Boots hooks up with MongoDB for first Innovation Station broadcast

The Tech At Boots team has showcased MongoDB in the first ever Innovation Station broadcast.

This is part of the Boots INNOVATE workspace, which launched last week in partnership with TCS at the retailer’s site in Nottingham.

In a LinkedIn post, Lesley Caddow, Enterprise Account Executive at MongoDB, said: “With such a strong strategic partnership it’s great to discuss how innovation will help shape Boots’ future and transform heath and beauty in the UK.”

“Thanks Rich Corbridge (CIO at Boots UK & Ireland) and Michelle Kearns (IT Leader at Boots Ireland) for being the perfect hosts! And our very own Genevieve Broadhead for her amazing insight into MongoDB and retail.”

Startup culture

The aim of Boots INNOVATE is to encourage and nurture a startup culture. INNOVATE has been designed to be an agile incubator combining creative space with top talent and evolving technology.

The workspace is made up of a variety of collaboration spaces, including a mini auditorium where every wall is a whiteboard; giant, mobile presentation screens; easy tech connectivity; and multipurpose work surfaces.

Powered by TCS Pace, it will allow dedicated teams of Boots “intrapreneurs” to work on ideas which make the company a more efficient business and also position it as a leading innovator in the industry. 

Corbridge says: “We are excited to be opening our much anticipated INNOVATE workspace in partnership with TCS.”

“INNOVATE offers the chance to revolutionise the way we think about technology at Boots and push the boundaries of what we can achieve with agile thinking and a fearless test and learn approach.”

“The opportunity to be creative, solve problems and be seamlessly connected with our tech partners is key to positioning Boots at the forefront of innovation in the industry.”

“I can’t wait to see how my Tech at Boots team, as well as wider team members, take advantage of the INNOVATE philosophy and workspace, and to see the incredible ideas that will be conceived and evolved here.”

K. Ananth Krishnan, CTO at TCS, says: "INNOVATE will be a world class innovation hub that will leverage the research and innovation ecosystem to futureproof the Boots businesses.”

“TCS is happy to partner Boots to systematically conceptualise, build and test new technology and business ideas, and drive transformation in agile, iterative cycles."