VoCoVo's Head of UK and EU Sales Olivia Robinson: retail crime won’t be solved in 2025, but progress can be made

Olivia Robinson, Head of UK and EU Sales, VoCoVo, gives her predictions for the coming year, focused on the growth of retail crime and how retailers need to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of their employees.

Recruiting talent will depend on retailers’ ability to prove they’re prioritising safety 

With 2023 the worst year for shoplifting in the UK, retailers should be prepared for hiring challenges as the risks of working on a shop floor are available for all to see. The challenge is made harder because social media continues to run the world. Platforms such as TikTok have the ability amplify in-store incidents and draw attention to cases of crime and abuse to colleagues. 

The onus is on retailers to show potential talent that they prioritise safety and overall wellness of their colleagues, and how they’re using smart technology to help overcome these challenges. These are expectations that individuals will look for, and having robust strategies to prioritise colleague experience will show why retail is a viable and fulfilling career option.

Retail crime won’t be solved in 2025, but it’s possible to stop it getting worse

I believe it’s likely we’ll see similar stats next year in terms of retail crime. Ultimately, there is greater awareness of the issue now than ever before, so we are likely to hear more about it, and greater awareness of the problem is part of stopping it. 

Retailers do a fantastic job of voicing how they’re using smart technology to make it more difficult to commit crime such as theft, as well as implementing deterrents for abuse, and these tools do help retailers detect and resolve issues much more quickly.  It’s also worth noting the cost-of-living crisis - we would likely see small reductions in crime if the cost of living improves. 

Wellbeing and opportunity are key to showcasing retail as a career option

The main areas retailers can highlight to show retail as an exciting career option is to advertise their strategies and commitment to prioritising colleague safety and wellbeing. This is one of the main considerations for any individual looking for a career in the sector. 

Showcasing opportunities to progress within the business is key to attracting talent too. Getting people in at the start of their careers and empowering them throughout to grow with the retailer is incredibly popular, particularly with graduates. 

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

VoCoVo was among the winners at the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, Scala, CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended last month’s gathering.