Unilever signs its largest ever IT deal

The ground-breaking seven-year deal marks another step on Unilever’s Path to Growth strategy. Unilever will benefit from being able to reduce the present supplier base down to a single partner with total responsibility for global communications, illustrating how the company’s IT resource has increasingly become an enabler in the drive for simplification, a cornerstone of the overall strategy.

Martin Armitage, Head of Unilever’s Global Infrastructure Organisation (GIO) comments, "To achieve the Path to Growth strategic objectives it is essential that Unilever has a high quality and cost effective global network. We look forward to working with BT as they use their technical expertise and global knowledge to oversee our existing network and introduce appropriate new technology, whilst driving down costs."

The service will build on the strong relationship between Unilever already has with BT's Syntegra systems integration business, which provides advanced messaging and security services to Unilever and will be managed from five regional operating centres including BT's UK state of the art facility in West Malling, in Kent, linking in to Unilever GIO based in Crawley.

During the contract, BT will improve service through the aggressive use of convergence of voice, data and internet services, building on the leading work that Unilever have already started in this area.

Andy Green, CEO BT Ignite said: "We are delighted to have been selected as Unilever’s global network partner, it allows BT to strengthen our international footprint and to increase the usage of our existing network infra-structure.

A key part of BT’s core business is the delivery of managed networks and communications solutions to corporate customers who operate in multiple countries. This contract is one of the largest ever signed by BT and underpins BT’s global information, communication and technology (ICT) capability".