HRForecast smartPlan

HRForecast smartPlan is a strategic workforce planning tool that translates business strategy into workforce needs and actions. It supports multi-year headcount and org chart planning, with driver models for exploring scenarios and estimating future workforce capacity. Gap analysis identifies workforce needs that are not met and offers automated proposals for closing them. Global macroeconomic and labor market data help planners consider future jobs, skill changes and market trends. The May 2026 release describes comparing actual FTE counts and workforce costs with planned targets using uploaded workforce data. The Enterprise Scenario Planning edition supports one or more scenarios and planning units, unlimited planning attributes, gap-closing measure tracking and two-way integrations with HCM or related tools. Access includes administrator and user roles, with Owner, Editor or Viewer rights across planning units. HRForecast describes the software and services as designed for companies with more than 1,000 employees. Pricing is available on request. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

smartPlan brings scenario planning, workforce gap analysis and market data into a workforce planning tool. Organizations should account for pricing on request and separate charges for onboarding or consulting workshops.

It suits larger organizations planning workforce capacity, skills and costs across multiple years. The facts describe it as designed for companies with more than 1,000 employees.

HRForecast smartPlan is a strategic workforce planning tool for turning business plans into multi-year workforce requirements. It is best suited to companies with more than 1,000 employees that coordinate planning across teams. Its strongest case is the combination of scenario modeling, gap-closing measures and workforce monitoring; custom pricing and separately purchased consulting add to the cost of adoption.

Overview

smartPlan connects business scenarios to workforce capacity needs, then helps organizations identify gaps and plan responses. Driver models support multi-year headcount forecasting and organizational planning, while market data adds context on labor trends, future jobs and shifting skills. That breadth suits employers managing workforce decisions across several planning units, though organizations seeking compensation planning or budget variance tracking should look elsewhere: smartPlan does not offer either.

The Enterprise (Scenario Planning) edition supports one or multiple scenarios and planning units, unlimited planning attributes, driver models, gap-closing measure tracking and two-way integration with HCM or related tools. Owner, Editor and Viewer rights can be assigned across planning units, giving administrators a way to distinguish people who manage plans from those who change or review them.

Key features

Scenario planning and gap analysis

Driver models let planners translate different business scenarios into future workforce capacity requirements. Gap analysis identifies where planned needs and available workforce diverge, and automated proposals plus measure tracking help teams turn that analysis into actions. This is useful for organizations that need to compare alternative futures and follow the response; it is less compelling for buyers focused on compensation or budget variance, which are outside the product’s planning scope.

Market context and monitoring

Global macroeconomic and labor market data helps planners assess likely job demand, skill shifts and broader trends. Workforce monitoring compares actual FTE counts and costs with planned targets using uploaded workforce data, adding a way to track execution against the plan. The value depends on maintaining workforce data for those comparisons.

Integrations, support and service terms

Enterprise supports direct, two-way integration with HCM or related tools, which can reduce the friction of keeping planning connected to adjacent systems. The license includes Help Center access, email application support and regular virtual consulting meetings within stated limits. HRForecast warrants 98% availability for documented core features under its Master Service and Subscription Agreement. Onboarding and strategy or process consulting workshops are separate purchases, so buyers should account for those costs alongside the license.

HRForecast’s documentation says smartWork applies GDPR-aligned data deletion rules and removes backup data within 30 days after profile deletion.

Pricing

Enterprise (Scenario Planning) edition

Enterprise has custom pricing; buyers contact HRForecast for an offer. It includes planning for one or multiple scenarios and units, unlimited planning attributes, driver models, gap-closing measure tracking and direct two-way HCM or related-tool integration. This is the edition for organizations that need broad scenario coverage and connected systems. Onboarding and strategy or process consulting workshops cost extra, while virtual consulting meetings are included within stated limits.

No lower smartPlan plan is described, so there is no cheaper tier to compare for reduced scope. The published offer does not state a seat quota or trial period.

Platforms

smartPlan is available on Android, iOS and the web.

Who it's for

Large employers coordinating multi-year workforce plans across planning units are the clearest fit, especially when they need scenario comparisons, labor-market context, gap-closing workflows and HCM integration. Companies with more than 1,000 employees match HRForecast’s stated customer focus. Smaller organizations, or teams that need compensation planning or budget variance tracking, are less likely to find the product a fit.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Driver-based scenario planning connects business assumptions to future workforce capacity needs.
• Gap analysis, automated proposals and measure tracking support action after planners identify a shortfall.
• Global market data and monitoring of actual FTE counts and workforce costs add external context and progress tracking.
• Unlimited planning attributes and two-way HCM integration support complex, connected planning.

Cons

• Custom pricing requires an offer from HRForecast, making costs harder to compare upfront.
• Onboarding and strategy or process consulting workshops are separately purchased.
• Compensation planning and budget variance tracking are not included.
• The stated customer focus on companies above 1,000 employees makes smartPlan a weaker match for smaller employers.

Alternatives

For a wider set of workforce-planning options, see Workforce Planning Software.

Bridgit is another paid workforce-planning option, with Android, iOS, web and API platforms; choose it if you want to compare another product with pricing provided on request.

PeopleCoral OrgStudio offers a dedicated single-tenant deployment, with pricing depending on countries and headcount. It may suit buyers whose deployment needs call for that model.

Workday Adaptive Planning has a 30-day free trial and supports Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, web and API. Choose it if a defined trial period or broader platform availability is a priority.

Radix Workforce Planning has a Starter plan at ₹100 a month, billed per employee per month, with annual billing saving up to 20%. Its listed features include core HR, attendance, leave, an employee self-service mobile app, standard reports and email support; consider it if those functions and per-employee pricing match your needs.

Arrange has a free web plan with one browser-local plan, two scenarios, an editable grid and benchmark rates in seven currencies. It is a smaller-scope option for buyers who want a free starting point for planning.

Pave Market Data offers a free Market Data Lite tier with U.S. benchmarks plus one additional market for startups with 1–200 employees. Choose it when market benchmarks are the main need and the startup eligibility fits.

Nakisa Capital Projects Suite is another paid option, with pricing provided through a tailored demo.

beqom PaySuite is another paid option, with pricing provided through a demo.

Verdict

Choose HRForecast smartPlan if a large organization needs multi-year workforce scenarios, gap-closing workflows and market context in a planning process that connects to HCM systems. Its combination of forecasting, action tracking and monitoring is the central reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if compensation or budget variance planning is essential, or if custom pricing and separately billed onboarding make the purchase a poor fit.