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Why digital upskilling is the best talent strategy for food & beverage businesses
Debbie Morrison • May 26, 2022

Despite its challenges, the pandemic was a catalyst for e-commerce growth in the food & beverage industry, with the market expected to stabilise and reach $34.6 billion at a CAGR of 23.4% through 2023.

Technology is at the forefront of new forms of e-commerce, automated pick-and-pack operations, supply chain management, forecasting production needs, and more. 


Of course, this convergence of people and technology requires new kinds of skills.


Central to all of this is data. Becoming data-led is critical for food & beverage companies in today's digital economy. However, according to Accenture, many are unsure how to do it:


74% of CPG executives say they are struggling to scale data and analytics. 



Most organisations have taken the first step – investing in digital technologies. But this is only one side of the equation. Leveraging technology and perhaps more importantly, data require digital skills.


To be able to meet the immediate and future digital skills gaps, businesses must not only upskill current talent but also become more creative in how they recruit, train and retain employees.


Having a workforce with digital skills is essential, but with digital talent in alarmingly short supply, many organisations are ill-equipped to cope with the pace of digital change. 


According to research by Amazon Web Services, 81% of Australian workers said they need more digital skills training to be able to cope with changes to their job during the pandemic.


Yet, only 30% of organisations have the necessary training programs in place.



The competitive edge in retaining and attracting the best talent is the proactive investment in digital skills training and upskilling. 


Establishing employee career plans and digital skills development programs for current and future roles presents organisations with the best opportunity to increase industry knowledge and domain expertise within their niche.


Not only that, the investment in employee development can protect startup and scaleup organisations from losing talented employees to larger organisations, which might offer better pay but may not necessarily be nimble enough to offer the same level of career development and opportunities.


By John Elliott September 30, 2024
Technology continues to be one of the biggest catalysts for change and growth. It stands to reason that Food and beverage manufacturers who fail to embrace technology risk falling behind. But here’s a question: How crucial is it for a CEO to truly understand technology and how it can transform business? Isn’t this the responsibility of the CIO? Yes. But I’m finding that technology isn’t just for the IT department anymore—CEOs and senior leaders must understand how AI, IoT, and automation can reshape everything from supply chains and customer experiences to sustainability and regulatory compliance. Perhaps it’s time to ask yourself: Do you have a CEO who just oversees operations, or one who sees tech as a strategic enabler for growth? Do they see AI, automation, and data as critical growth drivers? Do they have a history of using technology to improve operations and customer experiences? How comfortable are they relying on data and real-time analytics to make Data-Driven Decisions? Do they understand how technology decisions impact compliance and industry regulations? Do they work effectively across all departments to ensure alignment of technology with business goals? If the answer to these questions is no. It might be time to ask – Can a CEO still be effective without tech expertise? Or does a lack of it risk stalling innovation?  Contact us today for a confidential discussion on how ELR Executive can can deliver leaders that can drive your business forward.
contingent-vs-retained-recruitment/
By Debbie Morrison July 24, 2024
ELR Executive breaks down the difference between contingency and retained recruitment and why retained recruitment is ultimately the wiser choice.
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