E-commerce has been on the rise since 2020, and this growth shows no signs of slowing down. According to recent estimates by the International Trade Administration, global B2B e-commerce will reach $36 trillion by 2026, with B2C e-commerce reaching $5.5 trillion by 2027.
With this rise in the market has come loads of competition, creating challenges for e-commerce brands that are looking to grow and scale their business. These challenges include managing complex logistics, addressing cybersecurity threats, and implementing advanced digital marketing strategies to stand out. On top of this, the surge in demand has led to a staffing shortage, making it difficult for successful brands to scale properly.
Luckily, tools like workforce analytics and workforce management software can help e-commerce leaders navigate talent shortages much more simply, giving them more time to focus on other pressing business challenges that can further their success.
Why Is E-Commerce Experiencing a Workforce Shortage?
Aside from fierce industry competition, there are a number of reasons why e-commerce brands are facing staffing shortages:
- Changing employee preferences: More employees, especially warehouse and fulfillment workers, are leaning toward less physically demanding jobs as well as opportunities for remote and hybrid work
- Skill gaps: Because e-commerce has risen in popularity so quickly, there are skill gaps for specialized skills in logistics, technology, and inventory management
- An aging population: Currently, more people are retiring from the workforce than entering it, which lessens the labor pool
- Higher wage expectations: Workers know there is an increased demand in the e-commerce sector and have higher wage expectations, making it hard for companies to maintain a profit margin
- Burnout: Increased demand coupled with fewer workers means the employers who are currently in these roles are being tasked with extra work and pressure, which can quickly lead to burnout and resignation
How coAmplifi Can Proactively Mitigate Workforce Challenges as You Scale Your Business
While you don’t have control over the talent pool, you can keep your current employees happy while operating in a leaner fashion. Here are a few features coAmplifi offers that can keep you ahead of any staffing issues and avoid growing pains.
Forecast Resource Requirements
coAmplifi offers forecasting tools that can help you better allocate your current resources, identify imbalances, and accurately predict staffing needs on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or seasonal basis with statistical data tracking.
This can help prevent you from overstaffing when it’s unnecessary or start the recruitment process sooner when you know you may need additional resources in the near future.
Understand the Root Causes of Workforce Problems
If your e-commerce brand faces workforce challenges such as poor retention, coAmplifi’s strategic team member metrics can help you quickly get to the root of the problem and fix it at its core. For example, you can get insight into data such as:
- Return on investment (ROI) for company initiatives
- New hire successes and failures
- Training effectiveness
- Impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives
- Cost per hire
This can help you improve existing programs and your company culture by identifying what’s most valuable to your team and company.
Make Data-Driven Decisions With Workforce Analytics
Take the guesswork out of important decisions by using data you already have to predict the outcomes of different options. By reviewing different scenarios, coAmplifi’s business analytics tools can help you reduce inventory and staffing costs and identify untapped opportunities without the risk.
Stay One Step Ahead With Predictive Data
Business owners have a lot to stay on top of as it is, so you can rest easy knowing you don’t have to manually keep up with all of this micro-information. coAmplifi will send you alerts when service quality might be impacted due to staffing challenges, a scheduling problem, or another issue that may impact your customer service so you can proactively minimize any disruption to your customers.
Measure Growth and Improve Productivity
coAmplifi’s Resource Productivity Index (RPI) feature lets you assign a numerical value to each employee’s productivity and focus levels so you can see where productivity could be improved. Employees also have access to organization and prioritization tools to help them manage their time more efficiently.
Scale With the Same Platform
coAmplifi can scale with you no matter how large you grow. This means you can keep all of your workforce analytics data in one place for years for better business comparisons and insights to continually improve.
Grow Your E-commerce Brand by Implementing a Solution That Works
Your people are a major asset to your e-commerce company’s success and scalability. By implementing coAmplifi, you’re ensuring that this piece of the puzzle isn’t being overlooked or under-prioritized. After all, the perfect logistics program or greatest digital marketing ideas won’t matter much if you have no one around to manifest them.
Find out why other e-commerce brands are staying one step ahead with detailed workforce analytics. Schedule your demo now!
