technology powered innovation at john lewis – paul coby, it director, john lewis

The increasing importance of innovation and new ideas in a Partnership that is over 150

years oldPaul Coby

IT Director, John Lewis

30th September 2015

Paul Coby

Non Exec DirectorP&O FerriesUK Sea RoutesTurnover £600mEmployees 1,100

IT DirectorJohn LewisRetailTurnover £3.3bnEmployees 30,000

Non Exec DirectorSITAGlobal Air TransportIT and ServicesTurnover $1.55bnEmployees 4,500

Non Exec DirectorPets At HomePet and VetsTurnover £600mEmployees 6,000

150 years of John Lewis• The John Lewis Partnership is the

UK's largest example of worker co-ownership – over 91,000 Partners own the business

• John Lewis is the UK’s leading omnichannel store with 44 shops across the UK• 31 full department stores• 11 John Lewis at home

• John Lewis Birmingham opened last week

Underpinned by Principle One

The Partnership’s ultimate purpose is the happiness of all its members, through their worthwhile and satisfying employment in a

successful business.

Because the Partnership is owned in trust for its members, they share the responsibilities of

ownership as well as its rewards – profit, knowledge and power.

John Lewis continues to grow – especially Online

11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15

21%25%

29%

33%

Online

Share of sales Online

6

1Foundations

2Customer and Partner facing

projects

3Retail

innovation

Innovation is in our DNA John Lewis is famous for innovative design – of products, proposition and business model

I wanted to replicate this for IT…

Internal Innovation – Room Y

#HeadOfDesign

Cimagine

Charlotte Tilbury

JLAB – our Technology IncubatorMy inspiration was thinking ‘what would our founder Spedan Lewis do?’We live in an exciting time when technology innovation is changing how we all live, work, and have funThe objectives of JLAB are:

1. Find a great product to transform the shopping experience customers

2. Make a worthwhile investment3. Help develop the UK start-up sector4. Build companies that share our

values

JLABJLAB is our technology incubator which aims to find a

great product to transform the shopping experience for John Lewis customers

2014 Winner – LocalzThe technology gives customers the opportunity to take advantage of enhanced services using their smartphone based on their precise location.

JLAB 2015

2015 JLAB Finalists

An app that allows consumers to control all of their smart home devices through a phone, tablet or laptop

A solar-powered cover for iPhone users

A camera device that replaces the traditional peephole via their smartphone

A digital queue management solution

The next generation of coffee shops and cafes

So In Summary…• We do innovation because it is in our DNA• We do innovation because our business is changing

and the pace of change is increasing• We do innovation because we learn from the start-

ups and hopefully they learn from us!

Paul CobyIT Director, John Lewis

30th September 2015

The increasing importance of innovation and new ideas in a Partnership that is over 150

years old