The need for digital transformation in the retail sector has been fast-tracked due to the economic impact of COVID-19, drawing focus on the necessity to operate and serve customers differently. The emerging themes for retailers indicate that COVID-19 will drive significant changes in customer experience, supply chains and category management, health and hygiene, and employee engagement.
The retail and consumer products trends analysis by Deloitte’s InSightIQ has identified four disruptive forces: consumer preferences are changing, technology is advancing at an accelerating rate, and economic pressures overflow for both consumers and suppliers and market forces are shifting.
With so many variables at play, it is evident that rapid and urgent transformation must take place in
the retail sector. ![]()
The Property Sector Charter Council (PSCC) has been responsive to the changing environment. It will introduce a collaborative industry-wide skills development programme that leverages skills development spend to create an impactful and sustainable effect on the property and retail sector. The aim is to target independent retailers in the initial phase who must take quick action to ensure economic survival and recovery while keeping their business sustainable in the long term.
industry challenges.”
While the big picture benefit is to re-energise the economy, the parties involved will see multiple benefits to this sector-wide programme. The PSCC will support the transformation mandate for the sector. At the same time, retailers will see improved customer experience, which ultimately leads to increased sales. Various linked SETAs will fulfil their strategic sector skills plan mandate by funding this skills development programme through special projects grants.
Independent retailers generally draw shoppers into retail spaces with their unique products and services and the reality is that they pay the highest rental per square meter. These non-essential
retailer specialists have had to bear the brunt of the initial lockdown phase, where they could not trade. For example, numerous non-essential specialist retailers have called for lifting and adjusting rental fees to retain their livelihoods. In contrast, major retailers who faced financial problems before the pandemic hit received support through business rescue. Let’s be honest here; empty shops mean no income to landlords, so this programme is a win-win solution.
The programme will offer digital solutions which respond to e-commerce, making it mutually beneficial for property owners to get on board with this initiative, which provides convenient access to a skills development framework that drives real value for their business. When there are unified quality customer service and customer experience across all retailers, it guarantees revenue growth.
Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) to be compliant with their respective
SETA and which qualifies them to access training grants. Retailers, in turn, can access the training programmes by attending awareness and education sessions on Skills Development Levy and the advantages of the levy-paying, hosted by your property owner. They must complete participation agreements and provide information for training needs analysis and once the WSP is approved, they are well on their way to accessing their training. “We are hoping to reach an agreement with
participating SETAs where we will submit reports on the retail programme on behalf of the landlords
This collaborative approach across industries that support the retail sector will significantly impact
maximising the benefit of skills development spend by working with other stakeholders and
addressing the skills gap through specialist training for retail client environments.
The PSCC’s support of the sectoral response to these changes will coordinate SETA grants and special projects to advance employee engagement across retail properties. A digital platform for learning will ultimately de-risk smaller retailers.
needs; to create jobs, upskill and reskill and transform the business through economic stimulation, will
in the long-term transform and provide a quality standard of skilled workforce in the retail space.
