84: Using AI at Work to Optimize Workforce Scheduling and Planning with Mohamed Yousuf

Chris Daigle sits down with Mohamed Yousuf, founder of Smart Workforce AI, to explore how AI in the workplace can dramatically improve workforce scheduling, planning, and operational efficiency across industries.
Drawing on more than a decade of experience in airlines, healthcare, hospitality, and large scale operations, Mohamed explains how AI powered forecasting and scheduling can reduce overtime, prevent burnout, and help companies put the right people in the right place at the right time. The conversation covers real world AI applications like demand forecasting, seasonal planning, labor law compliance, and intelligent shift swapping, all supported by AI copilots that work alongside human decision makers.
This episode is a practical look at how AI productivity tools can turn workforce management from reactive firefighting into a strategic advantage, while keeping human well being at the center of operations.
🔎 Find Out More About Mohamed Yousuf and Smart Workforce AI
linkedin.com/in/mohamed-a-yousuf
Smart Workforce AI
smartworkforce.io

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned
ChatGPT
openai.com/chatgpt

AI powered workforce forecasting models
Large language models for scheduling and planning
Internal AI copilots for workforce management
📌 Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mohamed Yousuf
01:10 From Airline Scheduling to Workforce AI
03:55 Why Workforce Planning Is a Universal Business Problem
05:21 Using AI to Complement Human Decision Making
06:54 Healthcare staffing and burnout challenges
09:16 Forecasting demand using demographic and immigration data
11:23 Hospitality, events, and seasonal workforce planning
12:48 Avoiding panic hiring and panic firing
14:32 Measuring labor cost savings and productivity gains
17:53 Making AI powered scheduling accessible to smaller teams
21:17 Onboarding and system learning timelines
22:56 Handling labor laws and contract complexity with AI
25:19 AI assistants for managers and employees
27:15 Giving employees more control over schedules
29:52 Minimum team size to benefit from AI scheduling
33:16 The future of micro shifts and flexible work
35:29 Pricing and ROI for small and mid sized businesses
39:34 How to get started with Smart Workforce AI
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