Technology

Retail workers want more tech

Photo: Adobe Stock

March 27, 2024

A good number of retail workers, 40%, feel their employers don't invest in their tech needs and 20% feel it's a non-priority.

Those are top findings from a Scandit research report, "Frontline Retail Revealed: Motivations, Technology Attitudes and Insights," that examined store associates' perspective on the factors influencing workplace loyalty, retention and technology investment, including the potential impacts of AI. The survey polled 2,000 associates across seven countries and 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."

Globally, over two-thirds of store associates rated 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.