Iceland is rolling out headsets to all 1,004 UK stores to ensure the safety, wellbeing and optimum working experience for colleagues.
The move, in collaboration with communications solutions provider VoCoVo, follows a successful trial in selected stores.
The frozen food retailer now expects the full headset rollout to be completed by April.
VoCoVo’s Series 5 Pro headsets will be available to staff in all areas of Iceland’s stores, including the shop floor, back areas and home delivery services.
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The solution, which provides clear audio quality while also being discreet, looks to ensure colleagues can communicate effectively, without deterring customers from approaching staff on the shop floor.
Iceland Group retail director Kristian Barrett said the investment in the headsets is “a real step forward in improving efficiency, communication and safety of our store colleagues, which are all paramount to our current and future plans”.
Iceland IT director Louise Dhaliwal added: “On our store floors and beyond, we’re committed to improving our customer’s experience when shopping with us. Our partnership with VoCoVo will directly support this commitment and we’re excited to grow the solution once the headsets are installed.
“This will include specific APIs that will integrate with our in-store technology and notification systems, enabling us to quickly update our store colleagues on certain business activities that are happening.”
It comes as the retail industry has experienced a crime ‘epidemic’ in recent months.
Speaking with MailOnline in September, Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker said: “Every single week I receive an average of 12 reports of ‘serious incidents’ where managers and other colleagues have been attacked in our stores, almost always by shoplifters.”
