Tuesday, 14:20. Sam has called in sick for Friday night and you are on the phone in the walk-in going through the list. Four calls, two voicemails, one 'sorry, I'm at my mum's'.
Each person on the team has a short record. Which roles they can do, bar, floor or kitchen. What their usual availability is. How many hours they are already down for that week.
When a shift opens, the system texts the people who match, fewest hours first, with the shift details and a reply word. First yes gets it. The others get a 'thanks, filled' so they are not left wondering. You get one message. Friday 17:00 to close, covered by Priya.
The rota itself goes out Sunday at 6pm by WhatsApp, each person's own shifts and a link to the full week. Changes during the week go the same way, only to the people affected. Swaps between two staff are allowed if both confirm and the roles match. Anything else comes to you.
Hours worked total up in a Google Sheet by person and by week, ready for payroll. The sheet is the record if anyone asks.
This is the kind of thing we build. The messages come from the restaurant's number, and the rota lives in your own Google Sheet or whichever tool you already use.