Best practices for training your staff on how to use retail technology

Date:
Thu, 08 Jul 2021 23:21:59 +0000

Description:
Employees who are well-trained on retail technology are better-equipped to serve shoppers. Learn the top tips on how to educate your team on retail tech.

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Its an understatement to say that technology is a part of everything people
do today. From looking up something on your phone and ordering products
online to communicating with other people, its become an integral part of society and retail is no exception.

Despite a rough few months for everyone, the good news is that retail sales are predicted to be 26.7 trillion by 2025, and whether its ecommerce or a brick-and-mortar store, technology will be a big part of that.

When it comes to online shopping, customers expect a hassle-free and fast experience, whether theyre shopping on a website, an app, or a mobile site. Consumers expect the same things in-store an experience thats easy to navigate, customer-focused, and informative.

Regardless of how they shop, according to the National Retail Federation , more than three out of five consumers feel retail technologies have improved their shopping experiences. Theyve noticed particular improvement when shopping online, with eight in 10 saying theyve had better interactions
thanks to retailers technology investments.

All this to say that retail and technology are intimately intertwined. But in order for it to be effective, your staff members have to understand it and learn how to use it. Heres why you should prioritize training your staff on retail technology and how to do it right. The benefits of retail technology

In order for employees and your business, in general to run at max efficiency, everyone needs to be properly trained on the solutions that you use and implement. Heres a breakdown of the potential benefits. Shopify POS Pro has a vast feature difference in comparison with Lite. (Image credit: POSaBit)

Increased productivity

When technology is available and easy to use, employees are more engaged and productive, and this ultimately enables them to contribute more to your
bottom line. Research shows that businesses with engaged employees pull in
2.5 times more revenues compared to competitors with low engagement levels.

Employee efficiency can also be increased through the use of technology by automating certain processes, which allows them to focus on more important tasks that can help grow your business.

Tech can also do wonders when it comes to managing a team and optimizing productivity. Solutions like cloud-based scheduling systems and staff management apps show managers employee preferences when it comes to hours and shifts, lets those employees know when to take a break, and generally
improves communication throughout the staff.

Employee retention

U.S. companies are currently losing $1 trillion dollars each year to employee turnover. And one survey found that of all retail positions, part-time hourly store employees have the highest turnover rate, with 76% average turnover in 2019.

There are many factors that come into play, but one reason is thought to be because of outdated technology. In fact, people who work with outdated tech feel less productive, are 750% more likely to be frustrated, and 450% more likely to want to quit. With working on old or obsolete equipment being directly tied to job dissatisfaction, its no wonder that employees leave.

This costs retailers both time and money. In the time it takes to bring a new hire up to speed, the average company loses between 1% and 2.5% of their
total revenue. Thats why in order to keep the employees that you already
have, you have to equip them with the tools they need to succeed and train them how to use those tools. Best practises for retail technology employee training

Now that we know the benefits of having the right retail tech, lets discuss the best practices to implement when training your employees on how to use various tools in your business.

Start out with the right technology

How can you best get your team up to speed with technology? Start by giving them great tools to begin with.

Take a step back and look at the apps and solutions that youre using in your business and try to view them from a beginners perspective. Is it easy to grasp? Does it make sense? If the answer is no, look for intuitive apps and tools that are easy to understand for employees at all levels and can help with efficiency and improve your processes.

Starting with the right technology also means using upgraded solutions that work on devices that employees already know how to use. This is one reason
why cloud-based apps are so popular. They work on web browsers and mobile devices, meaning you can simply download these apps to your device insteading of introducing new hardware. (Image credit: Pexels)

Provide role-specific training

According to one survey, 32% of retail employees said they didnt get any formal training or the training they experienced did not make them better at their jobs. Thats clearly an unacceptable finding, but it can be greatly reduced by providing training on their specific role and any processes that are unique to both their job and your business, in general.

Consider the role of each employee that youre training and optimize their
tech education and experience based on their tasks and responsibilities.

Create simple training and process manuals, provide hands-on education, have new hires shadow top employees in a similar role, and ensure they know the ins-and-outs of your POS system. By having a structured and personalized training plan, every employee will have a way to get quickly acquainted with new technology and their role, ultimately motivating them to do a better job.

In a similar vein, remember that people have various learning preferences. Some may excel at classroom settings while others learn better when they can review the materials on their own. Get to know the learning styles of your team members and do your best to cater to their needs.

Let employees be hands-on

When you get a new piece of technology, especially a new POS system, nothing is better than hands-on experience. According to Kris McCrea Scrutchfield ,
of McCrea Coaching, Learning by doing provides the learner with instant feedback and the ability to reflect on what to keep doing, what to tweak and repeat, or what to change altogether. It's a great way to test competency to know if additional support would be helpful to create success for the
learner. It moves us beyond theory.

While many POS providers offer videos, tutorials, and illustrated product documentation to help retail staff learn their systems, nothing can replace the hands-on experience. See to it that your team members get a lot of time
to play around with the tools they need to use.

Many business software offer training mode which allows users to explore the software without using actual company data. If any of your tools offer this capability, take advantage of it in your training program. (Image credit: Future)

Take it to the real world

You need to have employees use the new technology in a real world situations. Start by planning this training session when the store is a bit slower and youre less likely to encounter a rush or long lines.

Then have your team members test several different transactions and skills, like processing refunds and exchanges, using a mobile POS out on the floor,
or using a variety of payment methods to complete purchases. This gives them
a chance to get comfortable with the new technology, while also potentially exposing certain hiccups they may encounter, such as a declined credit card
or missing POS integration.

Its also important to remember that there will be a learning curve when it comes to learning new retail technology, so give staff adequate time to acclimate to the new changes. The more training and practice runs they have, the more confident and skillful they will be when dealing with actual customers.

Gamify the process

Make retail technology training a bit more fun by incorporating aspects of gamification. Depending on your training initiatives, you can do things like creating leaderboards, giving out prizes whenever someone masters a skill, or using quizzes and competitions to test peoples knowledge.

In addition to motivating staff members to do well, gamification initiatives particularly ones that have a social component can also build camaraderie
and increase rapport among your employees.

Make learning a continuous process

Technology is constantly changing, which means your training and development efforts should evolve along with the times. Periodically revisit your tech education initiatives, and make sure theyre updated. Are you teaching people about the latest version of the software? Are there any new developments that should be added to the material? Take these into consideration then update your training materials accordingly. (Image credit: Pexels)

Show employee appreciation

Last but certainly not least is to let your retail staff know that you appreciate their willingness to learn new technology and continue to put
their best foot forward. This takes little effort, but can go a long way in keeping employees engaged and motivated.

In fact, 79% of employees have reported lack of appreciation as a reason why they have quit, so establish trust and loyalty by acknowledging a job well done and fostering an environment of appreciation.

Check in with them often and get feedback on how they are adapting to the new technology. Highlight the impact their efforts are making, and see if there are any changes that can be made to make their job easier or more efficient. Be sincere and specific with your praise. It can do wonders for increasing employee satisfaction, productivity, and your bottom line. Moving forward
with new technology

Technology means change, and change is never entirely easy. But by equipping your retail staff with the tools they need to succeed, youre investing in the future success of your business. Will it take time? Of course. But proper training is essential, and doing it right will pay dividends in the end.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/best-practices-for-training-your-staff-on-how-t o-use-retail-technology/


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