Retail assistant with artificial intelligence (AI) and prompting in the professional environment and business English

The course teaches practical basics for retail and office administration - from merchandise management, checkout systems and customer communication to sales management, HR management and digital office skills. You will also learn the basics of artificial intelligence and practical applications, particularly in the form of prompting, and you will expand your English language skills with basic business terms for accurate and precise expression in various situations.
  • Certificates: Certificate "Artificial intelligence (AI) and prompting in the professional environment"
    Retail assistant" certificate
    TOEIC® certificate (Test of English for International Communication)
  • Additional Certificates: "Retail Ready - Entry into the retail sector" certificate
    "Driving license for digital competence" certificate
  • Examination: Praxisbezogene Projektarbeiten mit Abschlusspräsentationen
    Führerschein für digitale Kompetenz
    TOEIC®-Test (Test of English for International Communication)
  • Teaching Times: Full-time
    Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. (in weeks with public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.)
  • Language of Instruction: German
  • Duration: 13 Weeks

Artificial intelligence (AI) and prompting in the professional environment

Basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) (approx. 1 day)

What is artificial intelligence?

Basic terms and concepts

Machine learning, neural networks, generative AI

Overview of common AI applications


Prompting and efficient use of AI (approx. 1 day)

Introduction to prompting: What is a prompt, why is it important?

Best practices: Roles, contexts, examples, iteration

Prompt strategies for text generation, research,

organization, decision support and creative tasks (image, audio, video)


AI for research, organization and communication (approx. 1 day)

Researching with ChatGPT and Copilot Chat

Organizing and making decisions with AI (e.g. NFC automatisms, voice commands)

Optimizing communication with AI - translation, correction, ChatBots, efficiency tools


AI for text, media and presentations (approx. 1 day)

Text generation and text adaptation

Supplementary AI tools for text generation e.g. GPT, dictation, autoscan

Media creation and editing using AI: image generation, object and background removal, video editing

Creation of AI agents and digital assistants

Optimizing presentations using Gamma: structure, layout, impact analysis


Project work (approx. 1 day)

To consolidate the content learned

Presentation of the project results

Retail Ready - entry into the retail sector

Retail basics (approx. 2 days)

Structure and organization of the retail business

Tasks of the retail trade

Introduction to product ranges

Presentation of goods and prices

Overview: Forms of distribution and sales channels


Product knowledge (approx. 4 days)

Assortment classification

Production and nutrients of food

Textile raw materials and material composition

Labeling and storage (incl. shelf zones, product carriers)

Labeling and care of textiles

Handling packaging and sustainable packaging trends

Promotional placement of special offers

Dealing with unsaleable goods

Legal regulations (LMIV, Price Indication Regulation, textile labeling, etc.)


Artificial intelligence (AI) in the work process

Presentation of specific AI technologies and

Possible applications in the professional environment


Cash register systems and payment methods (approx. 3 days)

Basics of checkout systems

Payment methods, incl. contactless, mobile, digital

Cash register organization and instructions

Cash register training: keyboard, scanner, checkout processes

Cash register accounting and difference clarification

Security features of banknotes


Customer contact and communication (approx. 2 days)

Advising and informing customers

Basis of communication and body language

Complaints, returns and exchanges


Special sales situations (approx. 1 day)

Recognizing and reacting to shoplifting

Dealing with accompanying persons (e.g. children, pets)

De-escalation with difficult customers


Assortment and sales management (approx. 2 days)

Assortment optimization and development

Merchandise management systems (insight and control)

Key sales figures and purchasing behavior

Analyzing customer structure

Inventory management and replenishment processes

Planning sales, income and costs


POS marketing and customer approach (approx. 2 days)

Sales and advertising concepts

pricing policy

Sales promotion

Visual merchandising

Customer loyalty programs

Location-based public relations


Insight into personnel management (approx. 1 day)

Planning personnel requirements and personnel costs

Selection and recruitment of employees

Scheduling and shift models


Project work (approx. 3 days)

To consolidate the content learned

Presentation of the project results

Office organization

Office working environment (full-time approx. 4 days/part-time approx. 8 days)

Workplace organization

Video conferencing

Preparing presentations

Time and self-management

Setting priorities

Mail processing


Organization of appointments (full-time approx. 3 days/part-time approx. 6 days)

Planning appointments and meetings with MS Outlook

Event planning

Planning business trips


Artificial intelligence (AI) in the work process

Presentation of specific AI technologies

and possible applications in the professional environment


Business management basics for office professions (full-time approx. 5 days/part-time approx. 10 days)

Fundamentals of business management

Company forms, goals, management

Organizational structure in companies/organizational charts

Management styles and techniques

Agendas/protocols

Fundamentals of accounting

Offer and order management


Project work (full-time approx. 3 days/part-time approx. 6 days)

To consolidate the content learned

Presentation of the project results


Digital office (full-time approx. 3.5 days/part-time approx. 7 days)

Modern letter style

Commercial correspondence

DIN 5008

Preparation of telephone calls

Template design, form letters

Document management - digital and analog

Data protection, laws

Digitalization/digital transformation and working world 4.0

Phishing emails and spam filters

Email, voice messages, messenger services

Using search engines and applying filters

Online banking, online orders

File sharing - synchronizing, sharing and accessing files

Creating and changing passwords securely (two-factor authentication)


Practical project work and exam: Driving license for digital competence (full-time approx. 1.5 days/part-time approx. 3 days)

Business English

General language part (approx. 4 days)

Basic structures of the English language

Tenses (simple, continuous, perfect), questions

Active/passive voice

Adjective/adverb

Modal verbs

Conditional

British and American English

Important idioms

Presenting in English


Communicative part (approx. 5 days)

Establishing and maintaining customer contacts, telephone calls, correspondence

Presentation of business visits

Dealing with complaints

Describing products

Writing letters and emails using common phrases on topics such as orders, quotations

Communicating the hierarchical structure of the company


Artificial intelligence (AI) in the work process

Presentation of specific AI technologies

and possible applications in the professional environment


Business English (approx. 6 days)

Writing business correspondence

Influencing

Professional discussion of topics such as company structure, marketing and sales

Reporting on market analyses, discussion of financial trends

On a business trip: At the reception, in the hotel, in the restaurant

Appearance in meetings

Describing processes and procedures

Conducting negotiations and reaching agreements

Developing and communicating plans/projects

Preparing presentations

English-language job descriptions

Anglo-Saxon application process

Writing the CV

Interview: confident presentation of experience and qualifications


Project work, certification preparation and TOEIC® certification exam (approx. 5 days)



Changes are possible. The course content is updated regularly.

Prerequisites for participation in the course are previous knowledge of English (secondary school level) and knowledge of Office applications

You are familiar with the organization of retail businesses, the handling of goods, checkout systems and customers as well as sales promotion measures. You are also familiar with the basics of sales management and personnel management.

You are also familiar with office administration, have sound cross-sector knowledge of the professional workflow of an office and are proficient in modern communication techniques. You will be able to take on administrative and organizational tasks in the secretariat and administration and complete commercial work orders independently. In addition, this course will provide you with a meaningful proof of your current knowledge of digital office work in the form of a "digital competence driver's license".

You will also improve your English language skills in a practical way so that you can be successful in the international workplace. The course concludes with the internationally recognized TOEIC® test, which provides you with the best possible proof of your acquired knowledge.

You will also be able to formulate targeted prompts and use AI tools such as ChatGPT or Copilot Chat effectively to research information, organize work processes, create texts and media and optimize presentations. You will also be able to critically evaluate AI, use it responsibly and integrate it into your day-to-day work in a practical way.

Career starters, career changers and people returning to work who would like to acquire basic knowledge of retail and normal office procedures. The course is also ideal for people reorienting themselves professionally or as part of labor market integration measures.

The additional English qualification is useful for anyone for whom a solid command of the English language is important for their professional tasks.

You will have a wide range of career prospects in sales, customer service and product presentation. The knowledge you acquire will qualify you for entry-level positions in retail.

Your additional new skills in the field of office assistance will also open up commercial, administrative and organizational activities in secretariats and administrative offices are in demand in companies in almost all sectors of the economy.

With the meaningful TOEIC® test, you also provide a detailed insight into your acquired qualifications in the language environment and thus facilitate your career entry and advancement.

Specialists who can use AI as a tool to improve efficiency, decision-making and innovation in companies are also in demand in all sectors.

Didactic concept

Your lecturers are highly qualified both professionally and didactically and will teach you from the first to the last day (no self-study system).

You will learn in effective small groups. The courses usually consist of 6 to 25 participants. The general lessons are supplemented by numerous practical exercises in all course modules. The practice phase is an important part of the course, as it is during this time that you process what you have just learned and gain confidence and routine in its application. The final section of the course involves a project, a case study or a final exam.

 

Virtual classroom alfaview®

Lessons take place using modern alfaview® video technology - either from the comfort of your own home or at our premises at Bildungszentrum. The entire course can see each other face-to-face via alfaview®, communicate with each other in lip-sync voice quality and work on joint projects. Of course, you can also see and talk to your connected trainers live at any time and you will be taught by your lecturers in real time for the entire duration of the course. The lessons are not e-learning, but real live face-to-face lessons via video technology.

 

The courses at alfatraining are funded by Agentur für Arbeit and are certified in accordance with the AZAV approval regulation. When submitting a Bildungsgutscheinor Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, the entire course costs are usually covered by your funding body.
Funding is also possible via Europäischen Sozialfonds (ESF), Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) or regional funding programs. As a regular soldier, you have the option of attending further training courses via Berufsförderungsdienst (BFD). Companies can also have their employees qualified via funding from Agentur für Arbeit (Qualifizierungschancengesetz).

We will gladly advise you free of charge.

0800 3456-500 Mon. - Fri. from 8 am to 5 pm
free of charge from all German networks.

Contact

We will gladly advise you free of charge. 0800 3456-500 Mon. - Fri. from 8 am to 5 pm free of charge from all German networks.