Retail associates believe employers could better integrate tech, survey

At this point, integrating technology into the retail experience, whether on the consumer-facing side or the backend, isn’t a luxury.

But new survey data from Swiss technology company Scandit found a major gap between retail employees and companies when it comes to the implementation of technology. Two in five (40%) of store associates surveyed believe their employers have not invested in their tech needs, and 20% said it’s entirely not a priority.

• When it comes to device use and training, more than two-thirds of employees said their devices are “very important” for their role, with 70% citing the ability to multitask, access information on products (67%), and device intuitiveness (52%) as valuable capabilities that smartphones and scanning devices offer.
• Just over a third (34%) said it can take up to two weeks to get accustomed to using devices needed for their jobs effectively. Another 30% said that process can take up to four weeks.

Scandit notes that gig workers are often able to onboard much quicker as a result of bring your own device (BYOD) approaches.

“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,” Scandit CEO and co-founder Samuel Mueller said in a statement. “Our research reveals workers’ concerns and how retailers can optimize technology investments to drive employee loyalty, automate tedious tasks, and ultimately boost profitability.”