Retail: A Ripe Market For Workforce Management Software

By Matt Pillar, chief editor

On October 4^th at 2 ET, I’ll be hosting a webinar featuring Terry McElroy, Director of Operations Planning & Communications at Hibbett Sports. Terry and I will discuss the cloud-based human capital management software implementation at Hibbett, but we’ll also be reviewing the results of a recent survey-based report on cloud adoption, WFM, and HCM that we produced in conjunction with Ceridian. Joining us for the conversation on Tuesday is free and easy; just click here and register:  WFM In 2016: Cloud, Compliance, and Collaboration.

In the meantime, here’s an advanced peek at some of the results from our survey of retail execs, which illustrates market ripe for the adoption of cloud-based workforce management applications, tepid confidence in workforce compliance, and increasing collaboration among HR, store ops, and associates.

We’re seeing healthy adoption of cloud applications in  general, particularly among merchants with 500 or more stores. Nearly 44 percent of executives report that 41 percent or more of their enterprise applications are currently cloud-based. Among those with more than 1,000 stores, that figure swells to 47 percent. Why? Those who have adopted cloud-based applications said faster deployments and quicker ROI (61 percent), relief of IT bottlenecks and administrative burdens (52 percent), and continuous flow of innovation/application updates (44 percent) were their primary motivations.

The migration to cloud will continue, too. Another 35 percent of merchants operating 500 or more stores said that within the next three years, more than 41 percent of their enterprise applications will be cloud-based.