EDS (NYSE: EDS) today announced a euro 200 million agreement for information technology services (IT) and business process outsourcing services (BPO) with "la Caixa" that will extend the relationship for an additional four years.
Since 1996, EDS has provided a range of IT services for the leading Spanish financial services firm. The nearly decade-long relationship with "la Caixa" has enabled the financial institution to increase profits while lowering operating costs.
EDS will continue managing "la Caixa's" technology infrastructure using the EDS data center in Barcelona and managing contingency and security services. Additionally, EDS will develop new banking and insurance software solutions and applications architecture and will manage the Contact Centre, providing support to the bank branches. EDS financial BPO solutions afford "la Caixa" the ability to differentiate itself from its competitors, focus on its core business and increase its efficiency while using world-class technology platforms.
With almost 4,800 branches across Spain, the agreement enables "la Caixa" to continue its market share growth by opening new branches and increasing sales while reducing overall costs. The agreement provides operational efficiencies by allowing EDS to integrate mainframe, midrange and network operations and improve processes for managing risk.
The renewed relationship with "la Caixa," on the heels of the contract with First International Bank of Israel, demonstrates EDS' global operational excellence in the financial services industry, said Rafael Roa, President EDS Iberia.
"Our relationship with 'la Caixa' illustrates our team's deep knowledge and experience of global financial services," said Roa. "EDS' proven industry expertise enables 'la Caixa's' continued growth, helping it take full advantage of technology and improved business processes to provide world-class service for customers."