At Soon, we’ve always believed that scheduling should be simple, efficient, and adaptable to the unique needs of every business. However, we know that reality doesn’t always match that ideal. From retail shops to hospitals, shift-based businesses across the world struggle with the same problem: how to create, update, and manage schedules that work for everyone. It’s a tedious, time-consuming task that often pulls managers away from what really matters—running their business.
This is where the idea for the Text-to-Schedule Shift Generator was born. We wanted to solve one of the biggest pain points for businesses: simplifying the complex process of scheduling. And today, we’re thrilled to announce that this tool is now live.
But before we dive into what it does and why it matters, let’s talk about the story behind its creation.
The Problem: Scheduling Is More Complex Than It Seems
No two businesses are exactly alike. Scheduling a 24/7 healthcare team is vastly different from scheduling employees at a boutique retail store or a customer service team. Different shifts, employee availability, operating hours, and fluctuating demand make scheduling one of the most complex challenges businesses face.
For years, managers have been relying on spreadsheets or generic scheduling software that forces them into rigid templates. The issue? These tools don’t adapt to the specific needs of each business. Managers are left to manually tweak schedules or spend hours assigning shifts, adjusting for last-minute changes, and ensuring compliance with labor regulations.
We saw the pain this caused. And we knew there had to be a better way.
The Solution: Leveraging AI to Simplify the Process
When OpenAI released their API, it opened up a world of possibilities. We started experimenting with the idea of using AI to handle one of the most frustrating parts of scheduling: the initial setup.
What if you could simply describe your business needs in one sentence—how many employees you have, what your hours are, how many shifts you need—and an AI would generate the entire week’s schedule for you?
That’s what the Text-to-Schedule Shift Generator does. Instead of forcing managers to tinker with templates and manually assign every shift, they can now input a simple prompt:
“I have a café with 8 employees. We’re open Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 6 PM. I need two shifts per day with 4 employees per shift.”
From there, the AI takes over. In seconds, it generates a full week’s schedule based on your input. And the best part? It’s completely customizable. If the schedule needs adjustments, you can edit the prompt or tweak the schedule directly.
Why We Built It
The why behind this tool is simple: we wanted to give managers back their time. Time they could spend on training their teams, improving customer service, or growing their business—not on managing shifts.
Here’s why we believe this feature is a game-changer:
1. It’s Simple: Just type your scheduling needs into a prompt, and the AI does the rest. No need for a steep learning curve or complex setup.
2. It’s Flexible: Whether you run a retail store, a medical clinic, or a restaurant, the tool adapts to your specific needs. The AI-generated schedule isn’t rigid—you can customize it further as needed.
3. It Saves Time: Manual scheduling is tedious and prone to errors. Our AI cuts that process down to seconds. The result? Less time on admin tasks and more time focused on your business.
4. It Reduces Stress: Trying to juggle employee preferences, shift coverage, and last-minute changes is stressful. With the shift generator, you’re not starting from scratch. The AI gives you a solid foundation, and you can tweak as you go.
How It Works
Here’s a quick overview of how the Text-to-Schedule Shift Generator works:
1. Step 1: Describe Your Needs
Enter a simple prompt that outlines your business’s scheduling requirements. Include operating hours, number of staff, and the types of shifts you need.
2. Step 2: Let the AI Do Its Thing
The AI instantly generates a full week’s schedule based on your input. It takes into account all the details you’ve provided, ensuring every shift is covered.
3. Step 3: Customize As Needed
The generated schedule can be used as-is, or you can make adjustments. Save it as a template, or tweak individual shifts before finalizing.
4. Step 4: Use the Auto-Scheduler
If needed, you can also use our auto-scheduler feature to assign staff to shifts in the most optimized way possible.
For a more detailed explanation head over to our help center to read up on the how to use the Shift Plan Generator.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Scheduling
This launch is just the beginning. Our goal is to continue improving the way businesses handle workforce management. We’re already working on new features like forecasting tools to help managers plan ahead, anticipate busy periods, and schedule smarter. The future of scheduling is about more than just assigning shifts—it’s about making data-driven decisions that help businesses thrive.
We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and we can’t wait for you to try it. Our Text-to-Schedule Shift Generator isn’t just another feature—it’s a step toward making work easier for businesses everywhere.
Try It Today
If you’re tired of manual scheduling and endless spreadsheets, give our new feature a try. Just type in your scheduling needs and let the AI do the heavy lifting. It’s fast, flexible, and—dare we say it—a little magical.
You can learn more about it here or head over to Product Hunt and give us an upvote!
Thanks for supporting us in making scheduling smarter, faster, and easier.
