Transforming digital infrastructure
Many established retail brands are facing a rapid shift in consumer demand, and while it was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, it seems this shift is here to stay. Indeed, ONS data shows that “internet sales accounted for 26.6% of all official retail sales, compared with 19.7% in February 2020.” Transforming an enterprise reliant on legacy systems into a next-gen retail offering is no mean feat.
An embedded hiring model can help alleviate many of the hurdles faced when looking at rapid expansion, helping to reduce overall cost and project time while providing expertise in the fields you need most. Here’s how:
The Rise of E-Commerce and the Need for Digital Transformation
The two years of the pandemic accelerated the need for efficient and integrated e-commerce services. Many large high-street brands had to adapt to keep up with the latest consumer environment, from Supply Chain, Warehouse Management Solutions to Smart-Stores.
For instance, Holland and Barrett faced a significant challenge. Acquired back in 2017, the well-known brand had great plans for its digital future, aiming to convert Holland and Barrett into a leading global wellness brand through their e-commerce offering. This digital transformation required a delicate balance between legacy systems and new technologies, necessitating volume hiring to enable rapid scaling.
Meeting the Challenges of a Competitive Employee Market
When the pandemic hit, Holland and Barrett had to expedite their plans. The market became much more competitive overnight, with a surge in demand for talent. Without urgent investment in the right hires, they risked falling behind their competitors.
Holland and Barrett needed to:
- Hire a new team of skilled professionals
- Retain their existing development department
- Stay within budget
They had to achieve all this quickly amid the pandemic’s turbulent environment. These interconnected goals were vital for success.
An Effective and Efficient Solution
To effectively manage their recruitment process, Holland and Barrett partnered with Troi. Troi provided the necessary resources and expertise to scale the team at the required speed to meet business goals.
“In 3 years, Troi helped Holland and Barrett hire over 300 new staff members. This enabled the development of an improved and expanded team structure, including an engineering function capable of creating next-gen e-commerce solutions, such as 3D Automated Supply Chain and Robotic WMS Solutions.”
Significant Cost Savings
Digital transformation, particularly pivoting from outsourced solutions to fully owned technologies, often comes with massive costs. Recruitment costs are a significant part of this transition. Holland and Barrett saved £2.1 million annually by working with Troi, compared to traditional recruitment agency costs.
Attracting Top Talent
This cost-saving allowed Holland and Barrett to attract better talent, reinvesting the savings into the project. Troi secured talent from tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Amazon, making Holland and Barrett an attractive option for developers seeking their next project.
Investing in Personnel Infrastructure
Investing early in personnel infrastructure enhances resilience to the changing retail landscape. Loyalty and personalization are key, and technology is essential for maintaining brand recognition and customer loyalty.
Streamlined Hiring Processes
Companies often fall into the trap of using outdated hiring methods for new, agile teams. A streamlined hiring process not only increases productivity and output but also reflects the employer’s culture from the candidate’s first interaction.
A Faster, More Attractive Hiring Process
By partnering with Troi, Holland and Barrett reduced their hiring process from two months to just ten days. This made the company more attractive to top talent, as a slick and efficient process leaves a positive impression on candidates and reduces the risk of losing them to other offers.
Time and Resource Savings
Reducing the hiring process from two months to ten days resulted in a significant productivity gain. With an average of 24 hires per month, this translated to over 1,200 hours saved—time that could be better spent enhancing customer experience.
Conclusion
Adopting an embedded hiring model, as Holland and Barrett did with Troi, can save both time and money during your digital transformation. It enables rapid scaling, attracts top talent, and ensures cost efficiency. To explore how Troi can support your digital transformation, arrange a quick 20-minute chat with us today.
