Know the wage budget
Load a sample Friday service. Change one shift, then show the cost difference before publication.
Keep as evidence: Rates, penalties and on-costs included in the estimate; anything the reviewer must add.
Deputy alternative Australia
Comparing Deputy? Start with your next roster.
For cafés, restaurants and venue groups evaluating a Deputy alternative, the useful comparison is the week your managers need to run: coverage, wage cost, attendance and payroll handover.
Use the same five tests in both products.
Bring a fictional version of your venue's week, your labour allowance and your bookkeeper's requirements. This is an evaluation guide, not a scored competitor audit. Ask each supplier to demonstrate its current product and quote the same team and venue count.
Build a workable roster
Add approved leave, an unavailable supervisor and role coverage requirements.
Keep as evidence: Unfilled coverage, conflicts and the manager's review before publishing.
Review real attendance
Test an on-site clock-in, a failed location check and a missed clock-out.
Keep as evidence: The correction and approval process, including an alternative when a phone fails.
Hand approved time to payroll
Prepare a sample period for the exact payroll product your bookkeeper uses.
Keep as evidence: The actual export or connection, employee matching and category reconciliation.
Check rules and keep records
Review a late close, an early opening and a change to a regular roster.
Keep as evidence: Configured checks, unresolved exceptions and records available to the reviewer.
Questions for your Deputy comparison
- When the sales forecast changes, can your manager see and explain the effect of changing the roster before publishing?
- Which steps in your existing Deputy workflow must carry across: availability, shift swaps, approvals, employee identifiers or location rules?
- Is the payroll handover an export, an import or a direct connection, and who checks the categories before the pay run?
- What does each quote include for the same active team, archived staff, locations, support and billing period?
Check current plans and capabilities on Deputy's official website. Product names belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.
What to test in ShiftRova
Review estimated labour costs as you roster, use scheduling assistance with manager review, and connect attendance to approved timesheets.
Payroll handover currently includes a Xero-format CSV reference export and a MYOB timesheet file. Verify categories and compatibility with your bookkeeper; this is not automatic Xero payslip or leave synchronisation.
Configured award and penalty settings support review. They do not certify compliance or replace checking the applicable employment requirements.
Use the complete buyer's checklist →Pilot one venue before switching the group.
- Keep a copy of the records and settings you need from the existing system. Confirm export access and cancellation terms before ending a subscription.
- Use sample staff and one representative week to validate availability, roles, rates and the budget.
- Have your bookkeeper reconcile a full sample pay period, including an overnight shift, corrections and category splits.
- Agree a go-live date, train the venue manager and give staff one clear place to find the published roster.
- Review exceptions after the first service and first pay period before extending the rollout.
Know your budget before you publish.
Explore a hospitality roster and the cost of the week ahead.
Try the Live Hospitality Demo