“In the last three years, the retail industry has experienced growth that would normally take almost a decade to achieve.”
Did you know that Retail contributes $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supports one in four U.S. jobs? In the last three years, Retail, the largest private-sector employer in the US
has experienced growth that would normally take almost a decade to achieve.
On the other hand, the Manufacturing industry has faced large-scale changes due to disruptions in global supply chains and shortages, with a range of roles & responsibilities
left having to grapple with our developing world’s geopolitical climate.
Interestingly, professionals within the Retail and Manufacturing industries currently face similar challenges that demand prompt assistance from managers and technology.
In this blog, we look at the most common operational challenges in the Retail and Manufacturing industries and explain how SUMO’s scheduling software for retail solves them, allowing providers and the industry to step into a new era of efficiency, growth, and revenue.
Who Keeps Retail and Manufacturing Running?
Before diving into the challenges, let’s explore the diverse landscape of jobs in Retail and Manufacturing, shedding light on the roles, challenges, and transformative solutions defining these industries.
The most common roles in the Retail industry are:
- Sales Associates
- Cashiers
- Customer Service Representatives
- [Store/Chain] Managers
- Inventory Specialists
- Clerks & Assistants
- Cleaning & Maintenance
The Manufacturing industry includes job titles such as:
- Production Managers
- Quality Controller
- Specialist Roles (Carpenter, Machinist, etc.)
- Engineers
- [Assembly] Supervisors
- Operational Managers
- Shipping/Receiving Clerks
With such a wide range of roles and responsibilities, each of these industries aims to utilize a specialist workforce to deliver products and service in an efficient manner.
From addressing health concerns to optimizing supply chains, the Retail & Manufacturing industries must stay atop consumer needs, all while balancing their long-term objectives.
Yet, large industries bring larger challenges that, if mishandled, can jeopardize operational efficiency and business growth.
5 Key Challenges For Retail & Manufacturing Professionals
Let’s look into the main obstacles faced by professionals within the Retail & Manufacturing industries.
- Issues with Workforce Management
With the Retail industry requiring more employees, and the Manufacturing industry losing them, managers have had to face rapidly changing standards, with topics such as salary range, benefits and healthcare becoming key motivators for a professional’s job search.
As such, optimizing staff workloads and managing workforce hours has become a hurdle
for Managers to overcome.
- Lack of Production Scheduling
This challenge is consistent across the industries, as a disruption in global supply chains
has left many manufacturers without raw materials to complete products… which are then supplied to retailers for profit. The cycle is disrupted, and delays continue to occur.
Supervisors & Inventory Specialists need to grapple with the challenge of adjusting production schedules and managing client meetings to accommodate delays.
- Struggles with E-commerce & Logistics
Moving from brick-and-mortar to the online world, both industries have struggled with tackling a plethora of e-commerce related issues, such as managing inventory, tackling international logistics, and coordinating the consumer demands..
Logistics managers must face the unenviable task of coordinating with transportation services, and adapting to the demands of an evolving digital marketplace.
- Weak Automation Management
Manufacturing and Sales employees don’t just use their hands, but they also supervise the technology within their business operations. This “machinery” can range from heavy-duty pressers to a digital scheduling platform, which require round-the-clock management.
Quality Controllers and Customer Service Representatives thus must find innovative solutions without compromising operational efficiency.
- Integration with Modern Technology
Speaking of innovative solutions; 3D printing, advanced materials, and Artificial intelligence present a wealth of opportunities for Manufacturing. Ditto for Sales. Yet 41% of salespeople believe their days are numbered due to AI automation.
Many employees are still hesitant when it comes to integrating technology with their day-to-day operations, and thus require an informative, reliable and consistent alternative.
What Changes are Necessary?
In 2023, the Retail & Manufacturing workforce encountered different circumstances,
yet the similar management structures and industry-wide challenges have underscored
the need for a reliable, advanced and customizable solution.
The key issues within the industries consists of these key calls to action:
- The workforce management needs to be efficient & satisfactory for employees
- The schedule management must improve, including the communication with clients
- The integration of technology with manual labor needs to be seamless
- The solution(s) must balance business objectives & operational efficiency
- The workforce requires solution that is easy to learn, trustworthy, and adaptive
How Scheduling Software For Retail Bridges the Gap
In 2023, the Retail & Manufacturing workforce encountered different circumstances,
yet the similar management structures and industry-wide challenges have underscored
the need for a reliable, advanced and customizable solution.
The key issues within the industries consists of these key calls to action:
- The workforce management needs to be efficient & satisfactory for employees
- The schedule management must improve, including the communication with clients
- The integration of technology with manual labor needs to be seamless
- The solution(s) must balance business objectives & operational efficiency
- The workforce requires solution that is easy to learn, trustworthy, and adaptive
The right scheduling software helps retailers and manufactures cut down on missed shifts, double-bookings, and enable consistent customer communication. Among its capabilities:
- Real-time calendar sync
- Automated reminders
- Self-scheduling pages and automated confirmations
- Templates
- Team-wide scheduling and availability tracking
SUMO Scheduler brings all these features and more together into one powerful software platform.
SUMO Scheduler For Retail: Smarter, Faster, Reliable Operations
Time-sensitive tasks are a requirement for any profession, and efficiency is a target for every industry. Scheduling Software possesses the ability to provide a seamless link between day-to-day management and task execution.
SUMO’s Appointment Booking Software For Retail can provide round-the-clock assistance regarding above-mentioned issues.
Features such as Online Scheduler and Assignment Engine allow businesses to create sufficient meeting time between employees and clients, making sure the prospect meets with the right salesperson or production manager.
The Reminder Engine ensures every target employee receives automated emails, text messages, and phone reminders, reducing the chance of no-shows. Coupled with the Analytics Builder, the platform can create and schedule unlimited data-rich reports, providing you and your business with on-demand metrics.
Finally, with seamless integration to modern technology through its Salesforce native platform, and Certified ISO Compliance, SUMO is a reliable addition to any
Retail or Manufacturing business.
Why Retailers Choose SUMO Scheduler
From efficient workforce management, to round-the-clock automation, SUMO Scheduler’s Customer Engagement Platform can assist your retail or manufacturing business across various departments.
It can efficiently moderate e-Commerce related issues faced by managers, and provide seamless integration with modern technology for skeptical employees.
SUMO can even assist with lead nurturing and customer engagement growth through personalized campaigns, as this luxury retail client found out.
The reliable, consistent platform can foster an environment of trust and ensure that the retailer’s or manufacturer’s technical needs are met across all channels and roles within
the business.
Ready to simplify scheduling and boost productivity in your retail or manufacturing business? Book a free demo with SUMO Scheduler today.
