The John Lewis Partnership has selected Capgemini to provide specialist IT application services across the retailer’s technology systems and business processes.

The agreement with the technology consulting group is aimed at upgrading systems and applications to enable the business to respond more quickly to the digital demands of customers and staff.

John Lewis said the partnership forms an “integral part” of the retailer’s newly created technology and change function which has been evolving over the past 18 months and will now support longer term business strategy.

Capgemini will support core operational IT application services used across the technology estate to run the business such as trading, supply chain, finance and personnel systems and core enabling services like integration and information.

The agreement will consolidate a range of existing supplier activities into one strategic relationship,ensuring the Partnership can benefit from new operational practices and technologies and that the maintenance of applications are supported and running to agreed performance indicators.

As part of the new relationship, 111 non-customer facing John Lewis staff are expected to transfer to Capgemini later this year under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment regulations (TUPE).

Mike Sackman, chief information officer at the John Lewis Partnership said: “This new agreement represents an important development, both in the Partnership’s long standing relationship with Capgemini as well as the evolution of our technology & change team, as we become better equipped to support the Partnership’s future business strategy.

"We continue to value the ongoing support and commitment from our wider supplier base but in this particular selection process it was evident Capgemini will provide the Partnership with the necessary thought leadership and change support to allow us to further develop our customer propositions," he added.

The new Capgemini team will work closely with John Lewis’ technology & change function that will comprise, once a reorganisation is complete, approximately 700 employees across various teams that include architecture, technology, infrastructure, security and change.

Mike Petevinos, executive vice president, head of consumer products and retail at Capgemini UK said: “We are delighted to have been selected as the strategic application delivery partner for the John Lewis Partnership, one of the world’s most iconic retailers. This opportunity strengthens our existing relationship and I am confident that the combined talents and assets of our organisations will support the Partnership to continue to delight its customers and meet the demands of a continually evolving retail landscape.”

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