Scottish Water has announced a new strategic digital partnership with Capgemini and Atos.

The partnership will place technology and innovation at the heart of Scotland's water supply and waste water management.

Scottish Water said that within an ever-changing digital landscape where customer expectations are higher than ever, this new partnership will help them to deliver IT services and provide technology solutions to help the utility manage its country-wide activities.

The announcement of the new five-year partnership was made after a rigorous competitive tendering and procurement process.

Rob Mustard, Scottish Water's Director of Digital, said: "To ensure that Scottish Water continues to deliver in an ever changing world, we are delighted to be entering into an exciting new technological landscape with world-class digital partners. We want our networks and systems to be as reliable, resilient and as secure in a world where digital technology has become the cornerstone of everyday life for billions of people.

"Data, information, analysis, digital applications and processes are critical to how we deliver 1.35 billion litres of water a day and treat 945 million litres of waste water. They are key elements of how we continue to play a vital role in the life of millions of customers – at home, in business and at play - every day, around the clock.

"Our partnership with Capgemini and Atos will see both companies working in a fully integrated manner within Scottish Water through our Digital Directorate. Our new approach will improve not only how we use technology to produce and deliver water but also enhance our customer insight to ensure what we do is as effective as possible and that communities continue to get the best possible service, of which they can be truly proud.

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"As we continue to consider the future of water and waste water services over the next 25 years, through the Shaping the Future public consultation, it's clear that being a digitally-enabled organisation will underpin our performance. Matching our delivery against the needs and expectations of our customers has never been so important – our new partners will be instrumental in helping Scottish Water get there."

Capgemini and Atos will deliver a wide-ranging portfolio of services across Scottish Water from delivery of customer-focused IT services to its core IT infrastructure and applications. The delivery model is based on a partnership with both organisations leveraging their global capabilities in digital transformation and next generation infrastructure services. The partnership will take effect from September 2018.

Gavin Thomson, Senior Vice President, Scotland, Ireland & Wales, and Big Data & Security, Atos UK&I said: "Atos is proud to have entered into this agreement with Scottish Water, which will help truly transform one of Scotland's leading organisations and enable it to reap the benefits of digitalisation while meeting the future needs of the Scottish public. This not only reflects the success of our Scottish business and commitment to future investments, but Scottish Water's ambition to be a leading provider of efficient services to customers through digital automation.

"Across Scotland, public services are on a transformative journey to ensure they deliver services effectively and efficiently while securing high levels of customer engagement. Like Atos, Scottish Water has a digital vision for the future and, thanks to this new agreement, stands ready to turn this vision into reality."

Paul Margetts, UK CEO, Applications Services, Capgemini, added: "Scottish Water and Capgemini have been working successfully together since 2008 and we're delighted to now have the opportunity to help maximise the value of IT to transform Scottish Water into a digitally-enabled organisation where customers, employees and assets are seamlessly and effortlessly connected.

"We will draw upon our global expertise in the energy and utilities sector to help transform their business through the adoption of next generation digital technologies; from a market-leading intelligent service centre to enhance the experience for employees to innovative and agile delivery models, cloud and automation services to improve the speed and quality of delivery.

"We look forward to continue bringing business value and collaborating on a truly connected customer journey and key programmes to meet Scottish Water's vision to be their customers most trusted service provider."

(MH)