How retailers are cutting costs without cutting staff

Peak season puts unwanted pressure on everything from supply chains, staffing, and ultimately, budgets. While the obvious reaction might be to trim costs by reducing headcount, that decision can come at a high price (the irony isn’t lost on me): lost revenue, a revolving door of candidates and burnt out teams is just the tip of the iceberg.

Instead, smart retailers are looking for savings in unexpected places; starting with how their teams get to work. Here is a look at how employee shuttles are helping major retailers up and down the country stay fully staffed and cost-efficient during periods of high demand.

In this blog:

• Why cutting headcount to save money rarely works
• How employee transport can reduce absenteeism by 20%
• Real-world savings: £100,000+ through shuttle consolidation
• Steps to launch a cost-effective transport solution in weeks

Expanding your hiring pool

Have you considered that workers might have trouble reaching your site? Seasonal roles often go unfulfilled because candidates have no way to get to you. The provision of transportation helps you to remove the barrier and unlock new pools of talent. Ideal for remote, late night or hard to reach sites, don’t you think? And as for the cost implications; recruiting candidates who can actually get to work will decrease your recruitment budget immeasurably. Without the need to keep filling the same roles, you’ll tend to find you aren’t spending out as much to find (and retain) the right talent.

Reducing absenteeism + improving reliability

This might seem obvious, but I'm going to put it out there: When your team has a reliable way to get to work, they show up. What does absenteeism mean to your business? Lost revenue? Delays? Diminished capacity? Let’s throw some numbers around. The cost of absenteeism in the UK retail sector sits within the range of £1.5-2 billion for direct costs alone (wages), with indirect costs (overtime, lost revenue etc) potentially doubling or even tripling this figure. Making a shuttle service available to your workforce can mean fewer late arrivals, and even fewer no-shows. In fact, leading retailers using Zeelo have already seen absenteeism drop by as much as 20% during peak.

Scaling up (or down) to meet demand

One of the key advantages of deploying a managed shuttle service during peak is its flexibility. You can ramp up support during critical sales periods and scale it back just as quickly when footfall slows down. That means you only ever pay for what you need. No wasted journeys, no unnecessary contracts. Just a transport solution that flexes with your workforce needs, and budget. Whether you need to double your headcount for Black Friday or reduce service in January, Zeelo makes it easier than ever to adjust routes, capacity and schedules in line with your operational needs. It’s just smart planning, really. And smart planning beats fighting fires every time. 

‍Real-world impact: A lesson from Zeelo’s partnership with Wincanton

Wincanton and The White Company partnered with Zeelo to prepare for their high demand retail season. We worked together to identify staffing demand, peak volumes and optimal routing; tailoring vehicle sizes and schedules to fit the exact needs of their workforce.

The result?

• >£100,000 in cost savings, by consolidating and streamlining transport that had been previously managed by multiple external recruitment agencies.

• 606 unique staff members supported across five separate agencies, all brought together under one efficient, centralised shuttle program.

• A smoother, more controlled process that freed up internal resources and reduced operational complexity.

By replacing disconnected and disparate transportation efforts with a single consolidated solution, Winanton (and by extension, The White Company) were able to cut costs, increase reliability and remain fully operational when it mattered most. 

Getting started is easier than you think

It isn’t necessary to overhaul your entire operation to make a big impact. A few smart shifts in how your staff get to and from work can transform reliability, retention, and cost efficiency in just a few weeks.

• Pinpoint your staffing pain points; especially around transport

• Talk to us about building a tailored program for your sites

• Launch in weeks, not months; with support at every milestone

The result? A smarter, leaner operation that’s ready to take on the next peak, with your team behind you every step of the way.

Our transport experts use advanced technology to analyse your existing program; identifying where demand is highest and where resources are being underused. From right-sizing vehicles and adjusting timetables, to renegotiating operator contracts and reusing vehicles across routes, we help you build a leaner, smarter transport plan. You can even explore cost-sharing models with employees to further improve ROI without compromising service.

Do you want to cut costs without cutting people? Zeelo is already helping leading retailers maintain service levels, hit hiring targets and keep operations running smoothly. So why not let us help you too, without compromising on care or quality. 

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