Enter Progress Retail.
A premier retail operations and workforce learning platform, Progress Retail focuses on elevating staff productivity and enabling exceptional customer service through comprehensive training and simplifying store operations. Built by retailers for retailers, the platform reflects Progress Retail’s CEO Raymond Riley’s hands-on experience working on the shop floor and in executive roles.
“In my store days, we would have chaotic group chats that were used for everything, from visual merchandising execution to general store communications,” says Riley. “Progress Retail provides a purely retail-focused tool to effectively distribute and manage store training, tasks and communications.”
Multi-location retailers, like Fleet Feet, Faherty Brand and Little Words Project, rely on Progress Retail to streamline task management and nurture effective communication. The all-in-one cloud platform offers engaging and dynamic training experiences that brands often struggle to deliver. Key features include intuitive task creation that automates recurring store expectations to save time and drive optimal execution. Multi-sensory, interactive training with smart quizzes and assessments guarantees that training is done right the very first time. Its AI-powered assistant enables teams to leverage internal knowledge bases and other data sources in a conversational format. Robust analytics provides actionable insights to improve outcomes.
Designed for efficiency, Progress Retail ensures seamless navigation with advanced search tools and a retail-specific calendar to simplify planning and execution. Tailored notifications, including SMS, email and in-app alerts, can be customized by user role and notification category, enabling precise, context-aware communication across teams.
“Our approach to product development is grounded in a deep understanding of the diverse personas that interact with workforce management software in retail environments,” says Riley.
These insights have shaped the user experience and the underlying business logic, ensuring the product adapts to the operational realities of both small-chain and large-scale enterprises. By designing with scale and specificity in mind, it has built a solution that not only meets expectations but anticipates them.
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Our approach to product development is grounded in a deep understanding of the diverse personas that interact with workforce management software in retail environments
Progress Retail was recently acquired by Worksmith, a leading facilities maintenance and store experience management platform for multi-location retail. Worksmith’s platform is leveraged by iconic brands like Tiffany, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.
Bryan Burkhart, founder and CEO of Worksmith, and Riley, now Worksmith’s Vice President of Retail, have a unified vision to create an operating system for multi-location retailers. Together, they have envisioned a tool that streamlines adjacent areas of retail operations, workforce management and employee experience, reducing vendor complexity and delivering value to retailers and their customers alike.
New features to bring the best of both platforms are in the pipeline. A notable one is the comprehensive store audit tool designed to bring intelligence and automation to a traditionally manual process. In an industry where retailers are focused on streamlining tech stacks and operations to minimize costs, the synergistic partnership holds immense potential. Worksmith’s clients are leveraging Progress Retail’s capabilities to transform retail operations, elevate team performance and deliver a more engaging, personalized and consistent customer experience.
International expansions and potential acquisitions are also in the cards. Worksmith’s presence in the U.S. and Canada and Progress Retail’s footprint across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will provide access to new markets and accelerate global growth. The partnership will also help enhance service delivery and unlock new customer segments worldwide.
As retail continues to evolve, Progress Retail and Worksmith stand at the forefront of operational transformation, bridging the gap between innovation and in-store execution. Its intelligent architecture, scalable design and persona-driven workflows empower retailers to streamline operations, elevate customer experiences and drive measurable growth.
