Metrics and optimization goals
Why metrics matter
Timefold Platform helps you solve complex planning problems by searching for the best possible solution given your constraints. But how do you determine if one solution is better than another?
Each generated schedule is assigned a score based on hard, medium, and soft constraints. However, this score is primarily used by the solver to guide optimization and helps identify the impact of different constraints, but it doesn’t have a meaningful interpretation in your day-to-day operations. Read more about constraints and constraint scores.
That’s why the Timefold Platform provides a set of metrics that help you evaluate and compare different scheduling solutions in a way that aligns with your business objectives.
Example metrics
Some example metrics for Employee Shift Scheduling are:
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Unassigned Shifts: The number of shifts that remain unfilled.
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Working Time Fairness: A percentage indicating how evenly total working hours are distributed among employees.
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Average Duration of Employees' Preferences Met: The average duration for which employee preferences (such as time spans, or shifts) have been satisfied.
We continuously update and refine the available metrics. You can view the most up-to-date list in the Timefold Platform UI or check the OpenAPI specifications for Employee Shift Scheduling.
Where to find metrics
You can access and analyze metrics in multiple places within the Timefold Platform:
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Run Detail Page: The sidebar displays five top-level metrics, with an option to expand and see all available metrics.
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Model Runs Overview Table: Customize which metrics appear in the table to compare solutions across multiple runs. Use tagging and filtering features to focus on certain segments.
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Model Output: Metrics are included as part of the JSON output file for deeper analysis.
Goal Alignment
Real-world scheduling is a balancing act between multiple competing objectives. Optimization is not a zero-sum game—improving one objective doesn’t always mean sacrificing another. Instead, constraint weights can be tuned to prioritize different goals. Metrics help you choose to decide between different runs with different optimization objectives.
Example optimization goals
Some example optimization goals for Employee Shift Scheduling are:
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Increasing the number of assigned shifts.
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Reducing overtime.
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Reducing costs, taking into account the activation costs of freelancers.
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Focusing on a fair distribution of work between different employees.
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Increasing employee satisfaction:
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Fulfilling PTO-requests from employees.
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Honoring preferred times to work/not to work by employees.
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An optimization goal is often a combination of the above. In Timefold the optimization goal is represented by the relative weights of the constraints.
Using configuration profiles for goal alignment
Our platform supports configuration profiles that allow you to define these objectives. This feature allows you to:
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Compare how different priorities impact the final solution.
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Identify solutions that balance objectives effectively.
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Adjust trade-offs dynamically based on evolving business needs.
By using metrics and configuration profiles together, you can gain deeper insights into your scheduling challenges and ensure your optimization efforts align with your strategic goals.