Using Schedule Templates

Schedule templates in AccuArk are reusable shift patterns that save time when building weekly schedules. Instead of entering the same start time, end time, and break duration for every shift, you define the pattern once and apply it whenever you need it.

What Is a Template?

A template is a saved shift definition that stores the timing details you use repeatedly. For example, you might create a template called "Morning" that represents a shift from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with a 30-minute lunch break. Once saved, you can apply this template to any employee on any day with a single click.

Creating a Template

To create a new template, navigate to Scheduling → Templates and click New Template. Fill in the following fields:

• Name — A descriptive label for the template (e.g., "Morning", "Evening Close", "Weekend Half-Day")
• Description — An optional note explaining when or how this template is used
• Start time — The shift start time
• End time — The shift end time
• Break minutes — The total break time included in the shift

Click Save to store the template for future use.

Applying a Template

When creating a new shift in the scheduler, you will see a Template dropdown. Select a template from the list and AccuArk will auto-fill the start time, end time, and break minutes. You can still adjust the date, location, and employee as needed. This is the fastest way to populate a schedule when most of your shifts follow standard patterns.

Bulk Shift Generation

Templates become especially powerful when combined with bulk generation. From the scheduler, select multiple employees and multiple days, choose a template, and AccuArk will create shifts for every combination at once. For example, selecting five employees across Monday through Friday with the "Morning" template generates 25 shifts in a single action.

Editing Template-Based Shifts

Once a shift has been created from a template, you can edit it like any other shift. When you modify a template-based shift, its source changes from Template to Modified. This distinction helps you see which shifts still match their original template and which have been customized.

When to Use Templates vs. Manual Shifts

• Templates are ideal for regular, recurring schedules where the same shift times repeat each week.
• Manual shifts are better for one-off exceptions, special events, or irregular coverage needs.

In practice, most businesses use a combination of both.

Best Practice

Before building your first weekly schedule, take a few minutes to create templates for your most common shifts. Having a "Morning", "Afternoon", and "Evening" template ready to go will make schedule building significantly faster and ensures consistency across your team.