Nearly half, 40%, of retail workers feel their tech needs are being ignored.
That's a top finding from Scandit's "Frontline Retail Revealed" report focusing on how tech impacts job satisfaction and loyalty among store associates.
Scandit's survey, across seven countries, polled 2,000 store associates across nine retail sub-sectors, according to a press release.
"The retail industry has undergone significant changes over the last few years as businesses continue to navigate the ripple effects of a post-COVID world," Samuel Mueller, CEO and co-founder of Scandit, said in the release. "Increased consumer pressure, operational efficiency requirements, ongoing labor shortages and the advent of AI have required retailers to rethink how they attract, retain and motivate store associates. Our research reveals workers' concerns and how retailers can optimize technology investments to drive employee loyalty, automate tedious tasks and ultimately boost profitability."
Additional findings include:
- Work-life balance (56%) and competitive salaries (54%) remain the top motivators for retail workers globally, but access to modern, easy-to-use technology (41%) is also a top-three driver of loyalty.
- Understaffing and increased workload are major concerns for many (38%). This problem is particularly prominent in specific sectors, with grocery (44%), cosmetics (41%), and DIY (41%) reporting the highest levels of concern.
- Globally, over two-thirds of store associates rate their devices as important or very important for their job. Across all ages and sectors, the ability to multi-task (70%), access to product information (67%) and device intuitiveness (52%) are crucial capabilities in smartphone and scanning devices.
- Half of front-line workers are not concerned about AI and automation in terms of losing their jobs. Nearly a third (31%) of these believe it will positively impact their role, suggesting a growing understanding of its potential benefits. Those most concerned are in the middle of their careers, with 53% already worried tech will impact their role in the next few years.