Case Study: How Abuelita’s Bakery Spot Kept Two Shops Running Smoothly with ShiftFlow
“Fresh pan dulce waits for no one.” — Abuelita’s Bakery Spot
Abuelita’s Bakery Spot joined ShiftFlow to keep two bustling storefronts in sync without trading craft for admin work. They have remained active since early 2023, using GPS-aware clock-ins, live presence, and one-tap timesheet exports to keep hours clean while the ovens stay full.
At a glance
- Business: Abuelita’s Bakery Spot
- Where: Kyle and Buda, Texas
- Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 am–4:00 pm, Saturday–Sunday 7:30 am–2:00 pm (both locations)
- What they serve: Mini conchas, marranitos, coffee, frappes, breakfast tacos, plus nationwide shipping and delivery
Current menus, hours, and addresses live on abuelitasbakeryspot.com.
From cottage kitchen to two storefronts
Abuelita’s started as a cottage bakery in December 2020, moved into a food truck by September 2021, and welcomed guests to its first brick-and-mortar shop at Kyle’s Windmill Center in June 2022. A second storefront in nearby Buda followed in 2024. Local coverage traces the family’s Rio Grande Valley roots, the weekly themed concha drops, and the grandmother-inspired recipes that power both pastry cases—see Community Impact for the origin story and MySA for the expansion update.
The operational challenge
Opening at 7:30 am in two cities means dough is proofing, coffee is brewing, and pastry cases are filling as regulars line up. Staff float between Kyle off I-35 and downtown Buda, and traffic spikes when a themed concha drop hits Instagram. The owners needed four things:
- Fast, reliable clock-ins that slot into opening routines
- Location verification so hours reflect time on site at the correct shop
- Clean timesheets that export quickly for payroll
- A live view of who is on the clock at Kyle versus Buda
Those needs show up across their website, social posts, and local reporting, which highlight weekly drops and the larger Buda kitchen that now supports catering.
Why ShiftFlow
ShiftFlow fit because it keeps the team member action simple and gives managers trustworthy, reviewable hours.
- GPS and selfie verification at clock-in for accurate, on-site attendance
- Automatic geofence reminders so clock-ins tie to the right location
- Real-time timesheets with instant CSV or PDF export
- Live presence view to see who is active at each shop
You can see these capabilities in ShiftFlow’s GPS feature overview, timesheet product page, and the Android app listing.
How Abuelita’s set it up
1) Geofences for Kyle and Buda
The team drew tight geofences around both storefronts so team members can only start shifts inside the right boundary. That keeps hours attached to the correct location and cuts down on off-site punches.
2) Selfie-verified clock-ins
Each clock-in pairs a quick selfie with the GPS pin, creating a reliable record without slowing the breakfast rush.
3) Live presence during open
Managers glance at the live view to confirm coverage at both shops and shuffle breaks when a drop surges traffic.
4) One-tap exports for payroll
At week’s end, the manager exports a CSV or PDF and sends it to accounting. Smart highlights flag long hours or missed breaks before payroll goes out.
A day in the bakery with ShiftFlow
6:50 am
Openers arrive at Kyle, step inside the geofence, clock in with a selfie, and start ovens and coffee. Buda’s opener follows the same routine minutes later. Managers see status for both shops without a call or text.
7:30 am
Doors open. Coffee, breakfast tacos, and mini conchas head out the door. Guests can double-check menus and hours on the bakery’s website.
Midday
A themed concha drop hits social and traffic jumps. Coverage stays balanced because managers watch the live presence view and shift breaks as needed. For a taste of the drop culture, read Community Impact’s July 2024 update.
Close
Everyone clocks out before clean-down. Timesheets are complete, verified, and ready for export.
What improved
- Less clock-in confusion at open
Tight geofences and selfie checks stopped early or off-site punches and kept attention on baking and service. - Clean, defensible hours
Every entry carries a location and a face, which makes reviews and payroll corrections faster. Smart highlights surface anomalies before they become disputes. - Two-location visibility
Managers can see who is active at Kyle and who is active at Buda, keeping coverage balanced when a weekend rush or concha drop hits.
Accountability in practice
Early on, a few staffers tried to start the clock before arriving. Once geofences and selfie verification became standard, those off-site punches stopped and the policy became simple to explain to new hires. ShiftFlow’s GPS feature overview walks through how verification works.
The takeaway
Abuelita’s shows how a small team can use light-touch tech to protect margins and momentum. Pairing GPS-aware, selfie-verified clock-ins with real-time timesheets led to cleaner payroll, fewer disputes, and calmer mornings across both shops. ShiftFlow stayed in the background while the baked goods took center stage.