On Sunday, I was happy to have an opportunity to discuss our digital strategy with the Members’ Council. The best way to bring that to life was to show some of the things we’re working on for Funeralcare and wills.
Andy Pipes, one of our product managers, showed members the alphas we’ve built. These are early versions of digital products. We test them with stakeholders and get feedback to shape how they develop.
Andy talked through the team’s work on arranging a funeral and preparing a will. Making these services easier and clearer helps customers and colleagues to know what is happening and to keep in touch. We’ll be sharing more about these alphas on the blog this week and next.
What the Member Council told us
We’re on the right track. Council members liked the clarity, tone of voice and sense of engagement with customers.
What I like most about the products showcased by @CoopDigital is that they still feel very personal and very #coop #coopmember
— Mary CoopCouncil NW (@MaryCoopCouncil) May 22, 2016
They asked great questions and tested out some of our thinking on:
- the alpha products
- our place in the market
- our plans for helping members to communicate
- our approach to managing and using data
Some members were concerned about the experience visually impaired or dyslexic people might have when they use our prototypes. They were pleased to hear that we’re working with Leonie Watson, chair of the British Computer Association of the Blind, to make sure we do the right thing.
Engaging with members
We’ll be working with the Council as we go on developing our digital services. I’m looking forward to Council members getting more involved and helping us to keep our focus on delivering what’s right.
Thank you to those who jumped straight in with an offer to help test our beta products. You’ll be hearing more from us as they start to develop. In the meantime, we’ll be sharing what we’re doing through this blog.
On Friday, we’ll start to publish a weekly newsletter. It will let you know about some of the things that are happening in digital businesses elsewhere and why they’re important for the Co-op and our members.
Mike Bracken
Chief Digital Officer
Co-op Digital Blog 
It was great to hear about the work that the team are doing and the direction of future travel. In a world increasingly populated by digital nomads it’s reassuring to know that our members will be able to have a voice in a way and at a time that suits them.
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Hi Coop, I was thinking of starting a coop with our open source software for heating efficiency, but how come I work for you guys. I am very interested in making the project a success and accessible to all
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