Member Article

New ecommerce forum launched by Manchester Digital to support the booming sector

Manchester Digital launches its first ever ecommerce forum this month as its first in-person live event since Covid-19. The event, which takes place in Manchester’s Technology Centre, has been launched ahead of Black Friday and Christmas, which is the peak season for online retail sales.

Katie Gallagher, managing director of Manchester Digital, said: “The city’s ecommerce technology industry has seen a huge boom since the Covid-19 pandemic created a situation where many of us shopped online far more than we did previously.

“This forum allows Manchester’s ecommerce leaders and businesses to come together and tap into their sector knowledge and learn about how ecommerce tech is rapidly developing and what the sector will bring in 2022.”

Manchester is home to more ecommerce businesses than anywhere else in the UK, with large businesses sitting alongside exciting fast-growing start-ups. A combination of development in artificial intelligence and the growth of cloud computing platforms and APIs have driven a vast amount of growth for the ecommerce retail industry.

The inaugural free forum brings together Manchester’s ecommerce leaders and business community to discuss this growth and the latest technology and is sponsored by RedEye and ECOM Recruitment.

The main speaker is Blake Fulford Brown from Awaze, as well as a panel discussion chaired by RedEye, featuring David Foulstone, marketing director at Swan.

Blake Fulford-Brown, product manager – AVR Guest Experience at Awaze, said: “It’s great to be finally getting back together in person with the Manchester tech scene. A lot has changed over the last 18 months and technology has powered Manchester through the pandemic.

“Throughout this time, Awaze has used technology to power the business to record numbers in the UK this summer, with more than 1.5million guests holidaying with us this summer. But we aren’t stopping there, we are on a journey to push what is possible through technology in the travel sector.”

Andrew Stockwell, chief commercial officer at RedEye, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Manchester Digital and the exciting launch of their new ecommerce forum.

“As we are also headquartered in the North West, we champion all initiatives that aim to help growing businesses within this sector thrive in the new digital first world we now live in.

“We’re excited that through our partnership we can help to provide the knowledge, insight and technology that these businesses need to strengthen their Northern influence on this fast growing ecommerce sector.”

Manchester Digital’s ecommerce forum launches on September 30. For further information, please visit the Manchester Digital website.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Carolyn Hughes .