Specialty outdoor retailer mobile-enables employees

Premium outdoor brand Roots Corp. is leveraging mobile solutions to enhance employee performance in stores.

As part of a broader digital learning transformation initiative, Roots is deploying Yoobic mobile technology to its 2,000 associates spread across its more than 100 North American stores. Roots seeks to create a more connected, engaged, and fulfilling workplace for all employees.

Utilizing Yoobic’s intuitive app-based training solution, Roots will provide associates with instant access to gamified, bite-sized training content directly on their mobile devices, with no need to interrupt their workflow or log on to a desktop computer for training and support. 

Roots will also connect and engage with employees across its organization, including corporate managers and frontline employees at its retail outlets, distribution centers, warehouses, and its leather factory, using Yoobic mobile communication tools.

The Yoobic platform offers a social media style user experience, which Roots will leverage to provide employees with access to the latest corporate news and policies. Roots employees can also use the solution to share success stories and best practices with peers, ask and answer questions, and collaborate with one another.

Other specialty retailers have also recently been implementing Yoobic mobile technology. U.S. footwear brand Johnston & Murphy (a division of Genesco) is deploying the Yoobic all-in-one digital workplace platform across its 168 company-owned retail locations. The retailer intends to modernize operations, improve the employee experience using digital technology, and deliver quality customer experiences across its entire retail footprint.

Regional furniture chain City Furniture has also been improving store operations with mobile communications. The retailer is piloting a new mobile communications solution at select locations using a combination of iPads, the Zello instant voice messaging app, and wireless push-to-talk buttons from Pryme. By clicking the push-to-talk button, sales associates can quickly activate Zello and respond to messages or gain access to the iPad’s suite of technology. According to City Furniture, the new mobile communications solution also helps it to incentivize performance and train new associates.

“At Roots, we’re committed to creating a positive workplace that empowers and engages all our employees on a daily basis,” said Michelle Lettner, Roots senior VP, HR. “We’re partnering with Yoobic because of the company’s impressive track record in retail and its ability to deliver powerful features through a single easy-to-use mobile app. Yoobic’s solution gives us the connective tissue we need to keep our employees energized and in sync with one another.” 

“We deeply admire Roots’ commitment to putting associate experience front and center,” said Fabrice Haiat, CEO and co-founder at Yoobic. “We designed YOOBIC with the goal of boosting frontline teams’ connection with both managers and peers, and we’re thrilled to be helping Roots to prove that connectivity is the ultimate driver of engagement and productivity.” 

Established in 1973, Roots offers products including women’s and men’s apparel, leather goods, footwear, accessories, and kids, toddler and baby apparel. Roots operates more than 100 retail stores across Canada, two in the U.S., and ships to more than 60 countries worldwide via its e-commerce platform. The company also has more than 100 partner-operated stores and sells its products through third-party retail sites in Asia. Roots Corp. is a Canadian corporation doing business as “Roots” and “Roots Canada.”