Despite the assumption that artificial intelligence (AI) and automation have infiltrated every workforce sector, new research commissioned by UKG found that the New Zealand retail workforce was seriously lagging in AI adoption compared to Australian and Singaporean counterparts.
The survey of 213 Kiwi retail workers and managers found that only 33 percent were already using AI and automation in the workplace, compared to an overwhelming 92 percent in Singapore and 46 percent in Australia.
Of the 33 percent of New Zealand retailers currently using AI in the workplace, the majority believed that AI had improved their day-to-day experience in customer sentiment analysis (64 percent), automating scheduling (55 percent) and automating staff management processes (48 percent).
UKG’s research suggested that New Zealand retail workers were eager to embrace automation in the workplace, as a society-wide desire and trend for streamlining tools and enhanced efficiency prevails.
The findings revealed that most of the New Zealand retail workforce (77 percent) would use AI to improve their daily work experience. The desire to use AI to improve staff management processes was evident (67 percent), followed by wanting to use artificial intelligence for customer sentiment analysis (47 percent) and to automate inventory management (44 percent).
New Zealand retailers value making daily tasks as easy and seamless as possible, and adopting AI in the workplace is the first step.
“Our research shows that retailers in New Zealand are drastically lagging behind their peers in Singapore and Australia. The retail industry must embrace these technologies to assist their employees in providing the best service and meeting a business’s strategic objectives,” said Alex Catteau, Vice President of Sales in Australia and New Zealand.
“The retail demands of consumers are changing, as is the technological landscape in which retailers operate. AI adoption in retail across New Zealand can help businesses retain their talented workforce and therefore their competitive advantage.”
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