WorkJam Inc. today announced that it has raised $35 million in funding from Silver Lake Waterman to grow the adoption of its namesake platform, which helps companies with frontline workers operate more efficiently.

Frontline workers are professionals who spend most of their work day away from a desk. In recent years, there has emerged an entire ecosystem of cloud services aimed at helping such professionals become more productive. Google LLC offers a specialized edition of its Google Workspace productivity suite for frontline workers, while startups such as WorkStep Inc. also provide products focused on this market.

WorkJam’s platform enables companies to assign tasks to frontline workers via a mobile app. In the app, each task shows up for employees as an item on a to-do list. Employees can select an item to bring up a detailed overview of what actions need to be performed and the date by which the work should be completed. Managers have the option to attach files such as walkthroughs to a task to provide additional information about the best way to carry out the project.

Alongside its work orchestration tools, WorkJam provides a tool for managing shifts. Many companies assign shifts to employees manually with the help of spreadsheets. According to WorkJam, its platform automates the task and also provides features that allow employees to swap shifts with one another via an app.

WorkJam offers a range of other features alongside its core work and shift management capabilities. There’s a built-in messaging tool, a module that allows managers to distribute digital training materials to team members and features for collecting employee feedback. WorkJam offers each major set of capabilities as a standalone offering, allowing companies to only purchase the components of its platform that they require.

The startup, citing a study it commissioned from Forrester Research Inc., claims that its software has been shown to provide a fourfold return on investment for companies by helping them improve operational efficiency. WorkJam’s value proposition has helped it win deals with major brands such as Target Corp. and Kroger Co. The startup claims that its user base is currently growing at a rate of 250% annually thanks to strong demand from enterprises. 

“We believe that using technology to manage and optimize the frontline workforce is a critical investment priority for employers — WorkJam orchestrates this strategic initiative,” said WorkJam president and Chief Executive Officer Steven Kramer. “This financing will let WorkJam build upon its momentum and drive rapid global expansion.”

WorkJam’s latest $35 million funding round comes about a year and a half after it secured a $50 million investment from a group of investors led by Inovia Capital. The startup has raised a total of $97 million to date.

Image: WorkJam