Best Buy announced it will hire 200 in-house information technology specialists over the next year, growing its team from 100 to 300, in a move to take control of its IT department. According to published reports, the hires are part of a strategic effort to appeal to increasingly digital customers.

 

"We've largely outsourced IT," explains Jody Davis, CIO of Best Buy. "We now want [to hire] talent as Best Buy employees. We need to develop a strategy of what we're going to build. We like to take control of our destiny."

 

Davis continues that the company wants to strengthen its offerings over various technology platforms, including mobile devices at in-store digital kiosks. The retailer also recently increased its online assortment by launching the Best Buy Marketplace, from which Best Buy receives percentage commission from items sold by third party sellers. Best Buy also launched a Deal of the Day program that sends notifications to customers via e-mail or text message.

 

"It's an interesting time at Best Buy right now," says Davis. "We're finding more ways to communicate with customers. We want them to interact with us no matter where they are and no matter what device they use."