It allows to apply mathematics to the real world through computing and to complete tasks at a lightning speed and with a high precision.

What is the purpose of an algorithm?

1. To assist in the thinking process
Algorithms act as personal assistants to facilitate decision-making. Their analytical capabilities allow you to determine the different options available to you and to predict their impact. Their goal is to reduce what is called the cognitive load: you don't have to worry about the position and skills of each person, their availability or their seniority dates, for example. You give employees more flexibility without increasing your workforce management tasks.

2. Generate and process data automatically
In this context, where a large amount of information is to be taken into account, the algorithm allows you to compare, filter and organize it. In concrete terms, you ask the algorithm to perform an action, and it will adapt to the constraints of your request, it will be able to process an almost unlimited amount of data. You will then get all the relevant information for your decision-making.

3. Avoid errors
It is possible to set up an innumerable number of rules that represent your operational processes. The algorithm will then follow to the letter all the procedures that you have previously provided it with according to the request that you make. Let's imagine that in a schedule management context, you have configured a maximum number of hours that an employee can work in a week: when you assign shifts to this employee, thanks to this algorithm, the limit of hours will never be exceeded.

Practical examples

We are now going to observe the contribution of Merinio's algorithm on a daily task in every company: the selection of the optimal employee for a shift. This task is sometimes a real headache since there are a lot of elements to take into account before finding the employee who matches all your criteria. Here are 4 ways an effective algorithm can solve all your problems in this situation.

First, the algorithm can present you with a list of employees who meet all the necessary requirements to fill the chosen shift, and will schedule them according to a complex set of rules like a collective agreement, simply by clicking on the shift that needs to be assigned.

A second way to use the algorithm is when automatically creating a schedule. The tool can indeed choose the employee for you by building a schedule template that works according to all the rules you have set (qualifications, availability...) and select the one that matches the criteria you are looking for (the lowest salary, the one with the least hours this week...).

You can also use the contact list function which works in two steps. First, in the platform, start a list for the algorithm to review all users in order to find those that match what you are looking for, i.e. those available for this shift. The second step for the algorithm will be to contact the eligible employees by calls or SMS thanks to the automated communication system integrated in the platform. This is a way to find the ideal candidate thanks to the information you have previously set up, such as the seniority date. The communications will be done from the oldest employee to the most recent and the one who accepts the shift first will then be automatically assigned by the algorithm to this shift and displayed in the schedule!

With just one click, it is also possible to ensure that there are no scheduling issues. The algorithm will then detect any errors that may have occurred in the actions performed by the user. For example, you will be able to see if an employee's work permit has expired, if they are already working too many hours, or if they have been assigned to a shift outside the region they serve.

Merinio's algorithm

Now we have to introduce how the Merinio algorithm works! Developed and constantly improved since 2016 by our team, our algorithm is designed to adapt to the realities of each company in order to make your operational processes always more efficient. We provide you with 50 sorting filters, so you have millions of ways to manage your processes at your fingertips. You can then handle your data as you see fit, while of course incorporating your internal or union rules. What makes our algorithm unique is that it's fully customizable and central to our platform, and it's the same algorithm that's used to generate lists, suggest the perfect employee for a shift, detect expired contracts, automatically fill shifts, and more.

You've already adopted all sorts of algorithms in your personal environment to save time and make your life easier, it's even hard to imagine your everyday life without them. Now think of the contribution they can make to your professional sphere! You will benefit from the same advantages, and just like with your personal algorithms, we bet you won't regret the time when you used to do these time-consuming tasks manually.