INDUSTRY News


Retailer of low-cost products, Wilko, invests in autonomous EV technologies


High-street retailer Wilko has invested £3m in the UK’s leading autonomous delivery company, StreetDrone, which provides autonomous delivery vehicles. The investment will give the retailer a significant interest in the company, putting it at the forefront of investments in retail technology in the fast-growing autonomous vehicles industry. StreetDrone offers its small, light and quiet autonomous delivery electric vehicle (EV), Pix-E, that securely and safely delivers products to customers’ homes.


The investment from Wilko is a core element of its long-term strategy to strengthen its omnichannel model, in line with the ever-changing customer behaviours that have been accelerated during the pandemic. The company’s ambition is to ultimately provide customers with access to new digitally- enabled services, including autonomous retail deliveries, that will enhance their experience and make it easier for them to access the products they need for homes and gardens. “One of the key reasons why we’re


Wilko’s new StreetDrone vehicle will autonomously and sustainably deliver goods directly to customers’ homes


backing the team at StreetDrone is that this sort of transformative technology can have a huge and positive impact for hard-working families – and it’s this ethos that runs through all of our work at Wilko. Ultimately, it has the potential to reduce costs for customers when deployed in the retail sector. We look forward to supporting them on


this journey,” said Jerome Saint-Marc, Wilko’s CEO. StreetDrone is aiming to deploy driverless delivery vehicles on the UK’s roads by the end of 2023. It is working closely with UK-based vehicle safety agencies on defining the standards by which these technologies will be allowed to operate on public roads.


Employers must adapt to new ways of working to avoid staff resignations


When the phased return to the office began back in late September, it brought an end to 18 months of remote working for many employees. And, while employers and business owners were happy to have their staff back under one roof, the move hasn’t prevented particular issues from arising. One such issue is staff resignations. For example, in the US, some four million people quit their jobs in a few short months and some experts suspect that the same may happen in the UK, too, because employees are now more interested in working for someone whose views align with their own. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, for instance, are more popular than ever following the pandemic. While businesses have tried to quietly slip back into their old ways


6 December/January 2022 | Automation


of working, employees would prefer to have these work options made available to them all the time. Not offering such arrangements put certain businesses at risk of losing staff. The world of recruitment is also becoming a candidate’s market. Educated and talented employees are leaving good jobs because their employers aren’t delivering what they expect. Furthermore, these employers aren’t focusing on getting the best out of individual employees. Instead, they’re trying to get everyone to fit into the needs of the business. However, solo decisions made by CEOs are no longer the reality of the business world, with a two-way approach being seen as beneficial to all.


Employers now need to look at new ways of retaining staff.


“Employers need to assess options to deter resignation and retain staff,” said Moira Grassick, Managing Director at employment law firm Peninsula Ireland. “That could be having a career conversation with an employee, whereby the employer can help them outline a path that aligns with their goals and ensures progression. Similarly, employers should look to create opportunities for employees to develop. Training, educational courses and freedom to move within the business can all improve how an employee feels about their role. “Ultimately, employers need to look at the cost of retaining a great employee versus the cost of going through an entire recruitment process. It is then that the true value of retaining great staff becomes apparent,” added Grassick.


automationmagazine.co.uk


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