Impact of Modern-Day Technology on Operational Efficiency in UK Retail Sector

This study investigates the negative impact of modern-day technology on organisations in the UK, specifically in the retail sector. It focuses on the challenges faced by retailers like Toys “R” Us and the advantages and recommendations for using modern technology to improve operational efficiency. The research aims to identify the impact of modern-day technology in improving operational efficiency within the UK retail sector.

A study into how organisations
across UK suffer the negative
impact of modern day technology

Table of Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................3
Theoretical background and research focus.....................................................................................3
Literature Review ......................................................................................................................3
Aims, objectives and research questions ....................................................................................6
Justification and contextualization ..................................................................................................8
Why is your research important?................................................................................................8
Why is it important to find what you are trying to find?............................................................8
How will it build on the existing body of evidence?..................................................................8
Is it timely? Does it respond to an existing need? What makes it so?........................................8
Methodology .................................................................................................................................12
Research methods .....................................................................................................................12
Research paradigm....................................................................................................................12
Research design.........................................................................................................................13
Research Approach ..................................................................................................................13
Research strategy......................................................................................................................13
Data collection .........................................................................................................................13
Sampling ..................................................................................................................................14
Data analysis ............................................................................................................................14
Access and Ethics......................................................................................................................14
Research Limitations ................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................16

Introduction
Modern technology is al about speed and efficiency; it is about ensuring direct and face-
to-face communication. Modern day technology has both positive and negative effects at
workplace of an organisation. Benefits or advantages of modern technologies are speed,
efficiency and agility, automation, excellent communication, storage and sharing etc. There are
some negative effects of technology at workplace. These are addiction to electronic gadgets,
impact on employment etc. These are major negative impact that impacts on business
operations. For this research, Toys “R” Us is a chosen international clothing, toy and baby
product retailer owned in 1948 by Tru Kids, Inc. There are various drawbacks of modern-day
technology for retailer such as undergo the new normal protocol to prevent covid-19
transmission, keeping up with ever-changing customer expectations, maintaining customer
loyalty, managing internal communication, retaining and engaging employees, a high-stakes
global game of digital disruption etc. These are major challenges that impact on business
operations of an organisation (Chege, Wang and Suntu, 2020).
Modern-day technology will also helps company in improvement of its operational
efficiency. This will support company by saving its time and cost and also support by providing
valid outputs. There are different types of modern day technologies used by retailer such as E-
Commerce-Friendly POS Systems, Machine Learning for Demand Forecasting, Augmented
Shopping, Data Science-Based Personal Interaction, Staff-Free and Cashier-Less Stores, Voice
Commerce etc. All these are consider useful types of technology that will support company in
improvement of its operational efficiency. Along with this, there are different types of modern-
day technology are beneficial and effective for improving operational efficiency of an
organisation.
Theoretical background and research focus
Literature Review
Literature review refers to the systematic and useful process of data collection used by
researcher for gathering secondary information about the topic. For collecting secondary
information, there will be requirement for using secondary sources sources such as magazines,
books, articles, publication research etc. All these are consider useful secondary sources of data
collection. Main purpose of literature review is to find out research gap in previous investigation.

Within a current investigation, research gap is the impact of modern-day technology in
improvement of operational efficiency within UK retail sector. In previous studies, there were
information available about the impact of modern-day technology at workplace but there were
lack or missing information regarding the impact of modern-day technology in enhancement of
operational efficiency. This is a main gap and in order to overcome this gap, research questions
will be explained as below:
Explain about the conceptual framework of modern day technology?
The technologies are present in modern-day are more effective and based on the new
concept of fulfilling market and client requirements (Flynn and et. al., 2019). The regular level of
updation on these technologies aid in getting right amount of expertise so able to attain desirable
outcomes. Conceptual framework of modern day technology will be shown as below:
From the above mentioned conceptual framework, it has been interpreted that Modern
day technology helps an organisation by improving its operational efficiency and also support
company in attraction of large number of customers. This graph defined different types of
technologies which are Block chain technology, Design technology and Wearable technology.
All these are consider effective types of modern-day technology and helps an organisation in
improvement of its operational efficiency. Operational efficiency of company is related with the
customer engagement, inventory management and production efficiency. Therefore, modern-day
technologies are important for an organisation in enhancement of its operational efficiency.

What are the advantages that may be achieved by Toys “R” Us while using modern day
technology?
According to the views of Becky, (2020), technology has become important for all the
businesses and must be embraced in retail businesses which can help them in improving their
operational efficiency and also in enhancing their profitability. The most important benefit of
technology is that it help in automating all the processes which improves efficiency of
employees, reduces cost and time in performing various tasks, helps in effective decision
making, improves customer service etc. All the benefits of technology help in enhancing the way
in which retail business can gain a competitive advantage in market along with improving its
productivity. As per the author technology also help in collecting data related with customers so
that the likes and preferences of customers can be monitored which can help in improving the
customer satisfaction. It also help in budget planning, forecasting demand, controlling business
activities etc. so that business functions can be made more efficient.
As per the views of Jim, (2020), the use of technology also help in enhancing brand
loyalty among customers through detailed tracking of customers, providing various options for
customers for making purchases, increasing the variety of goods and services offered etc.
Modern day technology like digital technology, social media, internet and Intranet systems etc.
help the businesses in improving sharing of data which improves the efficiency with which data
is analysed so that decisions can be made. Technology usage also help in monitoring inventory in
company so that stock of goods can be managed as per the requirement in market that can help in
managing the cost of inventory so that high benefits can be increased. Customer loyalty can also
be increased by providing the customers with personalised products and services so that they
become more attracted towards the company which increase sales and profitability of
organisation. Omni-channel marketing can also be done by the company so that it can reach to a
large base of customers along with enhancing customer exerciser so that their satisfaction can be
increased which help in improving the brand image of company.
What are the challenges many be faced by Toys “R” Us while using modern day technology?
According to Rafiu and Aremu, (2020), the changes in the technology has affected the
business both positively and adversely as with the implementation of various technology the
process can be made simple but due to this they businesses has to keep their business updated
with the changes taking place within the business environment. The changing taste and

preference of the customers implies pressure on the retailers to introduce change in ways they are
offering their services such as these days the customers prefers to have multichannel buying due
to which the retailers has to ensure strategic partnership with various manufacturers so that they
can offers various options to the buyers. This increases the requirement of management of the
stock due to which they have to incorporate different software that can maintain the record of
flow of inventory. This change has positive impact for the retailers as with the help of this they
can ensure that their have better inventory management system as well as they can offer their
customers seamless experiences. Further retailers has to ensure that they have better display
system so that their customers can identify different segments within the store easily and for this
they need to get display boards within the store. This increases their cost but enables them in
improving the experience of the customers.
According to Kanya (2018), the retailers has to nowadays has to emphasis on the
technology related to making payment as the customers are shifting towards the digital
payments due to which the retailers has to install the system of digital payment by linking their
billing system with their accounts. This is beneficial for them as with this they can ensure easy
monitoring of the transaction as well as efficient handling of the cash but this increases the
requirement of trained staff for the organisation.
Aims, objectives and research questions
Research aim
Main aim of this research is: “To identify the impact of modern-day technology in
improvement of operational efficiency within UK retail sector”. A study on Toys “R” Us
Research objectives
 To critically evaluate the conceptual framework of modern day technology.
 To identify the advantages of modern day technology in improvement of operational
efficiency .
 To determine the challenges linked with the of modern day technology.
 To evaluate the appropriate recommendation to eliminate the negative effect of modern
day technology.
Research Questions
 Explain about the conceptual framework of modern day technology?

 What are the advantages that may be achieved by Toys “R” Us while using modern day
technology?
 What are the challenges many be faced by Toys “R” Us while using modern day
technology?

Justification and contextualization
Why is your research important?
This research is important at academic as well as personal level. At personal level, this
investigation support researcher by increasing their research skills such as data collection, data
analysis, time management, literature review etc. All these are useful skills for researcher
because it will helps them in completion of full project systematically and timely. At academic
level, this investigation support students by increasing their knowledge about the impact of
modern-day technology in improvement of operational efficiency within UK retail sector
(Fortune, 2018). Along with this, if this research was published will also helps in increment of
awareness among organisation and individual about the role of modern day technologies.
Therefore, this research is important for researcher by increasing their knowledge and
understanding about the modern-day technologies.
Why is it important to find what you are trying to find?
It is important for researcher to find out how organisations across UK suffer the negative
impact of modern day technology. I will try to find out different aspects which are conceptual
framework of modern day technology, advantages of modern day technology in improvement of
operational efficiency and challenges linked with the of modern day technology. By finding
these information will support researcher in carrying out present investigation systematically and
successfully.
How will it build on the existing body of evidence?
There are different number of secondary sources that will be essential and important for
researcher in building on the existing body of evidence. These sources are magazines, books,
articles, publication research, websites etc. All these are consider effective and useful sources of
carrying out this investigation. With the help of these sources, researcher can easily attain
research aim and objectives as well as find out research gap that results in completion of full
project successfully (Jawabri, Rehman and Alarmouti, 2019). Secondary sources of data
collection will be used in literature review and helps investigator in collection of secondary data.
Is it timely? Does it respond to an existing need? What makes it so?
Yes, this research completed within a given time period. Time is significant source for
researcher in completion of full project in allotted time period and in successfully. Yes, time it

respond to an existing need. For this, Gantt chart will be used as a time management tool. This
chart will support researcher by providing accurate information about the starting and ending
time of research completion. Therefore, Gantt chart is essential and important tool of time
management that will be used within an investigation. This chart includes different activities that
will be supportive for researcher in executing of current investigation. These activities are
introduction, literature review, methodology, data collection and data analysis, conclusion and
recommendations. All these are useful and essential activities for carrying out this research over
the impact of modern-day technology in improvement of operational efficiency within UK retail
sector (LM and Aithal, 2019). Therefore, time plays an important role within an investigation.
Gantt chart of current study will be shown as below:

Methodology
Research methodology refers to the essential process of collecting and analysing
appropriate information about the research topic. Main purpose of research methodology is to
helps investigator by providing reliable and valid information through research technique or
strategy. This section of research includes different types of methodology such as research
approach, research philosophy, research strategy, data collection, sampling etc. All these are
useful methodologies for conducting present investigation in systematic manner. These
methodologies are explained as below with its proper justification that are useful within a current
research. These are:
Research methods
There are three types of research methods such as mono method, mixed method and
multi-mixed method. These are important but for carrying out present investigation, mono
method is a best choice for researcher (NAQVI, ASIM and MANZOOR, 2020). In this method,
researcher will require in gathering of only one type of data, either qualitative and quantitative.
In mixed and multi-mixed method researcher will be require in collecting of both types of
information which are quantitative and qualitative. Therefore, for doing this investigation
quantitative research will be used by researcher under mono method. Main reason behind
selecting quantitative research is it helps in collecting and analysing of numerical information
within less period of time. Qualitative research is not valuable for conducing present study
because it requires more sources that results in higher cost and time.
Research paradigm
This is the process of collection, analysing and using information about the research
topic. There are two types of research paradigm which are positivism and interpretivisim. Both
paradigm are essential but within a current research, positivism paradigm is more preferable for
researcher. This will helps investigator in gathering, evaluating and also using of quantitative and
numerical information through effective data collection techniques. Positivism paradigm is not
useful for carrying out this research because it requires qualitative data that results in more
sources and also time. Therefore, within a current investigation, positivism research paradigm
will be used by researcher.

Research design
This part of methodology helps investigator in identification of research problem. There
are three important types of research design which are descriptive, experimental and exploratory.
These are essential but for carrying out present study, descriptive type of research design is more
preferable and useful. As this will helps researcher in identification of the impact of modern-day
technology in improvement of operational efficiency within UK retail sector. This research
design not takes maximum time and also helps in getting of valid results (Ojo and et. al., 2019).
Research Approach
There are two types of essential approaches such as deductive and inductive. Both
approaches are essential but for doing this investigation, deductive approach will be used by
researcher. Main purpose of following deductive approach as it will helps investigator in
analysing or evaluating of quantitative information without consuming extra time as well as cost.
On the other side, inductive approach is not valuable for current research because it need
qualitative information in data analysis which takes more time.
Research strategy
This is the procedure of data collection through suitable research strategy. There are some
effective types of research strategies such as survey, experimental, case study, action research
etc. These are consider effective types of research strategies but for collecting information
regarding the impact of modern-day technology in improvement of operational efficiency within
UK retail sector, survey will be used by researcher. This strategy will support investigator in
collecting and analysing of primary and quantitative information within minimum time period.
Data collection
There are two significant sources of data collection such as primary and secondary. In
order to collect primary data, questionnaire as a part of survey will be used by researcher. This
source will helps researcher in gathering of reliable and valid information effectively. In case of
secondary data collection, different sources will be used for literature review (Ramsoomair and
Kolb, 2018). These sources are magazines, books, articles, publication research etc. All these are
consider useful sources of secondary data collection that were used in literature review for
attaining research objectives. Therefore, secondary sources of data collection only used for
literature review and primary methods will be used for entire project.

Sampling
Sampling refers to the process of selecting sample through sampling techniques. There
are two essential techniques of sampling such as probability sampling and non-probability
sampling. According to the current investigation, probability sampling will be followed by
researcher for selecting 30 employees of Toys “R” Us. Main reason behind selecting 30
employees of company is they have accurate understanding and knowledge about the business
operations. Along with this, simple random sampling under probability sampling is more useful
in sample selection because it not takes maximum time and helps in selection of larger sample
size. Non-probability sampling is not valuable for conducting this investigation because it not
helps in selection of larger sample in minimum time period.
Data analysis
This is the systematic process of analysing data through analytical technique. For this
research, frequency distribution analysis as a type of analytical technique will be followed by
researcher for analysing quantitative data. In this technique, researcher will require to make
frequency distribution table that will be essential in evaluating of quantitative data within limited
time and in successfully. Along with this, MS-Excel software will also using by researcher for
making graphs according to the each research question. This will helps them in collecting and
presenting of quantitative data effectively and timely.
Access and Ethics
It is necessary for researcher to get access for collecting information from participants.
This will helps them in starting and completion of full project systematically and accurately.
Ethics are also consider more valuable part of the study that must by follow by researcher while
conducting current investigation. There are some principles of research ethics that should be
apply by researcher within a research. These are minimizing the risk of harm, obtaining informed
consent, avoiding deceptive practices, providing the right to withdraw etc. These are major and
useful research ethics that must be following within an investigation because it will support them
in completion of full research ethically (Tabsh and Davidaviciene, 2019).
Research Limitations
Survey is a best and selected research strategy that has some limitations for the
researcher. These are dishonest answer, unanswered questions, difference in understanding and

interpretations, lack of personalisation, Unconscientious responses etc. These are consider major
limitations that impact on researcher while carrying out this investigation systematically and
successfully. In order to overcome these limitations, researcher will require to create some
options in questionnaire that helps researcher in providence of their opinion about the topic.
They will also make 1 open-ended questions because in this respondents are completely free in
providing of their view and opinion about the research topic and objectives.

REFERENCES
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Management Procurement Functions: A Case of A Nigerian University. Malaysian
Management Journal. 22. pp.139-151.
Fortune, A., 2018. The Impact of the Use of Technology on Listening Comprehension Progress
Among First year Spanish Students at the UWI St. Augustine in the Academic Year
2016-2017.
Jawabri, A., Rehman, W. and Alarmouti, A., 2019. Role of logistics and SCM management
practises in improving operational efficiency in the retail industry in the
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Computation Technology (ICCT) on Selected Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary
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