Is Ecommerce a threat to our jobs?

In the last 15 years we have seen many iconsumer trends such as device shift, communications shift, social shift and video shift but one that caught my eye and I think is overlooked is the retail shift.

The retail shift for those who do not know is the emergence of technology aspects that allow consumers to interact with products through their phones and in store technology to find information or purchase products. Although it still only contributes to 5% of sales in retail, ecommerce has been on a growing path and I believe its impact will soon be seen in greater lengths.

Already being seen now through the use of social media platforms, consumers are able to find out an infinite amount of information about retail products before even speaking to an employee. Seen in many liquor stores, consumers are able to scan products and find out specific information about the alcohol such as specifics on wine bottles like the grapes used and when they were harvested. This has also been seen with the use of QR codes on products in many stores.

With a potentially huge Ecommerce shift coming in the future to retailers, the question arrises; how important will employees be for stores? and will we see further strides in downsizing due to the development of new technology? My answer to this would be that humans will always be a necessary part of society simply because it is our society. Although we have seen downsizing occur we have also seen that in stores such as Woolworths and Coles with the introduction of self serve technology, the employees weren't actually removed but instead moved to other areas of the business. I have faith that all new technologies will be implemented in a way where we do not harm the progression of other people but create ways to reduce inefficiencies.

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