Whitepaper reveals the major challenges for retailers in 2022

Research by software provider Fourth, indicates competition against eCommerce is now seen as a key obstacle to navigate by 37 per cent of retailers in 2022.

The new research also shows hiring issues are still intensifying, as sourcing staff post-Brexit and ensuring staff have the correct visas and work permits have become bigger challenges for the industry, rising from 25 per cent in 2021 to 37 per cent in 2022.

Keeping the shopfloor Covid-safe for staff and customers has also increased to the third most pressing industry-wide challenge, rising from 26 per cent in 2021 to 35 per cent in 2022.

While the top two retail industry challenges from last year are no longer among the top three, the proportion of retail leaders seeing them as a challenge has increased. Attracting customers to physical shops was 29 per cent and is now 31 per cent, whilst unpredictable consumer demand was 27 per cent and now sits at 32 per cent.

When it comes to top operational challenges for retailers, communicating consistently with all employees (35 per cent), retaining the best employees by maximising staff engagement (34 per cent), and attracting the right talent before competitors do (32 per cent) rank highest on the agenda for 2022.

Exploring the back-office technology retailers think are the most important for their business in 2022, retail leaders still believe HR and workforce management technology (40 per cent, up from 38 per cent in 2021) will be most impactful. However, the second and third most important tech solutions have changed.

The research comes as part of Fourth’s latest whitepaper: ‘Talent, convenience, and technology: The Retailer’s guide for 2022’. The research explores what consumers want from retail, what the current challenges facing the industry are, and what 2022 holds for the sector.

Responding to this latest data, Sebastien Sepierre, MD – EMEA, Fourth, said: “Retailers have done a lot of work during 2021 to analyse and recognise their business needs, with technology at the forefront of that to help optimise workforce management and engage staff in particular.

“We’re seeing an uptick in retailers seeking out this technology too coming into the new year, having recently partnered with the likes of Holland & Barrett and Theo Paphitis Retail Group across more than 1,000 locations.

“Talent attraction and retention is especially key to the industry right now, and it’s great to see retailers implementing tech-based solutions that will help improve this into 2022 and beyond.”