Richard Rodgers is CEO at GoSend, a recently launched service which aims to put an end to hefty international shipping charges when shopping online, making US retailers more accessible and affordable

RS: How did you get into the technology sector?
RR: From an early age I was fascinated with computers and attempted to teach myself coding using my Commodore64. I was accepted into law school, but instead I followed my passion for technology and built websites for clients during the early 90's. However, I was keen to start my own business, and my first company prior to GoSend was a digital marketing and solutions company.

RS: Who in the sector inspires you and why?
RR: I am inspired by companies such as Tesla that push the boundaries by using technology to innovate the driverless automotive space and completely change our everyday experience. A company that wants to overhaul something that has remained static for decades is truly inspiring and more businesses should be looking at how to turn technology on its head to make our lives more convenient and stress free. GoSend has adopted this mantra – refusing to settle for the ordinary and pushing to make online shopping processes more convenient and accessible to all.

RS: Which IT professional do you most admire?
RR: I admire leading information systems consultant, Damir Konjevod, as he understands how important it is to streamline your business approach and ensure employees have the most relevant and concise IT skills. He has worked with us on the architecture and planning - and the combination of his attention to detail and my ‘bigger picture’ approach – we’ve been able to really make the GoSend vision a reality.

RS: Is there anything that you dislike or that frustrates you about the sector?
RR: I find voice activation technology such as Siri frustrating. Despite being around for years, it is still failing to provide users with a smooth and seamless experience and in my opinion is more of a quirk rather than a benefit.

RS: What technology can't you live without?
RR: Like most people, I just couldn’t live without my mobile phone. Most of our every day experiences are now centered on mobile devices and almost anything can be done on the move. I love that almost every function you need has been incorporated within these devices – soon it will be the only item in our pocket with our phones becoming our wallet, our car, house and even hotel keys!

RS: How do you relax?
RR: I’m a huge tennis fan and like to relax by playing in my spare time. I was born and raised in America, but have always loved Wimbledon and make sure I follow the event and keep up to date with the score during my busy schedule. I also like to take my mind off any stresses by watching movies or playing on the Xbox.

RS: What was your last retail experience both online and on the High Street and were they positive experiences?
RR: High Street stores are clearly trying to match the convenience of online shopping with tech such as contactless payment systems, but still find the £30 cap restricting. However, I’ve seen High Street retailers starting to adopt in-store touchscreens for customers to browse the company’s website and bring that online experience and convenience inside the shop.
Shipping fees usually put me off from spending money online from countries outside the one I live in and it often alters my final purchasing decision. But GoSend helps to solve this problem so hopefully other customers won’t have to suffer with this issue for much longer!

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