India’s multi-format retail group, Future Group has appointed Cognizant, one of the leading provider of information technology, consulting and business process outsourcing services as its IT infrastructure service provider by entering into a five-year deal. Cognizant will support over 1,000 stores of the group, including Pantaloons, Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar, Central, Home Town and eZone, across 85 towns and cities in India, along with the new stores to be opened in the future.
According to the agreement, besides providing service desk support, data centre management and network services support, Cognizant will also offer IT infrastructure services support to the company’s stores, warehouses, offices and data centres.
The IT services provider will implement an enterprise management platform for operational agility and driving business transformation of the retailer. Along with Future Group, it will also set up a point-of-sale lab, leveraging mobile and kiosk technologies.
Commenting on the association, Rakesh Biyani, Chief Executive Officer – Retail Business and Executive Board Member, Future Group, said: “We chose Cognizant as our strategic partner after a comprehensive selection process. We were impressed with the company’s strong consulting-led approach, process and technology maturity, innovation focus and, most importantly, a sound understanding of our business vision. Our relationship with Cognizant will allow Future Group to harness Cognizant’s broad range of business transformation capabilities in our mission to become a premier catalyst in India’s consumption-led growth story.”
Parakh Dave, Chief Information and Technology Officer at Future Group, said that Cognizant’s understanding of the retail business processes, and experience of working with the world’s leading retailers will help Future Group establish best-in-class service delivery processes, institutionalise industry-standard best practices, standardise operating environments and processes, improve operational agility and drive business transformation.
R Chandrasekaran, Group Chief Executive, Technology and Operations, Cognizant, said: “We are delighted at the opportunity to enable Future Group to meet the everyday needs of over 220 million customers in India more effectively, and drive innovation and thought leadership in the Indian retail industry.”
Future Group operates India’s leading retail chains and retail formats connecting over 220 million customers to over 30,000 small, medium and large enterprises that supply products and services to its retail chains. Cognizant’s IT Infrastructure Services offers enterprise computing, end-user computing, infrastructure security, network and convergence services, mobility, and application performance management. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (US), Cognizant has over 50 delivery centres worldwide.
-IndiaRetailing Bureau
