Tesco kicks off 2023 Global Hackathon

Tesco has today launched its annual Global Hackathon, an event where teams of Tesco colleagues in the UK, Central Europe and India go head-to-head in a competition that champions technology, collaboration and innovation.

Over two days, teams will come together and look at how coding can help to find a technology solution to a real retail problem. More than 50 teams, with around 450 colleagues, will have just 48 hours to transform their idea into a working prototype. Every team will then get the change to demonstrate their solution to the judges and in the end, two teams will be crowned winners.

Tesco said the event has had lots of successful ideas come through the pipeline over the years. Back in 2019, the winning idea of ‘Tesco Magic’ has since been developed, designed and delivered into Tesco Unpacked, Tesco’s personalised, digital Clubcard summary that launched this week, telling customers what they bought most frequently over the course of the previous 12 months.   

This year, teams will be asked to focus on where Tesco can enhance progress against its purpose of serving its customers, communities and planet a little better every day, as well as its four strategic priorities:

  • Magnetic Value for Customers: The combination of price, quality, range and customer experience, including Tesco’s work on health and sustainability
  • I Love my Tesco Clubcard: Increasing loyalty by making Clubcard work hard for customers, with a more personalised experience
  • Easily the Most Convenient: Serving customers wherever, whenever and however they want to be served
  • Save to Invest: To give the retailer the fuel to invest in its priorities

The judges include Tesco Chief Technology Officer, Guus Dekkers and Group Strategy and Innovation Director, Claire Lorains. They are looking for ideas that have the potential to make a real difference to Tesco’s business and its customers and the winning teams will then have the chance to take their prototype forward, on top of receiving a small cash prize.  

“I love this event because it gives colleagues an opportunity to showcase the wealth of technology talent we have within Tesco,” said Dekkers. “The ideas, no matter how big or small, are all designed to help Tesco be a better business. For our leadership team, it is an opportunity to challenge our perceptions and think outside the box. I wish every team all the best in the event and look forward to seeing what new ideas we can bring to the table.”