The UK retail sector is witnessing a dramatic transformation, with technology changing customer behaviour and expectations and firms investing in digital services and innovations to keep pace, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which said this fundamental restructuring of the industry is triggering a ‘seismic shift’ in the retail workforce.
The UK retail industry contributes £97.1 billion to the country’s economy, employs three million people and has higher productivity growth than almost any other industry.The UK retail sector is witnessing a dramatic transformation, with technology changing customer behaviour and expectations and firms investing in digital services and innovations to keep pace, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which said this fundamental restructuring of the industry is triggering a 'seismic shift' in the retail workforce.#
Increasingly sophisticated and personalised online shopper experiences, smart mirrors in stores, shops without checkouts and personal shopper apps are just some of the developments unthinkable a few years ago but now a reality for the industry and consumers., BRC said in a press release.
Its latest data shows 16th consecutive quarters of year-on-year decline in the retail workforce. The fewer roles that remain, or are being created, require a whole new set of skills and capabilities.
It means retailers need to understand what skills they have and what additional roles and skills they need. It means they need to look in new and different places to find the right people; and develop different strategies to effectively upskill their staff. It also means finding innovative ways to keep their best talent in an increasingly competitive market place, BRC said.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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