Amsterdam, 24 maart 2004 - Vandaag heeft IBM bekend gemaakt dat de Portugese Post (CTT) IBM heeft geselecteerd om haar informatie technologie systeem dat de post dienstverlening van het land verzorgt, te beheren. IBM zal wetenschappers van IBM Research en consultants van IBM Business Consulting Services inzetten om mogelijkheden voor verbeteringen van de dienstverlening te identificeren en hiervoor innovatieve oplossingen te ontwikkelingen voor deze klant. De overeenkomst voor 10 jaar illustreert het toenemende belang van onderzoeksexpertise bij IBM's Services overeenkomsten.
Andere voorbeelden voor de inzet van onderzoeksexpertise als onderdeel van IBM Services overeenkomsten zijn een systeem voor Finnair - gebaseerd op mathematische algoritmes - dat voorspelt welke 'gemiddelde' klanten van vandaag de beste klanten van de toekomst worden, en een systeem dat authenticatie van digitale landregistratie documenten mogelijk maakt in Frankrijk, ondanks het feit dat veel van de documenten eeuwenoud zijn en geschreven in gotische handschrift.
Onderstaand het, gehele, Engelstalige persbericht.
Voor meer informatie:
Etta Pouw
IBM Nederland
020 513 4228
IBM SIGNS MAJOR INNOVATIVE IT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CTT
Post office of Portugal, CTT, to achieve significant cost savings with the help of IBM
Paris, March 24th, 2004: IBM today announced that it has been awarded a major ten-year services contract by Portugal's main postal operator, CTT, that will see IBM provide disaster recovery services and take over the management of CTT's IT infrastructure. The agreement is the result of a strategic decision by CTT to gain flexibility in its investments and costs savings in the area of Information Technology.
By handing over the running of its IT infrastructure to IBM, CTT will be able to focus on its core business ? launching new products and bringing a first class service to its customers. IBM will ensure that CTT has its disposal the latest in technologies and a resilient infrastructure that will enable CTT to be more flexible and responsive to changing business needs. IBM will provide CTT with a business continuity solution from its data centre located in another part of the country to ensure the company remains operational whatever the circumstances.
As part of the agreement, IBM will create a helpdesk for Portugal's largest employer that will serve the needs of more than 16,000 employees located in more than 2,500 locations throughout the country, including its islands.
IBM will provide the employees with a universal point of access for all IT-related questions. The helpdesk will be supported by an intranet portal that will empower CTT employees to find the solution to their IT-related problems.
In addition to the infrastructure and helpdesk solutions, IBM will work together with CTT in the field of innovation to identify and develop innovative projects that will help CTT gain competitive advantage in the marketplace. Working with IBM's research laboratories and IBM's business consultants, CTT will be able to explore new solutions that will ensure CTT's postal operations and services are more efficient.
"This is a step further in focusing more on our core business, reinforcing our excellence and leadership position in the global and national market", said Carlos Horta e Costa, President of the CTT Group, "we will have a better quality of IT services which will be reflected in the services we provide to our end-users. It means there will be an increase in capacity without any immediate investment and it will ensure a more efficient use of our resources and tools. This is the beginning of a long-term partnership with IBM and one which goes far beyond a business relationship. Here we believe we have not only found a partner we can trust but one that we believe will help to transform our business. This is what really matters."
Speaking of the agreement, José Joaquim de Oliveira, Country General Manager, IBM Portugal, said "This IT services agreement with CTT represents a strong belief in IBM and our capabilities. CTT will benefit from IBM's experience and ability to innovate ? this is what will enable CTT to differentiate itself in a market that's becoming more and more competitive.
This agreement highlights the trust between both companies and forms for the foundation for future innovative collaborations."
About CTT
CTT Correios de Portugal, the biggest Portuguese Postal Communications operator, is a modern and renewed company serving the country. CTT assumes its mission of quickly and efficiently answering the clients demands. For achieving theses goals with the maximum quality and getting differentiated from the competition, CTT offers a range of full integrated communication and messages, goods and services solutions, as well as financial services.
Answering to information and knowledge society's emerging challenges, CTT are in the front line of the messages market (communications, information and advertisement) through the business lines "Mail" and "Data and Documents"; In the logistic and urgent mail market the businesses are assured by the area of "Orders and Express"; And in the important financial business, including the universal banking services, CTT answers through its area of "Financial Services".
About IBM Global Services
IBM Global Services is the world's largest information technology services and consulting provider, generating record revenue and signings in 2003 of
$42 billion and $55.5 billion, respectively. Some 180,000 professionals in more than 160 countries help clients integrate information technology with business value -- from the business transformation and industry expertise of IBM Business Consulting Services to hosting, infrastructure, technology design and training services. Leveraging IBM's unequalled scope and scale, IBM Global Services delivers integrated, flexible and resilient processes -- across companies and through business partners -- that enable clients to benefit from the on demand business model by saving money and transforming their businesses to be more competitive. For more information, visit http://www.ibm.com/services.
For further information please contact:
Gillian Kenny
Media Relations Manager,
IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa
Tel: +44 1947 897 632
Email: kennyg@uk.ibm.com
Filipa Valente
Media Relations Manager,
IBM Portugal
Tel : +351 966 918 707
Email : fvalente@pt.ibm.com
Miguel Salema Garção
Media Relations
CTT
Tel : +351 962 505 185
Email : miguel.s.garcao ctt.pt