Neil McCourt interview: influencing UK grocery retail’s future
In an interview with StrongPoint, recently hired strategic advisor, Neil McCourt discussed his thoughts on the future of retail technology and the product-market fit for StrongPoint’s solutions in the UK. Neil brings an unparalleled amount of experience from both the in-store and online worlds to the grocery retail industry, having grown their grocery business throughout Europe as the Vice President at Amazon and the previous Managing Director of Tesco.
Neil, could you share your initial thoughts on joining StrongPoint?
I’m thrilled about the business’s potential. For more than 20 years, I worked with Tesco, fulfilling StrongPoint’s mission to “incorporate retail technology into every shopping experience for a better and smarter life.” Technology in-store can improve customer experiences both in-person and online, or it might make things simpler and safer for employees.Supporting our customers should enable us to expand the StrongPoint technology portfolio in the UK and beyond, since I firmly believe in the concept and feel it appeals to retailers.
What makes the UK market unique in the grocery retail sector?
Although the UK is one of the largest food markets in Europe and has a high rate of online adoption, the country is somewhat catching up to the Nordics in terms of technological advancements. Safety concerns must always come first, and labor expenses have increased dramatically in recent years.Due to the continuous pressure from a cost-of-living issue, many retailers are experiencing a perfect storm of challenges, with margins being squeezed and the cost of capital rising at the same time. Within the overall financial constraints of their operating model, they might require a more suitable adoption of technology that can enhance the service they hope to provide.
How do you see StrongPoint’s technology fitting into this environment?
If you want to know what the UK’s future holds, the Nordics are the ideal place to look. Despite recent increases, labor rates in the Nordic region remain far higher than those in the UK and other parts of Europe. This indicates that StrongPoint has decades of expertise resolving issues the UK is currently confronting with the harmony between human-driven and automated service delivery.
Looking ahead, what are your strategic priorities for StrongPoint in the UK & Spain
As a company, we should prioritise the same things that our present and future customers do. In order to make shopping enjoyable and economical for their customers, retailers, especially those in the grocery sector, are working hard to provide outstanding service and value. Their goals will surely be aided by the retail IT solutions in the heritage StrongPoint portfolio. Therefore, achieving these goals will be our top priority while also being in line with theirs.
You can also read the official release about Neil’s appointment.