Canadian IT and business process services provider CGI Group has signed a five-year agreement with the City of Vantaa in Finland for managing the city’s information systems, servers and workstations as well as support services for 11,000 end users.
As a part of the deal a certain number of Vantaa employees will join CGI, it says. The total value of the contract is estimated at €22m and the work is expected to begin at the beginning of 2015.
"The key to success is not just in outsourcing, but in finding a talented and innovative supplier. We need a strong supplier that thinks outside of the box. Based on our strategy, the IT department needs to become a highly-skilled service supplier for end users," says Antti Ylä-Jarkko, CIO for the city.
"IT infrastructure outsourcing is a clear trend in the public sector because its benefits are so clear. For example, critical, around-the-clock monitoring systems are difficult and expensive to implement and maintain in-house. It's also important to note that the cost and quality benefits of outsourcing improve significantly when detailed service levels with clear sanctions are agreed upon between the outsourcing partners,” adds Leena-Mari Lähteenmaa, senior vice president, CGI.