Indian IT service provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will
transform and support Volkswagen's IT in the UK over the next five
years to help it standardise IT across all its divisions.
TCS will provide UK-based services and use its offshore delivery
model to support brands such as Audi, SEAT andŠkoda, as well as
Volkswagen, as they move to a standard IT platform.
The standardisation is an attempt to cut costs and increase
staff mobility.
"Understandably, we are seeing an increasing focus on
consolidation and cost optimisation in the current economic
climate," said Duncan Aitchison, partner at sourcing consultancy
TPI. "Companies with global operations and disparate brands need to
think about streamlining their operations, in the way Volkswagen is
doing, to survive and thrive in the future."
TCS said a massive power outage at the beginning of the project
tested the new relationship to the full.
"We couldnot have better proof that we are in safe hands with
TCS," said Nick Gaines, group IS director at Volkswagen Group UK.
"We have been deeply impressed by the dedication and collaborative
approach takenby both the local and India-based teams. This gives
me great confidence in the future relationship between our
businesses."