enVista, Carmel, Ind., announced plans to partner with Empower Software Solutions, a workforce management solutions provider based in Orlando.

The partnership, said to be one of the first of its kind, creates a robust retail workforce management solution that improves the customer experience by coupling Empower’s workforce management technology EmpowerWFM with enVista’s supply chain and workforce management consulting, employee change management training and industrial engineering services. The deep domain expertise of both organizations bolsters the combination of workforce technology, labor standards and training required to optimize the retail workforce for improved sales results.

EmpowerWFM provides detailed store staffing schedules based on historical information, including store traffic and point-of-sale data, as well as forecasts to optimize sales per square foot in the retail store. enVista applies its proprietary engineered labor standards, enCompassTM, to compute an accurate headcount and generate a staffing plan. Using the combined expertise of Empower and enVista, stores will gain more accurate scheduling, minimize overtime hours for store employees, reduce labor costs, increase available sales time and improve customer service.

"enVista has a proven track record of delivering results in retail distribution,” says Mike Star, vice president of WFM sales for Empower Software. “As the boundaries between supply chain and the retail store continue to blur, we believe a partnership between enVista and Empower will put retailers in an excellent position to raise the bar on store performance. Both companies share a fundamental belief that passion drives success. By combining our collective passion and expertise, enVista and Empower are creating new opportunities for success for our retail customers."

"Customer service and cost containment are paramount to retail success. We look forward to expanding how we help retailers manage the workforce in the store by leveraging Empower’s innovative workforce management solutions,” says Tom Stretar, senior director of enVista. “Together, we will provide a best-of-breed human capital management program for the retail and manufacturing markets."