Industry news

The term “sustainability” used to be a buzzword heard in company meetings. Today it’s an essential concern in the boardroom.

In a global survey of 766 CEOs conducted last year, 93 percent said sustainability is critical to the future success of their companies. Their responses support what we’ve heard from Xerox customers for years: sustainability is no longer just “nice to have” but a fundamental part of business.

Long before going green was popular and sustainability entered our daily vocabulary, Xerox put sustainability practices into place across the company. We know (based on decades of experience) the challenge organisations face in bringing their sustainability vision to life, especially when it comes to daily practices in the office.

Taking the first step

One of the first places to start is taking stock of how office equipment currently is used. The printer you can’t live without at work may be your biggest green offender. Older printers often take up a lot of energy and a single-function device is rarely as efficient as one that also copies and scans.

Small changes to everyday habits can reduce an office’s carbon footprint, like these fast, inexpensive ways to reduce the amount of power used:

1.Unplug devices that aren’t frequently used: Devices consume phantom power even while in standby mode. If there are scanners, printers, or guest computers that aren’t needed every day, unplug them in between use.

2.Purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified equipment: When purchasing new office equipment, consider the cost and features and how it will impact your energy use. Arm yourself with a list of products that are ENERGY STAR qualified to make a smart purchasing decision.

3.Make use of energy-saving settings: Enable the built-in energy-saving settings found on current technology products. These are like the low-power mode on your printer and the hibernation mode on your computer.

Document and Printer Management

Over the years Xerox has seen a number of common practices that hinder efforts to reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint. One of the most common is the tendency to support far more devices than necessary, including old, energy-inefficient machines.

Other challenges to sustainability include:

• Lack of departmental control over how / what people print.

• Devices not placed in an optimal position, so they are either under- or over-utilised by staff. Energy can be spent unnecessarily if staff don't make the most of available devices.

• Ordering and storing more consumables than needed. This takes up valuable office space.

• Unconnected network-enabled devices aren’t remotely monitored or proactively fixed, leading to an excess of printer-related calls to the IT helpdesk and more engineer site visits.

Organisation-wide print policies to restrict print volumes can help with many of these challenges. The policy could include:

• Mandatory double-sided printing.

• Limiting job sizes.

• Developing rules to ensure certain document sizes and types are printed only on certain devices.

As simple as these steps are, we’ve found many businesses don’t implement these well.

And there are other areas for improvement. Innovations in printer hardware and software, such as new energy-saving printers which include sleep, can help significantly. And some devices feature green-friendly parts made from recyclable plastics. There's also new imaging technology like Xerox’s proprietary solid ink which has substantial sustainability benefits. A solid ink printer or multifunction printer uses solid sticks (or blocks) of no-mess, non-toxic ink instead of toner or inkjet cartridges. It is easy to use, produces great colour print quality, is cost-effective, and very good for the environment.

These innovations, combined with an organisation’s proactive approach to managing its own unique printing environment in a more sustainable way can go a long way toward ‘greening’ a business.

Seeking Assistance

Many organisations outsource print management to address these issues. Our customers have realised cost savings of up to 30 percent whilst also reducing energy usage, solid waste and carbon footprint by at least 20 percent (and in many cases significantly more) across the lifecycle of devices.

We do this by introducing a managed print service (MPS), which gives an organisation visibility into its document output costs. This environment is then managed on an ongoing basis whilst delivering against mutually agreed KPIs and SLAs. At Xerox, we’ve seen this approach deliver impressive results for a number of different clients – from the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to defence provider Selex Galileo.

Like the CEOs questioned in the survey, these organisations see sustainability as critical to future success and have sought help in changing what was once just a vision into reality.

Accenture to Deliver Information Technology and Finance and Accounting Services to Intertek under Outsourcing Contract

Accenture has entered into an agreement with Intertek, a leading global provider of quality and safety solutions, to provide Intertek with global IT and finance and accounting (F&A) services on an outsourced basis. The agreement includes the provision of technology infrastructure, application management and back-office accounting services. Financial details were not disclosed.

Under the global agreement, Accenture will provide F&A business process outsourcing (BPO) services to Intertek through an Accenture global delivery centre in Delhi, India. The agreement includes services currently delivered by Intertek across ten English speaking countries and the programme will be implemented over the next two years.

Accenture will also provide global technology infrastructure and manage Intertek's bespoke technology applications; supporting the group's strong global growth programme and enabling efficient integration of acquisitions.

Following a sustained period of significant growth, including a number of acquisitions, Intertek is seeking to integrate and standardize its finance and technology functions across a number of geographic locations.

“As part of our Intertek as One programme, our collaboration with Accenture will support Intertek's growing IT and accounting requirements across ten countries. This change will provide an efficient, scalable platform to support Intertek's growth program and generate near term cost savings.” said Lloyd Pitchford, Chief Financial Officer of Intertek Group.

“The Intertek and Accenture agreement aims to create a high performing outsourced shared services environment for Intertek’s finance and IT support functions,” said Paul Dillon, senior executive in Accenture’s Industrial Equipment Group. “We are focused on helping Intertek simplify its back office processes in these areas and delivering cost synergies across the Group”

Accenture will deliver the services both from client sites

The Cabinet Office has claimed that Whitehall has cut millions of pounds from departmental costs, including £300 million from day-to-day IT expenditure and much more from large contracts including technology.

This follows Francis Maude’s pledge in October last year to leave “no stone unturned” in the hunt for more savings at the centre of government, delivering better for less, to address the deficit while protecting the front line and will help departments live within their tighter budgets.

The savings figures released have come from efficiency and reform measures implemented across government and have been independently audited. The savings include:

Smarter procurement

•£400 million saved by taking stronger control of our marketing spend, we have reduced spend through the Central Office of Information on relevant categories by 80 per cent.

•£360 million saved by centralising spend on common goods and services

•£800 million saved from renegotiating deals with some of the largest suppliers to government, equivalent to 6 per cent of a full year of spend with those suppliers.

Major Projects and ICT

•£150 million saved from 2010/11 budgets for government’s major projects, by halting or curtailing spending; and

•£300 million saved by applying greater scrutiny to our ICT expenditure, departments have stopped or reduced spend on low value ICT projects.

CSC has announced it has closed the acquisition of iSOFT Group Limited, one of the world’s largest providers of advanced healthcare IT solutions.

Adding iSOFT’s 3,000 global employees, including those from major research and development centers in India, Spain, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Central Europe, expands CSC’s capability to support existing customers, develop more innovative solutions, and adds a robust set of clients in new and emerging markets.

More than 13,000 healthcare providers and governments in 40 countries use iSOFT’s e-health software solutions to manage patient information and drive improvements in their core processes. With the expertise and experience of more than 1,000 development professionals and more than 200 clinicians, iSOFT solutions touch more than 200 million patients across five continents every day, and its systems are installed in over 8,000 hospitals and clinics. This scale has allowed iSOFT to keep abreast of the latest trends in healthcare technology and practices and translate them into innovative and practical solutions.

“The completion of this acquisition is a milestone in the expansion of our global healthcare business,” said Michael W. Laphen, CSC chairman, president and CEO. “CSC is at the forefront of emerging healthcare technologies, giving our clients access to an expanded range of innovative capabilities.”

Windstream Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PAETEC Holding Corp. based in Fairport, N.Y., in a transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion.

"This transaction significantly advances our strategy to drive top-line revenue growth by expanding our focus on business and broadband services," said Jeff Gardner, president and CEO of Windstream. "The combined company will have a nationwide network with a deep fiber footprint to offer enhanced capabilities in strategic growth areas, including IP-based services, data centers, cloud computing and managed services. Financially, we improve our growth profile and lower the payout ratio on our strong dividend, offering investors a unique combination of growth and yield."

Outsourcing giant Capita will acquire AIBIFS, the international financial services business of AIB, its second acquisition in a fortnight.

The acquisition will be made for a cash consideration of £29m, on a cash free, debt free basis.

On completion of the acquisition, the business will integrate into Capita's investor and banking services division.

Martyn Hart, chair of the National Outsourcing Association, writes for the Guardian and says that better relationships and benchmarking can make government a smarter buyer of IT services.

Martyn comments :"Two documents emanating from Whitehall within days of each other last month – the Open Public Services white paper, and the Cabinet Office Guidance for Offshoring - point to an escalating level of outsourcing in government support services.

Last week, another document – the provocatively entitled Government IT – A Recipe for Rip Offs, was scathing in its opinions on how government lacks the requisite expertise to handle such deals, alleging that it is paying massively over-the-odds for IT services.

Sandwiched in between these documents was a report from the National Audit Office that told us, despite spending roughly £275m on training in 2009-10, the government had no accurate data on the timings, costs and benefits (if any) of its skills development programme. If government manages its IT outsourcing deals in the same equivocal fashion, it is no surprise that there has been a repugnantly thoughtless waste of exasperated taxpayers' cash."

Genpact Expands Operations into Brazil

Genpact Opens Center in Sao Paulo to Serve Anchor Client Astra Zeneca, Other Global Clients and the Brazil-to-Brazil Market

Genpact Limited, a global leader in business process and technology management, has announced the opening of operations in Brazil, its first location in South America. Located in São Paulo, Genpact is now providing services for Astra Zeneca, with plans to serve additional global corporations for their Brazilian businesses as well as establish business operations for the burgeoning Brazil-to-Brazil market.

Genpact has begun providing finance and accounting (F&A) services to Astra Zeneca from this center and is also providing IT services to a financial services client. Genpact is aggressively training and recruiting for additional employees so that it can continue to grow its broad portfolio of business process management services from this location. In line with its strategy in all global locations where it operates, Genpact will rely on local leadership hires to lead its growth and staff client projects, thus creating jobs in the surrounding community.

In conjunction with the inauguration of the center this week, Thomaz Bonato, CFO, Astra Zeneca Brazilsaid, “We are pleased to work closely with Genpact to get this center established in São Paulo and running seamlessly and are confident that they will continue to provide best-in-class F&A services for Astra Zeneca along with many other companies. We know that Genpact shares our vision of the business growth potential here in Brazil, so this will be an exciting journey for both companies.”

“Genpact’s expansion into Brazil is in line with our growth strategy to bring our global business practices and expertise to rapidly growing emerging economies to serve global corporations expanding there as well as local growth companies,” said Tiger Tyagarajan, president and CEO, Genpact. “We are thrilled to partner with our key client Astra Zeneca in establishing our center in São Paulo and we look forward to growing our Brazil business with them and many other clients. We will immediately be able to bring our global knowledge of managing end-to-end business processes to drive better outcomes for our clients.”

L’Oréal, a leading global cosmetics and beauty company has awarded a three-and-a-half year procurement co-sourcing contract to Xchanging, the business process and technology services provider and integrator. As part of the contract, Xchanging will manage a significant amount of indirect procurement on behalf of L’Oréal across five countries – France, the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. The contract runs to 31st December 2014.

Xchanging will operate on a co-sourcing basis working alongside L’Oréal’s purchasing team to streamline purchasing processes and improve overall quality and cost. The contract spans various categories of indirect spend including: Information Technology and Telecommunications, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Light Transport and Logistics Supplies, Travel, Industrial Supplies & Services, Utilities and Laboratory Supplies. Xchanging will also provide procurement management activities including reporting, supplier and contract management.

L’Oréal is present in over 130 countries, with 67,500 employees world-wide. Its brand portfolio includes: L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline, Soft Sheen Carson, Matrix, Redken, L’Oréal Professional, Kérastase, Vichy, Diesel, Inneov, La Roche-Posay, Lancôme, Biotherm, Khiel’s, Shu Uemura and Armani, Cacharel and Ralph Lauren fragrances. The company acquired The Body Shop in 2006.

Denis Royer, Managing Director, Xchanging Procurement Services Europe, added, “We are delighted to have won this contract with L’Oréal after a rigorous competitive process, enhancing our leading position in the European procurement services market. We look forward to working closely with the L’Oréal team and delivering the savings and benefits they expect from Xchanging”.

Xchanging Procurement Services manages annual indirect spend of over €4 billion on behalf of large corporations and services customers across a range of industries globally. We help maximise the value our customers receive from the money they spend and simplify the administration involved in the purchasing process. Offering a complete suite of procurement services, Xchanging deliver through a combination of high-calibre supply market specialists, technology and process expertise.

MphasiS, a leading IT services company, has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wyde Corporation, an international software vendor and creator of Wynsure- an industry leading Insurance Policy Administration Solution.

This investment is the second acquisition by MphasiS in the Insurance industry vertical, after acquiring AIGSS (AIG Software Systems), the AIG captive center in India in 2009. Under the terms of the agreement, MphasiS will hold a 100 per cent equity stake in Wyde. The closure of the deal is subject to completion of customary conditions.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, USA, with a modern Research & Development (R&D) centre in Paris, France, Wyde has developed and deployed Wynsure, a proven software platform, at many of the leading insurance carriers in North America and Europe. Wynsure is a multi-language, multi-currency, easily customisable software that offers policy administration, claims and billing solutions across Life & Annuities (L&A), disability, health, and Property & Casualty (P&C). Wynsure platform can be deployed at an insurance carrier either one business line at a time, or as a complete end-to-end solution. Wyde has over 200 employees who possess significant domain expertise.

Wyde was founded in 1997 by Pierre Barberis, Chairman, and Jean-Rene Lyon, CEO, both distinguished leaders from the insurance industry. Pierre Barberis, a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and Institute of French Actuaries, has held executive leadership positions in several global corporations including being the Deputy Chairman and CEO of AXA. Jean-Rene Lyon, a graduate of Stanford University and Centrale Paris, has held CIO roles in leading financial services and insurance companies.

Wyde caters to a robust customer base which include Tier I as well as mid-market insurers across the US, France and Canada. Wyde’s Wynsure platform complements MphasiS’ current insurance practice by offering customers a range of software, business consulting and professional services. The acquisition of Wyde will extend MphasiS’ insurance footprint in Life & Annuities segment and strengthen its existing capability in the Property & Casualty segment. MphasiS’ offering will encompass a broad range of IT, platform based BPO and integrated services in areas such as policy administration, claims and billing while branding Wynsure as a market leader in the insurance industry.

“This acquisition demonstrates our focus on strategy execution. Enhancing our value proposition to insurance companies was central to our thinking in this case. I am thrilled to find such a partner for this acquisition. Wyde brings with it world class IP, world class people and a marquee customer base. This IP holds tremendous potential across both mature and emerging markets” said Ganesh Ayyar, CEO MphasiS.

“We are excited about the prospects of growing our global footprint. MphasiS’ strategic focus on the Insurance vertical combined with Wynsure a powerful,full functional, scalable, and easily customisable insurance policy administration system will enable us to elevate Wynsure as a game changer for many more clients. MphasiS will provide Wyde with access to new markets andscale to provide implementation and integration services to our clients” said Pierre Barberis, Chairman of the Board of Directors – Wyde Corporation.