Getronics has won a EUR40 million contract to completely refit the entire UK branch infrastructure of Abbey National.
The contract calls for Getronics to source and deploy hardware and infrastructure to Abbey's entire network of 741 branches and also to its large office buildings. The move is part of Abbey's strategy of rebuilding its brand and focusing purely on personal financial services delivery.
Full implementation is expected to take four months to complete, beginning in early 2004. It will entail the procurement of approximately 40,000 desktop devices including personal computers, flat screens, laser and network printers, as well as 9000 Getronics PR2e passbook printers.
The contract also calls for the Dutch IT services firm to install a new Windows XP platform designed to run Abbey's own software, replacing the existing Windows 98 platform. Getronics' staff have already contributed to the software development part of the project working with Abbey-led development teams.
Bill Gibbons, director technology services and support for Abbey says: "It is essential in the world of financial services to deploy technology that gives you a competitive edge, and we believe that these new systems will enable us to deliver that."