This has been a firecracker of a sector at AM2PM. We were fortunate enough to be involved with some of the first significant retailers in the UK to start selling products online and feel the force of the wave of interest from the consumer, seeing firsthand just how fast and demanding that can be. 

Our involvement with clients throughout the UK of different consumer markets meant we had to create alternate methods of supply to keep pace with the demands of the sector. This did not behave the same way as traditional retailer supply chain and logistics, instead, it was impulsive and trend-driven at the speed of the internet. Preprogrammed strategies to meet expected demand weren’t appropriate to use as a forecasting method.   

E-Commerce Recruitment

It only takes 1 product normally sat on a shelf in a store to be noticed online and suddenly the spike of online buying activity soars. The convenience to businesses allowing them to store product centrally and offer it to customers via a virtual store can provide huge cost savings on overheads when compared to traditional retail routes. Product variety can also be significantly increased online when compared to that which might appear in traditional store environments, great news to the consumer as they have enhanced choice and potentially the same product at a reduced cost due to fewer overheads and costs involved in that product reaching them.  

E-Commerce recruitment is a huge growth space but still accounts for a smaller chunk of the overall sales of goods when compared to its bricks and mortar retail alternatives. Where it will end up who knows, for now though we know and feel that it is an exciting space to operate in as a recruitment agency that has been part of e-commerce from the beginning, we look forward to the challenges it will bring.

Market Fluctuations

What is also interesting is seeing how data and using this helps e-commerce businesses to plan and forecast. This is reflected in some of the hire requests we see as data analysis, information engineering and business intelligence becomes more of a valued skill being sought after in terms of recruitment. It isn’t just about operatives, pickers and packers, having certain technical skills to bring to the table are also prevalent.   

Ecommerce can be brutal at times, we have seen the highs and lows of clients as customer behaviours change and product interest diminishes. These experiences have helped us to become savvy and streetwise to the potential pitfalls of the marketplace and react with confidence for our clients.

If you haven’t spoken with us already regarding your e-commerce staffing supply needs, then perhaps you should! Our expertise, solutions and people are capable and ready to work with your business requirements.