Jason Finch

Business technology bod, identifying how technology can increase profits and efficiency in a diverse range of business sectors and innovative ways.

Co-founded Port80, one of the UK's first web strategy firms, in 1995. Worked closely on some of the early commercial internet stuff with brands as diverse as English National Ballet, Apple Education, Lotus Cars, Toshiba Europe. Advised many of the UK's High Street retailers on the birth of multichannel retail. Now evolving into blended retail.

Joined forces with business and retail analysts to create Europe's first impartial consultancy firm combining internet and technology knowledge with business and retail expertise.

Now work with convenience and foodservice wholesalers to help them realise their technology visions, to advise on where technology is going and how to adapt to the changing marketplace in convenience retail. Many parallels with retail in the 1990s, looking at how online systems, connected technology and a more savvy customer-base changed the world.

Beyond wholesale, Port80 is the security consultancy to one of the world's largest SAAS e-commerce platforms and many retailers. We help firms becoming data-centric and, in doing so, ensure their data is secure. This is becoming more important as more and more companies hook up their live systems to the public internet. Compliance and business risk are key big issues too.

Recently spawned Hubtill, an artificially intelligent machine learning business management system designed specifically for the convenience retail and wholesale market. The origin was the reinvention of EPOS with intelligence - but the project has become far more than that and should genuinely create a step-change in the convenience market and the profits of independent and symbol group stores. In trial now with a few of the most forward-thinking innovative business owners and set for launch when the time is right.

Beyond the business technology stuff, I'm to be found hillwalking, snowboarding or flying helicopters - which one depends on season and weather!

Some people say I'm opinionated, but I like to call it passion ;)