Report: CVS will open Boston innovation lab

Woonsokcet, R.I. -- CVS Health will reportedly open a 15,000-sq.-ft. digital innovation lab in Boston during the upcoming winter.



According to BetaBoston, CVS hopes to ultimately have about 100 employees working at the center, both new hires and workers moved from the CVS headquarters in Woonsocket, R.I.



CVS says it has tripled its multichannel and e-commerce investments since chief digital officer came to the company from Staples Inc. in early 2013. The goal of the innovation lab will be building customer-centric experiences in health care. In addition, CVS wants to offer a fully seamless customer experience across all channels, including physical stores, and also plans to offer digital receipts via mobile device in the future.



The new lab will be located both near the Longwood section of Boston, home to many medical offices, as well as numerous technology start-ups across the river in Cambridge. Staffers will include technology experts, product managers, digital strategists, and user experience designers, and CVS wants to connect the lab with local start-ups.



To live-test ideas from the lab, CVS plans to open three “lab stores” in Boston, New York, and Menlo Park, Calif. during 2015.