John Lewis launches second JLAB innovation scheme, with £100K up for grabs for winning start-up

'What we're trying to do is get a great product and service out of this, but we'd also really love to help build up start-ups to the next stage,' John Lewis head of IT Paul Coby tells Computing

John Lewis has relaunched its JLAB accelerator scheme following the first incarnation of the technology innovation initiative in 2014.

Start-ups are encouraged to submit a cutting-edge technological solution that could be used by the retailer, with £100,000 in funding available to the selected winner.

The relaunch of JLAB comes following the success of last year's scheme, which saw micro-location technology specialist Localz awarded the £100,000 investment. The firm is now trialling its beacon scheme in the retailer's flagship Peter Jones store.

"What we were looking for was to get a great product and service and then with [Localz] we've got that concept," Paul Coby, IT director at John Lewis told Computing.

"What we're trying to do is get a great product and service out of this, but we'd also really love to help build up start-ups to the next stage, if we possibly can," he added.

As a result, the firm is once again looking to technology to answer what Coby described as "big retail questions" surrounding issues including meshing digital and physical, effortless payments and connected homes.

Coby said the company must be innovative because "when it comes to the customer journey, the past is a really bad guide because it's all changing".

Stuart Marks, technology entrepreneur and chairman of JLAB partner L Marks, the the scheme's funding model has changed since last year.

"Last year, we funded five companies and gave them £12,500 initially and then we gave £100,000 to the winner," he explained.

"This year we'll be more flexible and what we've said is we'll invest up to £20,000 in a company. And that's because some businesses didn't need anywhere near £12,500 while some needed more. So if somebody creates the ultimate connected kettle and they need the full £20,000 to do it justice, then we'll make it available."

Marks said up to 10 companies will be taken into the labs, "so there's going to be a much more competitive element going on so we know that the companies really do want to work with John Lewis".

But why does John Lewis turn to start-ups for innovative solutions in the first place? Coby said that while the company does innovate "we don't have a monopoly on good ideas, it's as simple as that".

"It's really good for us, I think, to have people who have the vibe of a start-up and it's a good challenge for them," he said. "We want to innovation, but large companies always find innovation a bit hard to do."

Coby said the JLAB scheme complements the general ethos of the company.

"If you think about what John Lewis has been famous for in how we do home furniture, electronics and textiles, it's about being innovative and being innovative makes technology part of that."

Coby hinted at the sorts of innovative solutions John Lewis is looking for.

"Hopefully, for customers, we get great products or services. But, something we'd be very excited about is technology that can help our partners to serve our customers better," he said.

"There's a lot of stuff that uses mobility. But like lots of businesses, there's a lot of legacy technology, so the real trick here is how can you put easy-to-use systems and the right information into the hands of our partners that'll actually help them serve customers and manage the business," Coby concluded.