Jason Jeffries
27 October 2011
Retailer John Lewis recently added free in-store Wi-Fi capabilities to aid in the government's Race Online program to get U.K. citizens connected to the internet by 2012. The Wi-Fi access will also be used to create a more multichannel shopping experience for customers.
The internet access in-store will help John Lewis enhance its multichannel platform, which offers products to consumers in stores and online.
Paul Coby, John Lewis IT director, told ComputerWeekly the latest incorporation of technology in the retailer's business model aims to boost Lewis into the top spot of multichannel retailers in the U.K.
"We want to be a leader in a multichannel world and IT is a fundamental building block of that," said Coby. "So we need to be the leading retail IT unit in the U.K. in three years' time if we are to support that ambition."
"The current scenario in U.K. retail feels a bit as it did in the air travel industry back in 2003, where you saw a significant shift in terms of people buying tickets and services online," said Coby.
In the week ending October 15, online sales for John Lewis increased 36 percent compared to the same week in 2010, and the annual web growth for the company's website is 25 percent, ComputerWeekly reported.
In the week ending October 15, online sales for John Lewis increased 36 percent compared to the same week in 2010, and the annual web growth for the company website is 25 percent.
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