Global retail challenges are many: attracting and retaining talent, boosting operational efficiency, controlling costs, and delivering exceptional customer service. The Deloitte Global Retail Outlook 2024 underscores these very issues, highlighting a cautious optimism within the industry despite significant headwinds.

Enter Orquest, an AI-powered workforce management solution specifically designed to help retailers navigate these complexities. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analysis, Orquest empowers retailers to optimize their in-store operations and unlock a new level of efficiency.

Today Global Retail Challenges

The 2024 Deloitte report shines a light on several key global retail challenges plaguing retailers. First, it points out the impact of climate change on business operations and consumer expectations. Rising extreme weather events threaten stores and disrupt supply chains, while increasingly eco-conscious consumers demand transparency and sustainable practices. 

Retailers need to adapt by adopting technologies that promote sustainability, such as cloud-based solutions, and leverage data for more visibility to optimize resource use. While these changes require investment, many retailers see sustainability as a growth opportunity, with circular business models expected to generate more revenue in the coming years. 

Another global retail challenge is labor shortages threatening to stall retail growth despite rising sales figures. Competition for skilled workers is fierce, with European retailers prioritizing staff retention through work-life balance initiatives.  

This also forces retailers to automate tasks and invest in technologies that boost productivity. This suggests a potential focus shift towards reskilling and upskilling initiatives, leveraging AI to streamline these processes. Overall, retailers must embrace technology to remain competitive while navigating the complexities of a tight labor market. 

Operations and processes optimization is another big challenge. The pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains, for instance, prompting companies to focus on resilience over low costs and speed. Retailers recognize the need to address these disruptions, with European companies prioritizing operational efficiency and collaboration with partners to improve forecasting and agility. This means diversifying supply chains and further leveraging technology.

How Orquest Addresses Global Retail Challenges

The Deloitte report highlights several challenges plaguing retailers, including labor shortages, operational inefficiencies, and high training costs. These issues directly impact stores and their workforce. Orquest addresses these challenges head-on with a robust AI-powered scheduling solution, tackling these global retail challenges with innovative features.

Optimizing Scheduling and Staffing

Orquest uses AI to analyze historical sales data and predict future demand. This allows retailers to create optimal staff schedules that consider employee availability, workload, and customer traffic patterns. By ensuring the right staff are in the right place at the right time, Orquest minimizes labor costs and reduces wait times for customers.

Empowering and Engaging Employees

Orquest goes beyond scheduling by taking into account all store needs, including employees. When assigning shifts, Orquest considers each employee’s availability, working conditions, and preferences. Additionally, the Orquest app empowers employees to view schedules, improve communications with their managers, and make requests. This flexibility fosters a sense of autonomy and improves employee satisfaction and their work-life balance. Furthermore, Orquest considers employee skills to position each person where they can bring the most value, ensuring a skilled and engaged workforce.

Streamlining Processes and Reducing Costs

Traditional scheduling can be time-consuming and error-prone. Orquest automates the process, saving managers up to 90% of their scheduling time. This frees them to focus on other critical tasks. Especially their team and consumers. Furthermore, by optimizing staffing levels, Orquest helps businesses reduce labor costs by up to 5%.

That’s why global retail leaders like Dior, H&M, and Kiabi rely on Orquest to schedule their in-store teams across their global network of stores. This ensures they optimize their workforces, operations, and deliver a consistent customer experience regardless of location.

In today’s competitive retail landscape, optimizing your workforce management is no longer an option – it’s a necessity. Orquest empowers retailers to overcome the global retail challenges outlined in the Deloitte report by providing a comprehensive solution that streamlines scheduling, boosts employee engagement, and reduces costs. With Orquest as your partner, you can navigate the complexities of retail with confidence and unlock a new era of operational excellence.

Ready to learn more about how Orquest can transform your retail workforce management? Schedule a free demo to see the power of Orquest AI scheduling in action!