John Lewis Partnership accelerates technology transformation with £100m Google Cloud deal
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is accelerating its digital transformation by embarking on a strategic partnership with Google Cloud.
Worth £100 million over the next five years, the deal represents a major expansion of the relationship the partnership has had with Google since 2012.
Under the agreement, JLP will migrate more of its technology to Google Cloud as it looks to harness the cloud provider’s latest technologies, including advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning.
JLP said its strategy of creating in-store and online experiences has been very successful in attracting more customers this year. It is hoping that its work with Google will take its retail experience to the next level and will also support its ambition to get closer to customers by creating a pan-partnership loyalty programme in 2024.
Zak Mian, chief transformation and technology officer at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “At the John Lewis Partnership we’ve always been focused at finding better ways to do business. Today’s announcement marks a significant step in transforming our technology, and ensures that our Partners have the best tools to provide our customers with even more personalised experiences, across all our channels.
“Imagine a world where a customer can use an image scanning feature in their John Lewis App to show our Home Design Stylists a room they’re looking to furnish, which tells us all we need to know about the intricacies of the space, layout and measurements. Not only does it save customers a lot of time and hassle, but even before the appointment we can take inspiration from their unique preferences and give tailored recommendations that can even complement products they already have. We’re looking forward to an era of fresh innovation.”
Nish Kankiwala, chief executive officer at the John Lewis Partnership, added: “Investing in cutting edge technology is not just a choice, it’s a necessity for a modern retailer like us. Core to our strategy is building our technology infrastructure for the long term, drawing on latest innovations to benefit our customers.”
