The Manager Perspective – Reducing admin burdens & embracing AI
Retail Managers Are Overwhelmed…It’s Time to Fix That…
Retailers are facing an employee retention crisis—but they’re also struggling with another major issue: manager burnout.
With rising National Insurance costs, increasing labour expenses, and new compliance regulations, store managers are being stretched thinner than ever. Instead of focusing on growing their teams and improving customer experience, they’re bogged down by administrative work that should be automated.
The Cost of Inefficiency in Retail Workforce Management
Never Miss a Retail Update!The 2025 State of the UK Hourly Workforce report found that:
- 65% of managers spend over three hours per week on scheduling.
- 42% still use outdated methods like Excel or paper-based scheduling.
- 46% manually call, text, or email employees to fill last-minute shifts.
At a time when every pound counts, businesses simply cannot afford to waste time and resources on inefficient workforce management.
The rise in minimum wage and tax burdens means retailers must find ways to do more with less. That doesn’t mean overworking employees or cutting hours—it means eliminating inefficiencies in scheduling, payroll, and attendance tracking.
How AI Can Help Managers Work Smarter, Not Harder
Retailers that embrace AI-powered workforce management are already seeing results. The report found that:
- 65% of managers believe AI can make scheduling easier.
- 63% see AI as a way to streamline payroll and compliance.
- 43% believe AI can improve team communication.
AI-driven workforce management solutions can:
- Auto-generate schedules that align with business needs and employee availability.
- Reduce last-minute shift gaps by enabling smart shift-bidding systems.
- Automate compliance tracking to prevent costly errors.
The businesses that invest in AI now will gain a competitive edge, reducing labour costs without resorting to job cuts.
Download the full report to see how AI is changing workforce management.
