Second Step in a Strategic Outsourcing Partnership

Novartis Pharma turns over IT Service Desk to IBM

Basel/Zurich (October 06, 1998) – On 1 October 1998, Novartis Pharma AG turned over the responsibility for its internal IT customer service to IBM. This is the expansion of an agreement reached in September 1997 on the strategic outsourcing of central information technology services.
As a result, IBM Global Services assumes the IT support of approximately 5000 PC users of Novartis Pharma in Switzerland. This includes help desk services, local support and IT training for PC users. On 1 November 1998, 15 employees of Novartis Pharma will move to IBM retaining their workplace in the Basel region. IBM will also assume the service contracts concluded by Novartis with third parties, ensuring the continuity of the services provided.
Long-term cooperation confirmed
Novartis decided to outsource its central IT services in Basel back in spring 1997. Today these services are provided by ITpro, a subsidiary of IBM, in one of the largest IT outsourcing projects in Switzerland. With this new agreement which has a contractual period of up to six years and an annual contractual value of CHF 15 million (approx. USD 9.6 million), Novartis is expanding its cooperation with IBM as a long-term supplier.
With this additional outsourcing, Novartis is continuing its strategy of focusing on its primary strengths.
“By cooperating with leading international IT companies we hope to ensure that our company can face up to the future challenges faced by our IT infrastructure with regard to cost efficiency and performance through professional support. We ourselves will increasingly concentrate on providing and supporting applications,” says Peter Sany, Chief Information Officer at Novartis Pharma.

Source: IBM

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