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Leveraging Technology to Overcome Workforce Challenges for Small Retailers in the Philippines
By Gigi Lariosa, Philippines Country Lead, Zebra Technologies
In today’ s retail environment, labor shortages and unforeseen employee absences remain a persistent challenge. For smaller retailers, even brief closures due to staffing issues can result in significant revenue loss and risk driving customers to competitors.
Technology offers a powerful solution to these workforce challenges. Retail-specific tools accelerate the training of new hires and enable existing staff to upskill quickly. These technologies are particularly effective in engaging and retaining younger, tech-savvy employees – the“ digital natives” who are increasingly shaping the workforce.
Adapting to Workforce Realities
The retail sector has experienced major disruptions due to the“ Great Reshuffling,” with many employees leaving their roles in search of better pay, flexibility, or other benefits. Reducing employee turnover is key to maintaining operational consistency, retaining institutional knowledge, and strengthening team performance. While investing in technology and staffing can be costly upfront, the long-term savings and operational stability make it worthwhile.
Hiring Filipino workers involves costs that vary by role. Salaries range from ₱ 15,000 to ₱ 30,000($ 262 –$ 524 USD) per { x } for entry-level positions. Additional expenses include recruitment fees, visa processing( if applicable), and mandatory employer contributions to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG( 12 – 15 % of monthly salary). Recruitment timelines depend on the approach, with agencies offering faster but costlier solutions. New hires often take weeks to become fully productive, emphasizing the need for careful planning and competitive compensation to optimize hiring investments.
This highlights the importance of tools like mobile devices running user-friendly systems like Android™, which can expedite training and make managers and teams more accessible.
With on-demand video tutorials and self-directed learning tools, these devices help new employees quickly adapt. Instead of shadowing coworkers for days, they can become proficient within a day or two and refer to step-by-step guides when needed, reducing disruptions and reliance on colleagues.
Empowering Employees with Technology
For small retailers, unexpected staffing shortages caused by illness, transportation issues, or emergencies often lead to late openings, early closures, or even full-day shutdowns. These disruptions can be minimized with the adoption of technology that supports workforce flexibility and efficiency.
Retail-ready mobility solutions simplify cross-training and upskilling, equipping employees to seamlessly transition between roles, such as managing inventory in the stockroom or assisting customers on the sales floor. Workforce management tools further enhance flexibility by enabling employees to view open shifts, volunteer for additional hours, and submit time-off requests. These systems can even facilitate last-minute shift coverage without involving managers, reducing the likelihood of unplanned store closures.
Catering to the Digital Expectations of Younger Workers
Building a resilient workforce means attracting, empowering, and retaining Millennials and Gen Z employees, who are becoming dominant in the Philippine labor force. These younger workers, raised in the digital era, expect workplaces to adopt technology that supports seamless communication, learning, and productivity.
In the Philippines, where digital adoption is rapidly growing, younger employees tend to prioritize mentorship and opportunities for skill development. Career growth and access to supportive resources are often significant factors influencing their job preferences. By providing tools such as mobile devices that facilitate real-time learning and mentorship, businesses can enhance employee engagement, support career development, and foster loyalty among this tech-savvy workforce.
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