As retailers are placing an increasing focus on online sales, the demand for digitally-skilled employees is on the rise in the retail industry.
In order to meet this demand for skilled human resources, a number of retailers have implemented training and orientation programs for new hires. Digital recruiting software may also aid the search, according to a recent press statement from retail industry leaders.
In the statement, Chaldal CEO Waseem Alim said: “Before Chaldal there was no concept of delivery people. We had to educate people about the job. We hire only people who have android devices. A lot of people buy android devices just to get into the job.”
Meanwhile, Shwapno Executive Director Sabbir Hasan Nasir expressed the need for digital recruitment software to aid the search for digitally-skilled employees.
“We would greatly benefit from a technology that helps reduce time, cost, and effort in recruiting, while increasing efficiency,” he said.
Meena Bazar General Manager (Brand, Communication & Business Development) Ahmed Shoyeb Iqbal said: “When it comes to recruiting and grooming internal resources, we conduct a three-day orientation program for non-management (i.e. Salesforce) and a seven-day orientation program for our management team (i.e. heads of office, warehouse staff). These programs detail basic information such as organizational policy, protocols, culture, reporting structure, industry trends, limits of authority, and employee rights. However, recruitment is done traditionally through collecting CVs from adjacent areas of the stores, using flyers and banners in local communities.”
Most retail chains are relying on proprietary or custom software to maintain their inventory and supply. Not only are these tools automating the entire sales process, but these tools are also providing opportunities to scale up their businesses. Operation of these softwares demands employees have a certain level of technical knowledge, which has led to an increased demand for digitally skilled employees in the market, the industry leaders added.
The retail industry in Bangladesh has witnessed unprecedented growth in the last decade. Based on the Gain report 2013, the rate of growth of retail in Bangladesh over recent years was 7.0 per cent. The sector is one of the biggest contributors to national employment, at 12%, and has made a 14.3% contribution to the national GDP in 2011-2012, together with wholesaling.