Source: Kroger - "Chris Hjelm Vision Video"
According to McKinsey’s study, “Digital Disruption At The Grocery Store,” recruiting digital talent will be a major hurdle for grocers as consumers increasingly adopt home delivery and omnichannel options such as curbside pickup in the years ahead.
Large technology companies and tech start-ups, according to the study, continue to have first dibs on graduating data scientists, tech engineers and other specialists. McKinsey wrote in the study, “We believe that is a major issue, since digital talent may be the single most important determinant of a company’s likelihood to succeed in the grocery market in the next few years."
The study noted that while retaining and training existing talent should be emphasized, several additional steps can be taken to better compete with Silicon Valley for talent:
- Hire a chief digital officer or the equivalent.
- Form positions for data scientists, tech engineers and other experts.
- Develop a clear digital strategy.
- Break out from the rest of the organization and rethink location strategies where required.
- Reconsider traditional recruiting practices and look beyond brand name universities.
- Offer more of the benefits Millennials seek.
- Create an innovative environment.
- Prepare to pay market rates and reward employees for attracting talent.
- AccDigital disruption at the grocery store – McKinsey
- Data Scientist: The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century – Harvard Business Review
- 2020 Emerging Jobs Report (U.S.) – LinkedIn
- 5 ways enterprises adapt to the data scientist shortage – SearchBusinessAnalytics
- How to build the perfect tech team despite talent shortages – Computer Weekly
- 6 ways to deal with the great data scientist shortage – CIO