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Imagine it. You walk into a John Lewis department store and, after looking at the wide range of models on display, ask about the availability of a television. Good news: the sales assistant is able to confirm immediate availability from the branch warehouse. You pay for it on your Partnership credit card and, because it’s a bulky item, agree a time for it to be delivered to your home – Friday morning’s good for you.

You don’t consider it at the time, but it’s thanks to IT that all the links in this chain of events seamlessly come together to make the shopping experience so painless. IT really does influence everything we offer in John Lewis and it’s just as critical to the smooth running of our Waitrose food shops.

IT systems allow our buyers to analyse sales and trends, so they can plan their buying and replenishment well in advance. They enable us to pay our suppliers efficiently and on time. And they help us monitor our store and warehouse stock levels, and plan distribution schedules – particularly important in food distribution, where temperature control is critical.

At Waitrose, our Quick Check system makes food shopping quicker and easier. And across the Partnership, our personnel systems give managers the information to ensure there are always enough Partners available to help our customers.

IT allows us to offer our customers flexible and secure ways to pay. It’s brought shopping online with johnlewis.com and waitrose.com And it lets us organise the delivery of purchases to customers’ homes, at times that suit them.

Where would we all be without IT? It doesn’t bear thinking about.