
Results from Retail TouchPoints’ 2014 Store Operations Survey revealed that the top challenges for store operators revolve around:
- Employee training and engagement (53%);
- Employee hiring and retention (42%);
- Overall store operations budget (32%); and
- Inventory management (23%).
With the top two challenges focusing on employee engagement and loyalty, how were our 100+ retail executives addressing these issues? While 65% of retailers said they implemented – or planned to implement – a training program, 53% also said they rolled out mobile devices, which helped bring additional value to the in-store customer experience.
By implementing tablets and smartphones in stores, retailers were empowering associates to look up product information (60%), access inventory levels (50%), order out-of-stock products online (43%) and conduct clienteling and assisted selling (43%). As a result, store managers said they saw an increase in customer satisfaction (58%) and overall employee morale (40%).
In addition to mobility, retailers also are implementing cutting-edge in-store marketing tactics, omnichannel fulfillment and omnichannel pricing and promotions.
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But what trends will rise to the top in the new age of store operations? Help us gauge what tools and technologies matter most to retailers today by taking this quick survey!
We’ll aggregate all results in a comprehensive report, which will be published in our weekly email newsletter. Help us determine if the retail industry is ready for the next generation of store operations.