Kronos Workforce Central alternatives: How to plan your next move before 2027

The clock is ticking for Kronos Workforce Central...

If your organisation is running Kronos Workforce Central (WFC), you’ve likely already heard the news: UKG (formed from the merger of Kronos and Ultimate Software) has announced end-of-life for the platform.

Support for private-cloud deployments ends in December 2025, with on-premise support retiring in March 2027. After that, there’ll be no new updates, no security patches, and no engineering fixes. Outages or disruptions could last several weeks if you don't take action on this big change.

For many enterprise businesses – particularly in retail, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing, and across various industries with sector-specific needs – this creates both urgency and opportunity. 

You can either re-platform to UKG’s next-generation suite, or rethink how workforce management works across your organisation for modernisation (because both options will involve a similar level of effort).
And that’s where Rotageek comes in.

Skip to:
What is Kronos Workforce Central?
Why UKG is retiring Kronos Workforce Central
The "lift-and-shift" trap
Why organisations are exploring alternatives
Key features to look for in a replacement
Rotageek: A modern alternative
Turning migration into transformation
Why timing matters

What is Kronos Workforce Central?

Kronos Workforce (officially Kronos Workforce Central) is one of the longest-standing workforce management suites on the market. Owned by UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), it has been used by large enterprises worldwide to handle:

• Time and attendance

• Scheduling and shift planning

• Absence and leave management
• Labour costing and compliance tracking
• Human capital management
• Employee self-service (clock-in/out, shift swaps, time-off requests), with features for the manager such as compliance oversight and reporting

Historically, Kronos Workforce was deployed on-premise or via private cloud, often with heavy customisation and complex integrations into payroll and HR systems. A traditional desktop version is available for users who prefer or require a computer-based interface.

It’s known for being reliable and wide-ranging, covering almost every aspect of workforce management. But after decades in operation, it can feel rigid, complex, and resource-heavy - a system that takes a lot of upkeep and makes it harder to move fast or innovate.

Why UKG is retiring Kronos Workforce Central

UKG's next-generation suite also includes UKG Ready, a lighter, cloud-based workforce management and HR solution. It offers core capabilities like time and attendance, scheduling, and basic HR features, aimed at organisations that don’t need the complexity of UKG Pro Workforce Management.

Key milestones:

• 31 December 2025: End of engineering support for all WFC deployments
• 31 March 2027: End of support for on-premise versions

After these dates, customers remaining on WFC face heightened risks:

• No security or compliance patches
• Limited vendor support
• Difficulty integrating with newer systems
• Potential exposure to new data-protection regulations

For large, multi-site businesses, waiting until 2026 or 2027 simply isn’t an option. 
Most migrations take six to nine months, and that’s before testing, training, and rollout. Traditional tools can take months to implement, whereas modern solutions focus on quick, self-service onboarding with the opportunity to go live within weeks.

The “lift-and-shift” trap

UKG naturally recommends moving existing customers to its new platform. It might sound like the easier option, but it's not that simple.

Migrating from Kronos Workforce Central to UKG Pro Workforce Management isn’t a quick upgrade - it’s effectively a new implementation. You’ll still face:

• Full data migration and mapping
• Process redesign
• Integration rebuilds
• Employee retraining

There may also be an additional cost for ongoing support or extra features not included in the base migration, which could impact your overall budget.

In short, it’s the same level of effort as moving to a completely new vendor.

That’s why many businesses are using this moment to re-evaluate their workforce management strategy altogether and make sure they don’t carry legacy issues into their next system.

Why organisations are exploring Kronos Workforce Central alternatives

Whether you’re in retail, hospitality, or another shift-based industry, the way work is managed has changed dramatically since Kronos Workforce Central / WFC first launched. Today’s businesses need tools that are:

• Cloud-native - built for scalability and speed, not retrofitted from on-premise systems.
• AI-driven - using real-time data to predict and forecast demand and optimise staffing.
• Mobile-first - empowering managers and employees with access from anywhere, including the ability to view schedules in real time.
• Intuitively designed - ensuring high adoption and better employee experience.
• Fast to deploy - delivering value within weeks, not months.
• Scalable and flexible - offering solutions suitable for large enterprises and scaling businesses.
• Advanced in terms of scheduling - enabling employees and managers to check schedules for compliance and efficiency.

Today’s workforce tools are designed to move with you - packed with features that fit the way teams work now.

Older platforms like Kronos Workforce Central often fall short of today’s expectations - and as IT systems move to the cloud, keeping on-premise setups running just gets more expensive and complicated.

Key features to look for in a replacement

When you're planning your move away from Kronos Workforce Central, it's essential to choose a workforce management solution that doesn't just match your current needs but also sets your organisation up for future growth.

The right workforce management software should streamline your processes, boost productivity, and help you keep those labour costs under control across your entire workforce.

Here are the key features you'll want to prioritise as you evaluate your next platform:

Time and attendance tracking: You'll want to look for a robust time tracking system that offers accurate, automated attendance solutions - whether that's through time clocks, mobile apps, or desktop versions. This ensures you've got reliable data for payroll processing and helps reduce those compliance risks that keep you up at night.

Employee scheduling: An intuitive scheduling platform should make it easy for your managers to create, adjust, and share schedules. Features like auto-scheduling, shift swapping, and the ability for employees to request time off or swap shifts directly from their devices (think: empowering both managers and teams) improve engagement and operational efficiency.

Compliance management: Managing compliance risks is critical. Choose a solution that helps you stay ahead of changing labour laws and industry regulations, with proactive alerts and built-in compliance tracking to minimise risk and support your teams.

Payroll processing integration: Seamless integration between your time and attendance solution and payroll software is a must-have. This reduces manual entry, streamlines payroll processing, and ensures accuracy in your payroll systems - saving you time and reducing those additional costs nobody wants.

HR management tools: A comprehensive workforce management platform should include HR-based features like employee data management, performance tracking, and talent management. This solution supports the full suite of human resources needs, from recruitment right through to leave management.

Labour cost control: Advanced analytics and forecasting tools help you monitor and control labour costs. Look for solutions that provide real-time data, demand forecasting, and budgeting capabilities, so you can make informed decisions and optimise workforce spend as your business grows.

Real-time alerts and notifications: Real-time alerts keep your managers and employees informed about schedule changes, time-off approvals, and compliance issues. This level of communication supports efficient scheduling and helps prevent those costly errors we'd all rather avoid.

Mobile accessibility: A mobile-friendly workforce management solution allows your entire workforce to access schedules, check shifts, request time off, and clock in or out from any location. This flexibility is especially valuable if you've got multiple locations or frontline managers who are always on the go.

Integration with other systems: Your next platform should play nicely with the tools you already use - from HR and payroll to time and attendance. Seamless connections mean smoother data flow, less manual work, and fewer system headaches for your team (and who doesn't want less admin?).

Scalability and flexibility: As your organisation evolves, your workforce management software should scale with you. Look for platforms that offer customisation, support for multiple locations, and the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs.

Security and support: Protecting sensitive employee data is non-negotiable. Choose a solution with enterprise-grade security, regular updates, and reliable support and training resources to ensure a smooth transition and ongoing success.

By focusing on these key features, you can select a workforce management platform that doesn't just replace Kronos Workforce Central but also delivers a modern, efficient, and future-ready approach to managing your workforce.

This kind of investment helps you streamline HR processes, create a better experience for your people, and stay compliant - keeping your business ready for whatever comes next.

Rotageek: A modern alternative to Kronos Workforce

Instead of lifting and shifting outdated processes, Rotageek helps organisations re-imagine what scheduling can be.

We built Rotageek for dynamic, customer-facing teams - the retailers, hospitality operators and healthcare providers (and beyond) who rely on agility every single day.

Rotageek is built for scheduling-first businesses - those with large hourly or shift-based teams, multi-site operations and a constant need for agility. Whether you’re managing retail stores, restaurants, or clinics, we help you plan smarter and adapt faster.

Here’s how we compare to legacy tools like Kronos Workforce Central/UKG WFC:

Rotageek’s AI forecasting engine analyses historical demand and live data - from footfall to sales - to automatically generate smarter, fairer rotas. Managers save hours each week, while teams get greater visibility and flexibility.

Because schedules are dynamic and data-driven, managers can adapt instantly to change - and employees get the flexibility and visibility they’ve been asking for.

And because it’s built in the cloud, Rotageek integrates seamlessly with leading HR and payroll systems, reducing manual admin and improving accuracy across every site.

While Rotageek focuses on scheduling, forecasting and time management, it easily connects with HR systems to give businesses a complete workforce view.

Rotageek's part of the ELMO UK family of brands - and that means organisations can access a full suite of HR management tools - from onboarding and performance to payroll and more - all working alongside Rotageek’s AI-powered scheduling.

Want to know more about ELMO UK? Talk to the team

Turning migration into transformation

The end of Kronos Workforce Central isn’t just a deadline - it’s an opportunity.

Instead of replicating outdated processes in another large-scale platform, this is the moment to:

• Simplify your tech stack and remove unnecessary complexity.
• Empower managers with tools that actually save time.
• Engage employees through better visibility, flexibility, and communication.
• Optimise labour spend using real-time data and predictive scheduling.

Rotageek helps organisations do exactly that. We’ve supported mid-market and enterprise-level businesses across the UK to modernise their workforce management strategy - from Nandos, LUSH, to Midcounties Co-op - delivering measurable ROI, faster rollouts, and long-term agility.

Why timing matters: the 2025-2026 migration window

With UKG ending engineering support in 2025, the time for implementation planning is now.
Typical migration timelines for enterprise systems:

• Discovery and selection: 2-3 months
• Implementation: 6-9 months
• Testing and training: 2-3 months

That means organisations need to finalise decisions now. Leaving it later risks business disruption, rushed deployments, or being locked into a stop-gap solution.

By contrast, Rotageek’s modern setup and hands-on team can get you up and running in just a few weeks - so you start seeing results fast and stay well ahead of the 2027 deadline.

With faster implementation and simpler workflows, Rotageek reduces both rollout costs and ongoing admin - helping teams see a faster return on investment.

Choosing the right path forward

If you’re one of the many organisations still running Kronos Workforce Central, here are three steps to take today:

• Audit your current usage. Identify which modules you actively use - and where inefficiencies lie.
• Define your future goals. What does good workforce management look like for your teams in 2026 and beyond?
• Explore modern alternatives. Compare cloud-based options like Rotageek that align with your operational goals and people strategy.

Remember: migrating from Kronos Workforce Central isn’t just a technical project - it’s a chance to modernise how you plan, forecast and engage your people.

Your next move

The end of Kronos Workforce Central marks the end of an era - but also the start of a smarter one.

With AI-powered forecasting, intuitive mobile tools and rapid implementation, Rotageek helps leading brands schedule better, forecast faster and create fairer workplaces - all while controlling labour costs and improving service quality.

👉 Book a demo to see how Rotageek can help you make every shift count.

FAQs

Q: When is Kronos Workforce Central being retired?

A: Kronos Workforce Central reaches end-of-life in December 2025 for private cloud and March 2027 for on-premise deployments. After these dates, it will no longer be supported by UKG or receive new updates. 

Q: Do we need to migrate from Kronos Workforce Central? 

A: Organisations are strongly advised to move to a new workforce management system before support ends to avoid growing security, outage and compliance risks. 

Q: Is UKG Pro Workforce Management an easy upgrade from WFC?

A: No. Migrating from WFC to UKG Pro Workforce Management is typically a full reimplementation, with new integrations, data migration and retraining similar to switching to a new provider. 

Q: What should we look for in a Kronos Workforce Central replacement?

A: Look for a cloud-native, AI-driven workforce management platform with fast deployment, mobile self-service, real-time forecasting and strong HR/payroll integrations.

Q: How does Rotageek compare to Kronos Workforce Central?

A: Rotageek is a modern, cloud-native alternative offering AI forecasting, faster implementation, mobile scheduling and intuitive UX, built for large, shift-based organisations in sectors like retail, hospitality and healthcare.