NRF 24 case study: Office Depot improves staff performance and CX with Zebra cloud tech

Office Depot has improved in-store staff completion rates by 42% and omnichannel integration by installing Zebra Workcloud software and mobile computing solutions, which have speeded up display, assistance and other operations.

A case study detailing the overtime savings of 95%, improved efficiency and customer experience (CX) resulting from the enhanced connectivity has been prepared for NRF 24.   

The Modern Store digital transformation project has enabled Office Depot to intelligently connect data, assets, and people via in-store handsets and tasking software. The project will be available to view and discuss next week at the NRF 24 big retail show running 14-16 January, Booth 3203, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.   

Zebra’s Workcloud Task Management software has helped Office Depot improve operational efficiency so that its 13,000 store associates across 1,500 stores can now spend more time serving customers. Store managers can prioritise and divide associate’s tasks, giving employees a clear overview of what they need to do, what they completed, and what is next on their task lists – all from the palm of their hands.

Better scheduling, task assignment, and reporting have helped in-store associates to be more efficient, while field leaders have access to clear real-time reporting, along with compliance and completion rates. This allows managers to highlight areas of success and those requiring improvement across the stores.

“Technology is at the forefront of everything we do from an omnichannel perspective across the globe, and working with Zebra Technologies has been a game changer for us,” said Jonas Stillman, Senior Director, Omnichannel Operations, Office Depot. “We’ve become more efficient, achieving a 90% task completion rate – an increase of 42% since implementing Zebra’s integrated solutions.”

“Zebra’s hardware and software have helped our stores execute at the next level and focus on what matters most: our customers.”

Modern Store project
A crucial part of the Modern Store digital transformation project rolled out at Office Depot has been the Zebra Workcloud Scheduling software. This bolsters store managers’ capacity to streamline scheduling to ensure associates with the right skills are available to serve customers at the right time, while aligning with store labour budgets. Using this solution, Office Depot has:

• Reduced overtime costs by 95%,

• Lowered time spent scheduling staff from approximately three hours to 30 minutes a week,

• & Saved 6% in payroll annually, thanks to the enhanced efficiency and reduction in overtime.

Zebra’s TC5x series of mobile computers have been integrated with the Zebra Workcloud software to provide Office Depot with a simple, streamlined way to plan and manage work. Since the implementation these handheld devices have become a cornerstone of Office Depot’s in-store operations.

“We are excited Office Depot will be sharing its success story in improving associate productivity and efficiency at our booth at NRF 24,” said Matthew Guiste, Global Retail Strategy Lead at Zebra Technologies. “Office Depot sets a great example for retailers about how to work in new ways with technology to do more things, faster and better – while keeping customers at the centre of it all.”