Window shopping is now taking place more often when you enter keywords on your phone or computer screen. E-commerce is causing a decrease in footfalls and patronage to shopping spaces, with customers now preferring to shop from the comfort of their homes. Prices on e-commerce sites can also often be cheaper than those found in brick-and-mortar shops.
A quarter of the 400 million people in the ASEAN countries alone are already shopping online today. Online marketplaces such as Zalora and Plus! Gateway have changed the whole shopping experience, bringing together many brands into one website.
Going Electronic
Traditional retailers are jumping on the e-commerce bandwagon by adopting omni-channel retailing – a combination of physical retail with online shopping.
NTUC Industry Transformation and Productivity Director Desmond Choo said that this change is inevitable because consumption habits have changed. This also spells opportunities. Job roles are evolving fast with the need to change with the times.
Staff working for BHG Singapore feel only slightly worried for their job security and evolving job scope. They also understand that they are a valuable and integral part of the company.
BHG continues to invest in workers’ training. With the help of SPRING Singapore, it has developed a computer application to train workers in service excellence.
Retail Industry Transformation
Last September, the Retail Industry Transformation Map (ITM) was announced by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Key strategies include the need to focus on innovation, adoption of new technologies to drive productivity and competitiveness, and having a workforce that is skilled and flexible to adapt to evolving jobs.
NTUC, along with its extended network of unions, associations and partners are very involved in the Retail ITM.
Mr Choo said: “Everyone in this network with experiences in retail will come together and bring forth to the Government the challenges that the retailers are facing.”
NTUC is also preparing workers for this inevitable change. Mr Choo said there will be an upcoming series of talks by NTUC to help workers in the retail industry change their mindset. The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU), which has over 10 branches in the retail industry, has been doing much to help both brick-and-mortal retailers and its workers.
COURTS Singapore has partnered with NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) for a productivity drive.
Robinsons is also working with SPRING Singapore, Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore. Its company spokesperson said: “We believe that e-commerce or m-commerce [mobile-commerce] is here to make shopping more convenient for our customers. At the rate of growth, it will not replace brick-and-mortar retail in the foreseeable future. We believe that workers must be prepared to adapt and change, and we are taking steps to help our employees accordingly.”
Mr Choo also reiterated that unions and its leaders must continue to play an important role in the transformation of the retail industry.
“Our unions are critical to developing robust ITMs – our union leaders provide insights on implementation challenges and help to rally our workforce to take the next leap,” he added.
