Automated Workforce Management Improves Performance

Workforce Management (WFM) is playing a pivotal role in shaping performance management in retail stores. Best in Class retailers are setting themselves apart from the rest when it comes to increased employee retention and bottomline performance due to better WFM processes. As a result of superior store manager and associate empowerment, use of WFM analytics, and optimum staffing, 80% of Best in Class have improved or met their labor turnover rate goals, indicating that effective WFM programs and procedures are in place. Additionally, WFM processes assisted 63% of Best in Class companies improve operating profit as a percent of sales. Reasons for superior Best in Class performance when compared to Average and Laggard retailers are:

• Better use of scheduling optimization solutions for effective staffing
• Increasing WFM analytics solutions for store operations performance management
• Greater implementation of employee self-service HR (paid time-off, FMLA, benefits etc.) and training applications (retail processes: workforce, inventory, other retail policies and procedures)

Our results show that automation and integration are playing a key role in the workforce management strategies of retailers.

Used with permission from Aberdeen Group. Aberdeen Group is the leading provider of fact-based research focused on the global technology-driven value chain. For additional information, please visit www.aberdeen.com.