Key takeaways
Why frontline satisfaction is directly tied to attrition and productivity
Best practices for using AI in onboarding and learning
What good looks like: Real-world examples of cross-generational enablement done right
How Bosch plans to use AI to support production staff
Synopsis
The clock is ticking for frontline employers. In some industries, up to 40% of the workforce is set to retire within 15 years—and dissatisfied employees are 7x more likely to leave. This session explores what that means for your business, and how smart organisations are using AI, onboarding, and enablement to stay ahead.
Here’s your guided tour through the most powerful insights, hands-on strategies, and urgent wake-up calls from the session. Whether you missed the live event or just want a quick refresher, you’re in the right place.
The state of the frontline – and why it’s getting critical
Rosie Sargeant, Principal at BCG, opened the session with one of the most striking stats:
“One in 3 frontline workers is at risk of leaving their job in the next 12 months.”
And that’s just the start. Here’s what else BCG’s data revealed:
Many frontline-heavy industries (like manufacturing) are dealing with aging workforces, with a shrinking pool of younger talent to replace them.
Enjoyment of work is the strongest predictor of attrition—and frontline workers report lower job enjoyment than their office-based peers.
Talent availability has hit a historic low, while retirement eligibility is peaking.
Five levers to drive frontline retention – The BCG playbook
Aisha Taylor, Managing Director at BCG, walked us through a real-world case study of a global food manufacturer struggling with skyrocketing attrition and zero hiring pipeline. The fix wasn’t flashy—but it was incredibly effective.
Here’s what worked:
1. Recognition beats raises. Yes, pay matters. But what truly moved the needle was feeling valued—through shoutouts, celebrations, and yes, the occasional pizza party.
2. Enable supervisors, don’t bury them. Frontline managers often spend their day buried in admin. Freeing them up to actually lead — by simplifying systems and processes—had a direct impact on engagement.
3. Flexibility, redefined. In manufacturing, flexible work doesn’t mean remote. It means shift schedules that reflect real life—like letting single parents drop their kids off at school.
4. Learning that actually lands. Forget desktop training modules. Frontline teams need mobile-first, bite-sized, accessible learning—delivered in the flow of work.
5. Clear growth paths Career progression isn’t just for corporate staff. The most motivated frontline employees can see what’s next—and how to get there.
Tech in action: What enablement looks like on the ground
Adam Pikula from Bosch shared how they’re rolling out the My Bosch app to 100,000+ frontline workers—with Flip as a key partner.
Before Flip, access to payslips, leave requests, or even company news meant long queues at outdated kiosks. Now?
Everything’s accessible on mobile
Plant managers can close the kiosks entirely
Teams feel more connected, informed, and empowered
For Adam, this wasn’t about digital for digital’s sake—it was about making life easier for the people who build the products, run the shifts, and move the business forward.
Why AI changes the game for enablement
To wrap it up, Luke Talbot, CPTO at Flip, shared a bold message: “By the end of 2025, if you’re not using AI to support your frontline—you’re already behind.”
From AI-powered shift lookup to content recommendations and automated onboarding, smart tech can take pressure off teams and speed up time-to-value. And when done right? It helps people feel more human, not less.
Why You Need to Act Now
This wasn’t just a “future of work” session—it was a now or never moment. The generational shift isn’t on the horizon—it’s here. If we don’t rethink frontline enablement today, the talent gap will only widen.
As Luke emphasised, this isn’t the time for five-year planning—it’s the time for five-month action.
🎥 Watch the full webinar on-demand here.
Speakers:
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Aisha Taylor
Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group
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Rosie Sargeant
Principal, Boston Consulting Group
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Adam Pikula
IT Project Director, Bosch USA
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Luke Talbot
CPTO, Flip
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Marian Finkbeiner
Chief of Staff, Flip