Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has extended its 15-year partnership with Kingfisher Plc, a major home improvement retailer with over 1,900 stores in the UK and Europe. Under this new agreement, TCS will help Kingfisher enhance its operations by using automation and artificial intelligence (AI).
Together, TCS and Kingfisher will set up a joint ‘Innovation and Automation Office’ to effectively integrate new technologies and practices while also lowering operating costs. To support Kingfisher’s strategic growth, TCS will create a specialized application support structure that matches Kingfisher’s product and platform approach. TCS will increase the use of automation and AI in IT operations by building on the success of ignioTM, its software-as-a-service (SaaS) AIOps platform, as well as its generative AI-powered Application Reliability Engineering solution. These technologies will provide useful insights, enabling better predictive and proactive management of IT systems for the retailer.
Dave Haycocks, IT Services Director at Kingfisher, said, “We are thrilled to strengthen our commitment with our long-time partner TCS to create a more agile and efficient IT operation. This will help us grow our business and assist our customers and trade professionals in building better homes.”
In today’s competitive market, retailers must constantly find ways to optimize and innovate their operations to provide a seamless customer experience. This is especially important for Kingfisher, which operates internationally under various retail brands such as B&Q, Castorama, Brico Dépôt, Screwfix, and TradePoint. Over the past 15 years, TCS has been Kingfisher’s largest technology partner, working on various areas such as digital engineering, SAP integration, content management, and business process services.
Shekar Krishnan, Business Unit Head for Retail in the UK and Europe at TCS, said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with Kingfisher to create more agile, efficient, and future-ready operations. By combining the power of AI, automation, and our deep understanding of the industry, we will assist Kingfisher in innovating more quickly, delivering excellent customer experiences, and driving strategic growth.”
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