Five retail technology questions for Justin Biddle, UK Lead, Shopware
RTIH asks major players in the retail technology space for their thoughts on the industry, and throws in a random question to keep them on their toes. This week, our five questions go to Justin Biddle, UK Lead at Shopware.
RTIH: Which of the following topics mentioned below interests you the most, and why? Hottest retail technologies right now, check-out free stores, rapid delivery services, the metaverse and NFTs, automation and robotics, blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
JB: All of these topics pique my interest, but I'm particularly intrigued by the world of NFTs and blockchain.
While other technologies help to make retail more seamless, NFTs and blockchain represent a fascinating new way of doing business as it gives brands an opportunity to engage with their audience in the virtual world.
For me, the most intriguing aspect of retail is which new technology it might encompass next - so not what retail is and means now, but what it will mean in a few years’ time.
RTIH: Which retail technology trend is overrated in your opinion?
JB: Microservices architecture, which is in layman’s terms, is a specific style for developing applications.
It can help e-commerce brands be more nimble - especially those at the enterprise end of the spectrum - but I am against the idea that everyone should be using them.
I am certainly not advocating a return to the old school monolith, but it's all about striking the right balance.
For me, this is through being more flexible in your choice of Service Oriented Architecture, and not relying solely on one variant like microservices as this can be limited and lead to barriers.
RTIH: What are the top five retail tech Twitter/LinkedIn accounts you can’t do without, and why?
Ashley Friedlein - Founder at Econsultancy and Guild. His content keeps me up to date on the new marketing trends and the B2B world.
His newly launched social proposition, Guild - a platform for professional communities and networking is gaining traction at present.
Vinny O'Brien - A very talented Irish e-commerce consultant with his own consultancy at Vinny & Co.
Vinny’s breadth of understanding, and the insightful analysis and thought leaders he shares on LinkedIn are second to none.
EcomChat - One thing I do rate on Twitter is this page. An #ecomchat takes place every Monday at 1pm-2pm UK time and is run by e-commerce legends Dan Barker and James Gurd. Super engaging and insightful!
Chloë Thomas - Chloë is an author and podcast host at eCommerce MasterPlan and Keep Optimising.
Her content is fantastic and always focuses on helping retailers do things better. It’s not only insightful but entertaining and relevant to all retailers.
Harvard Business Review - Following this page helps me get out of a retail bubble and I can start thinking about things in terms of management theory.
RTIH: If you could have a dinner party with any five retail pioneers, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
Henry Ford - By focusing solely on the process rather than the product, he revolutionised the automotive industry.
Today, the Ford brand is known for its patented design and innovation, and continues to be at the cutting-edge of design and technology.
Martha Lane Fox - An entrepreneur, a tech champion, and an inspiration to many on what it takes to succeed.
Martha is also an advocate for startups and small businesses and I think it would be fascinating to hear her take on business and the tech world and how this compares to Henry Ford’s experiences at the beginning of the 20th century. I think they would get along terrifically.
Steve Jobs - He was a ruthless go-getter that truly understood the importance of having a customer focus when it comes to business and developing a brand.
Apple has a clear vision and is now a staple brand for many consumers worldwide. Other goods may be comparable, but Apple has surely set a high benchmark.
Oscar Wilde - This one has absolutely nothing to do with retail, but I always subscribe to the view that you must have at least one wit in the room to get the conversation going.
He is, of course, a fantastic writer and I would be so intrigued by his take on society and the way we live today.
George Clooney - For nearly 16 years, George Clooney has been the face of Nespresso and he’s turned a simple coffee brand into one of the world’s most recognised. This man has therefore shifted more coffee than anyone on the planet and if that isn’t retail, I don’t know what is!
RTIH: If you could change one historic event, which one would it be?
JB: This one has to be Brexit.
British retail commerce was (and perhaps still is) the envy of Europe.
However, as a result of Brexit this is already changing and retailers across the spectrum, both large and small, are up against huge challenges with selling into Europe and this won’t go away.
There is a reason why mid-market retailers have traditionally found selling into the US challenging and retailers in the UK will soon realise that this will increasingly apply to the EU as well.
