CGI Inc., an independent IT and business consulting services firm, is awarded a contract to provide further digitization services for the largest modernization project of LocalTapiola, one of Finland's largest insurance companies. The agreement strengthens the long-term strategic partnership between the companies to meet the latter's business objectives, such as enhancing the customer experience as well as to implement new delivery models to ensure optimal productivity and cost control. The contract is valued at an estimated €49 million (approx. C$74.5 million).

 LocalTapiola outsourced its IT operations to CGI in 2013, and over the past few years, it has developed a variety of new digital services for LocalTapiola customers, including TerveysHelppi (Health Help), a mobile telemedicine service. By combining development in Finland with support from around the world, including Europe, Asia, and North America, the CGI's service delivery model operates on a 24/7 basis. Accountability for service delivery is provided in proximity to the client in compliance with CGI's quality and management framework.

 “As part of the Toivo modernisation project, we renewed our agreement with CGI to build a digital foundation to overhaul our system for providing insurance against loss or damage. We are now also renewing a contractual package in which CGI will continue to handle a variety of initiatives, such as how to implement digital services in the most agile and cost-effective way possible,” explained Mikko Vastela, CIO, LocalTapiola.

 To this Leena-Mari Lähteenmaa, President, CGI - Finland, added, “Using agile methods to develop innovative digital services has proven to be effective. However, when an initiative contains hundreds of projects, it is understandable that certain controls must be placed on development work – controls that are not found within standard agile methods. That is why we have been working with LocalTapiola to create a brand-new hybrid development model and its associated contractual practices.”

 Sharing his views, Janne Kärkkäinen, Director - ICT Finance and Sourcing, LocalTapiola, stated, “A redesign of our operating models has made them more agile in many ways, and this is also linked to the development of our new hybrid model. CGI has demonstrated its ability to provide customer-oriented service and innovative value creation.”

For more information: www.cgi.com