Capgemini News

Paris, le 29 juillet 2010 - Cette acquisition vient soutenir l'expansion rapide de l’offre mondiale Smart Energy Services de Capgemini ainsi que le développement de ses activités d'infogérance dans les pays nordiques.

Capgemini, l’un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance, fait l’acquisition de Skvader Systems AB (Skvader), un fournisseur de services informatiques et BPO (Business Process Outsourcing, externalisation des processus métier) suédois spécialisé dans le déploiement de compteurs intelligents et la fourniture de solutions innovantes selon un modèle de tarification à la consommation (Managed Business Services). Skvader est l’un des partenaires de Landis+Gyr - l’un des leaders en matière de solutions intégrées de gestion de l’énergie – pour l’installation et la gestion d’un parc de 400 000 compteurs en Suède pour le compte d’E.ON - l’un des premiers fournisseurs mondiaux de gaz et d’électricité. Ce contrat s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’activité Smart Energy Services de Capgemini, accroissant ainsi sa part de marché dans l’énergie intelligente en Suède et plus largement en Europe. Cette acquisition est d’autant plus stratégique que Capgemini estime à plus de 300 millions d’euros la taille du marché des Smart Energy Services dans les pays nordiques au cours des trois prochaines années.

« Après avoir remporté il y a quelques mois un contrat de 94 millions d’euros avec Fortum pour gérer le parc de 860 000 compteurs intelligents de la société en Suède, cette nouvelle acquisition permet à Capgemini de prendre en charge 400 000 compteurs supplémentaires, portant ainsi à 25% notre part de marché dans ce pays,» explique Peter Harris, directeur associé, en charge de la ligne de services Smart Energy Services en Europe. « Skvader a su s’imposer sur le marché des Smart Energy Services dans les pays nordiques, une région qui fait figure de fer de lance dans le domaine de l’énergie intelligente. L’expertise des professionnels de Skvader va nous aider à développer davantage nos activités d’infogérance dans les pays nordiques et à renforcer encore notre offre Smart Energy Services en Europe. »

Avec cette acquisition, Capgemini s’impose comme un acteur puissant sur le marché européen de l’énergie intelligente, en mesure de proposer un large éventail d’expertises et de solutions. Capgemini devient notamment propriétaire d’une solution logicielle développée par Skvader pour gérer des contrats basés sur un modèle de tarification à la consommation. Le fournisseur suédois vend ce logiciel à des Utilities1 et autres fournisseurs de services publics qui permet de gérer - cette fois-ci en mode SaaS2 - 1 million de compteurs intelligents. Ce logiciel complètera les solutions que Capgemini déploie actuellement pour ses contrats de Smart Energy Services en Europe et en Amérique du Nord. Fort de 40 salariés et d’une solide réputation sur le marché scandinave, Skvader dispose d’un portefeuille de contrats de gestion de compteurs intelligents courant sur les 3 prochaines années. Détenue par cinq actionnaires travaillant en son sein, la société dégage une solide performance et rentabilité depuis sa création en 2000.

Pour Gunnar Hedbris, l’un des fondateurs de Skvader : « Le marché de l’énergie intelligente ne va cesser de croître en Europe au cours de la prochaine décennie. Nous sommes ravis de rejoindre un groupe aux ambitions mondiales, disposant d’une expertise reconnue dans le domaine des « Smart Energy », une technologie-clé pour l’avenir du secteur de l’énergie.»

Smart Energy Services fait partie des cinq offres lancées dans le cadre du programme Business as Unusual de Capgemini. Grâce à cette ligne mondiale de services, Capgemini fournit aux Utilities une gamme complète de solutions intelligentes autour des compteurs (smart metering), des réseaux (smart grid) et des foyers (smart home) ainsi que des outils analytiques (smart analytics)*. Cette offre s’appuie sur la solide expérience acquise par Capgemini depuis 2004 au fil des projets menés pour plus de 20 Utilities en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. « Smart Energy Services » repose sur un modèle de tarification basé sur la consommation (Managed Business Services), qui offre aux Utilities une plus grande flexibilité tout en permettant de limiter leur investissement de départ.

Pour plus d’informations sur l’offre Smart Energy Services de Capgemini, rendez-vous sur :
www.capgemini.com/smartenergy.

A propos de Capgemini
Capgemini, un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance, aide ses clients à se transformer et à améliorer leurs performances en leur conseillant les technologies les plus adaptées. Capgemini s’engage ainsi à favoriser la liberté d’action de ses clients et à accroître leurs résultats, en s’appuyant sur une méthode de travail unique - la « Collaborative Business ExperienceTM ». Pour fournir à ses clients une solution optimale, le Groupe a organisé un modèle de production mondialisé baptisé Rightshore®, qui réunit les meilleurs talents dans le monde pour les faire travailler comme une seule équipe sur un projet. Présent dans plus de 30 pays, Capgemini a réalisé en 2009 un chiffre d’affaires de 8,4 milliards d’euros et emploie 90 000 personnes dans le monde.

Rightshore® est une marque du Groupe Capgemini

Définitions :

Compteur intelligent (Smart Metering) :
Compteur disposant de technologies avancées qui identifient de manière plus détaillée et précise, et éventuellement en temps réel, la consommation énergétique d’un foyer, d’un bâtiment ou d’une entreprise, et la transmettent, au gestionnaire des données de comptage. Ses avantages :

• mise en place d’un modèle de tarification permettant aux consommateurs de gagner en flexibilité et de réduire leur  consommation

• réduction des coûts d’exploitation liés à la relève et à l’entretien des compteurs
• processus de surveillance et de contrôle des réseaux de distribution d’électricité, visant à améliorer la fiabilité, la qualité et de la sécurité

Réseau intelligent (Smart Grid) :
Réseau de distribution d’électricité intelligent qui utilise des technologies informatiques de manière à optimiser la production et la distribution et mieux mettre en relation l’offre et la demande entre les producteurs et les consommateurs d’électricité. Ses avantages :

• optimisation des ressources avec communication bidirectionnelle et gestion avancée des applications
• amélioration de l’efficacité énergétique et réduction des émissions de CO2 grâce à la réduction des pertes en ligne
• amélioration de la fiabilité grâce à une meilleure connaissance de l’état du réseau vigilance et une meilleure gestion des incidents

Foyer intelligent (Smart Home) :
Système donnant à chaque utilisateur la possibilité de contrôler son propre usage énergétique. Ses avantages :
gestion des appareils électriques et de la consommation énergétique au niveau du client
mise en place par les Utilities de programmes de maitrise de la demande flexibles, efficaces et rentables
programmes de gestion de la production distribuée et alternative
Outils d’analyse intelligente (Smart Analytics for Utilities) :

Solution de business intelligence qui permet aux Utilities d’exploiter la valeur des données complexes générées au sein de leur propre organisation et par le déploiement d’un réseau et de compteurs intelligents AMI (Automated Metering Infrastructure). Cette solution s’appuie sur TeradataTM Databaseet et Teradata Utilities Logical Data Model (uLDM), permettant d’accélérer la mise en oeuvre des fonctionnalités requises et la création de valeur pour les clients.

1. Utilities : sociétés de services publics opérant dans les secteurs de l’eau, de l’énergie, des transports et de la propreté.
2. SaaS (Sofware as a Service) est un modèle de livraison de solution où l’éditeur/constructeur fournit des moyens et où le fournisseur de service propose (généralement dans le cadre d’un abonnement récurrent) la fonctionnalité intégrée et gérée aux clients qui l’utiliseront. Ces derniers ne paient pas pour posséder le logiciel en lui-même mais plutôt pour l’utiliser.

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Paris, July 29, 2010 – Deal adds further fuel to rapid growth of Capgemini’s global Smart Energy Services Practice and to outsourcing business in the Nordics.

Capgemini Group, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has today announced its acquisition of Skvader Systems AB (Skvader), an IT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) service provider based in Sweden and specialising in the provision of smart meter deployment services and smart meter managed business services. Skvader is one of the delivery partners of Landis+Gyr, a leading provider of integrated energy management solutions, in Landis+Gyr’s contract for the installation and management of 400 000 meters in Sweden at E.ON, one of the world’s largest power and gas companies. This will now be a part of Capgemini’s Smart Energy Services business, further extending the company’s share of both the Swedish and European smart energy market. Capgemini estimates that over €300m of smart energy service contracts will come to the Nordics over the next three years, underlining the strategic significance of this acquisition.

“After winning a €94m contract with Fortum to manage the company’s portfolio of 860,000 smart meters in Sweden earlier this year, this latest acquisition sees our Smart Energy Services practice secure a further 400,000 meters and consequently a market share of 25% in Sweden.” said Peter Harris, Vice President and European leader of Capgemini’s Smart Energy Services. “Skvader has built a strong and successful Smart Energy Services business in the Nordics, a region that is leading the charge in the deployment of Smart Energy technologies. Leveraging the specialist skills of Skvader’s employee base will contribute to expanding our Outsourcing Services business across the Nordic region, and building our Smart Energy Services practice across Europe.”

By integrating Skvader into its business Capgemini will create a powerful force in the European smart energy market with proven depth and scale of capabilities and solutions. As a part of the deal Capgemini will acquire a software solution developed by Skvader to support its managed business services contracts. The software is sold to other Utilities and Utility service providers through SaaS contracts to support a 1 million smart meter deployments. This software will enhance the solutions that Capgemini currently deploys in support of Smart Energy Services contracts in Europe and North America.

With 40 employees and a strong reputation in the Scandinavian market, Skvader has committed smart metering contracts for the next 3 years. Owned by five shareholders all currently  working within the business, the company has been profitable and successful since its inception in 2000.

Gunnar Hedbris, one of the founders of Skvader comments: “As the smart energy market grows across Europe over the next decade, we are excited to be a part of an organisation that has global ambition, proven expertise and a passion for the potential that this technology represents for the energy industry. We look forward to being a part of that.”

Smart Energy Services is part of the 5 offerings launched by Capgemini group in its Business as Unusual’ program.This global service line is providing the full spectrum of smart metering, smart grid, smart home solutions and smart analytics* to utilities across the globe. The offering leverages a range of proven services and best practices successfully developed by Capgemini since 2004 working with more than 20 North American and European utilities. Also central to the Smart Energy Services offering is the company’s proprietary Managed Business Services, a usage-based pricing model designed to offer greater flexibility for the utility, which reduces risk by minimizing large upfront capital expenditure.

For more information about Capgemini’s Smart Energy Services offering, please visit www.capgemini.com/smartenergy.

About Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM. The Group relies on its global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to get the right balance of the best talent from multiple locations, working as one team to create and deliver the optimum solution for clients. Present in more than 30 countries, Capgemini reported 2009 global revenues of EUR 8.4 billion and employs 90,000 people worldwide.
Rightshore® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini

Note to Editor:
Smart Metering:
Smart Metering is the foundation of Smart Grid and provides:

• Enhanced Tariff capabilities enabling consumers to make choices, change behavior and lower consumption
• Reduced operational costs associated with meter reading and maintenance
• Enablement of grid monitoring and control processes to improve reliability, power quality and security

Smart Grid:
Smart Grid enables operational efficiency and distributed generation. It provides:

• Asset optimization with two-way communications and advanced applications management
• Energy efficiency and CO2 reduction with line loss reduction
• Improved reliability with enhanced situational awareness and outage management services

Smart Home:
Smart Home gives the customers the ability to monitor and control energy usage and provides:

• Customer controlled appliance and energy management
• Flexible, efficient and cost effective utility demand response programs
• Distributed and alternative generation management and dispatching programs

Smart Analytics for Utilities:
A business intelligence solution which helps Utilities to realize value from the complex data generated in their organization and by smart grid and AMI (Automated Metering Infrastructure) deployments. It is architected on the industry leading TeradataTM Database and Teradata Utilities Logical Data Model (uLDM) to accelerate the time to deliver required functionality and value to clients.

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Paris, July 8, 2010

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today announced that it is leveraging its strategic alliance with Oracle, the world’s largest business software company, to market and implement Oracle Revenue Management for Public.

Capgemini’s implementation experience, combined with Oracle’s leading products in this industry, is already enabling innovative solutions for clients in the US and Australia that consolidate information across tax, revenue and welfare sources, drive efficiencies and help resolve issues created by legacy systems. Capgemini and Oracle are working in a strategic alliance to pursue further tax, revenue and welfare management opportunities globally.

“The combination of Capgemini’s implementation experience and Oracle’s standards-based application offers tax authorities flexible and cost-effective solutions to their technology challenge,” said Stephan Scholl, vice president and general manager, Oracle Tax Global Business Unit. “Working together, Oracle and Capgemini are committed to help tax and welfare agencies optimize the complex revenue collection process and quickly respond to tax law and regulatory changes.”

“This go-to-market alliance is enabling Capgemini and Oracle to help streamline the work of tax agencies and reducing their tax gap” said Stan Cozon, Global Leader of Public Sector, Capgemini. “This continues our journey in becoming a global leader in tax transformation. After our success in the US, I’m delighted with our recent win in Australia which is testament to our work with Oracle”.

This alliance supports Capgemini and Oracle’s significant focus on working with the leading global tax and welfare agencies as part of their global Public Sector practices.

Capgemini is a Platinum level member of the Oracle PartnerNetwork.

About Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM. The Group relies on its global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to get the right balance of the best talent from multiple locations, working as one team to create and deliver the optimum solution for clients. Present in more than 30 countries, Capgemini reported 2009 global revenues of €8.4 billion and employs 90,000 people worldwide.

Rightshore® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

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Paris, le 23 juin 2010 – Ce prix récompense la qualité de service de Capgemini auprès de ses clients.

Capgemini, un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance, a été élu aujourd’hui par Microsoft « Global Enterprise Partner of the Year ». Ce prix récompense l’ensemble du groupe Capgemini - dont sa filiale Sogeti, l’un des leaders des services informatiques et d’ingénierie de proximité - pour la qualité de ses solutions basées sur les technologies Microsoft.

« Cap Gemini S.A. - dont sa filiale Sogeti - est un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance. Nous sommes heureux de décerner au Groupe le prix Microsoft Enterprise Partner of the Year », a déclaré Mark Hill, vice-président, Enterprise Partner Group, Microsoft Corp. « Capgemini et Sogeti – qui figurent parmi les principaux partenaires mondiaux de Microsoft pour Windows 7 et contribuent également activement au déploiement des solutions ERP+ et SharePoint - aident les clients à transformer leur entreprise par l’utilisation innovante des technologies Microsoft. De plus, Capgemini et Sogeti proposent des solutions de communication et de collaboration basées sur la Business Productivity Online Suite de Microsoft, aidant ainsi nos clients à profiter des avantages du cloud computing. »

Capgemini propose une large gamme de solutions basées sur le portefeuille de logiciels d’entreprise de Microsoft :

ERP+ :
Aujourd’hui, les entreprises cherchent à améliorer la rentabilité de leurs investissements informatiques. ERP+ leur permet de combiner la puissance de SAP et la facilité d’utilisation des technologies Microsoft Office et SharePoint, de Windows® Phone et des produits de la plate-forme applicative de Microsoft pour :

• faciliter l’accès aux données SAP sur les ordinateurs de bureau et les périphériques mobiles ;
• améliorer la productivité des salariés en réduisant la saisie redondante des données et en
• automatisant les processus métier non structurés ;
• réduire les coûts informatiques par la réutilisation des licences logicielles Microsoft et la baisse des coûts de formation des utilisateurs.

Services de cloud computing :
Capgemini a signé récemment un accord de partenariat avec Microsoft en vue d’aider les entreprises à évoluer vers le cloud computing et, plus précisément, pour accélérer l’adoption de la Business Online Productivity Suite (BPOS) et de la PaaS (Platform as a Service) Microsoft Azure. Grâce à ce partenariat avec Microsoft, Capgemini permet aux entreprises de migrer vers le cloud computing à leur propre rythme.

Services de gestion du cycle de vie des applications :
Au travers d’une offre de services globale, Capgemini assure l’évaluation et la gestion du cycle de vie des applications de l’écosystème Microsoft. Cette offre inclut la migration des applications existantes, la migration des systèmes centraux et le développement de logiciels sur mesure pour la plate-forme Microsoft.

Gestion de l’information :
Leader dans le domaine de la gestion des informations métier, Capgemini exploite les outils de Microsoft, tels que SQL Server, Excel et SharePoint, pour aider les entreprises à rationnaliser et à tirer parti des informations que recèlent leurs systèmes.

Tests :
Pour accompagner l’adoption de Windows 7, de Windows Azure et de la large gamme de nouveaux produits que Microsoft s’apprête à commercialiser, Capgemini offre des services de test en vue de faciliter les migrations et d’accélérer les déploiements.

Pour Olivier Picard, directeur commercial du groupe Capgemini « Capgemini est honoré de recevoir ce prix de Microsoft. En tant que société de conseil et de services informatiques indépendante, Capgemini est reconnue pour sa capacité à apporter les solutions adéquates répondant aux besoins métier de chacun de ses clients. Très souvent, l’utilisation de solutions Microsoft contribue au succès de nos clients. »

A propos de Capgemini
Capgemini, un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance, aide ses clients à se transformer et à améliorer leurs performances en leur conseillant les technologies les plus adaptées. Capgemini s’engage ainsi à favoriser la liberté d’action de ses clients et à accroître leurs résultats, en s’appuyant sur une méthode de travail unique - la « Collaborative Business ExperienceTM ». Pour fournir à ses clients une solution optimale, le Groupe a organisé un modèle de production mondialisé baptisé Rightshore®, qui réunit les meilleurs talents dans le monde pour les faire travailler comme une seule équipe sur un projet. Présent dans plus de 30 pays, Capgemini a réalisé en 2009 un chiffre d’affaires de 8,4 milliards d’euros et emploie 90 000 personnes dans le monde.
Plus d’informations

A propos de Sogeti
Sogeti est l’un des leaders des services informatiques et d’ingénierie de proximité, spécialisé dans la gestion des applicatifs et des infrastructures (application and infrastructure management), le conseil en technologies (hightech engineering) et le testing. Sogeti aide ses clients à optimiser les performances de leurs systèmes d’information grâce à l’innovation technologique. Présente dans 15 pays avec plus de 200 implantations en Europe, aux Etats-Unis et en Inde, la société réunit plus de 20 000 professionnels. Sogeti est une filiale à 100% de Cap Gemini S.A., coté à la Bourse de Paris.
Plus d’informations
Rightshore® and Collaborative Business Experience are trademarks belonging to Capgemini.

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Paris, France, June 23, 2010 — Awards Recognizes Capgemini’s First Class Support for Global Enterprise Customers

Capgemini Group, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has been named Microsoft’s Global Enterprise Partner of the Year. The award sees Capgemini Group – including Sogeti, its local professional services division - recognized for delivering exemplary solutions to its customers based on Microsoft’s software.

“Cap Gemini S.A., with its subsidiary Sogeti, is one of the world’s foremost global providers of consulting, professional technology and outsourcing services, and Microsoft is pleased to recognize Capgemini and Sogeti as a Microsoft Enterprise Partner of the Year,” said Mark Hill, Vice President, Enterprise Partner Group, Microsoft Corp.

“As one of Microsoft’s top worldwide partners on Window 7 as well as a strong partner in ERP+ and SharePoint solutions, Capgemini and Sogeti help customers transform their businesses through the innovative use of Microsoft technology. In addition, Capgemini and Sogeti offer solutions based on Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite for communications and collaboration thereby helping our customers realize the benefits of Cloud technology.”

Capgemini has vast experience in delivering solutions for its clients based on the Microsoft enterprise portfolio.
These include:

ERP+
Today companies are insisting on more ROI for their IT investments. ERP + enables companies to combine the power of SAP and ease of use of Microsoft Office and SharePoint technologies, Windows® Phone and Microsoft Application Platform products to:
Increase employee access to SAP data from the desktop and mobile devices
Improve worker productivity by reducing data re-entry and easily automating un-structured business processes
Reduce IT costs by enabling reuse of existing Microsoft software licenses and reduced user training costs

Cloud Based Services
Capgemini recently entered into a partnership with Microsoft to help companies on their journey to the cloud, and specifically to accelerate the adoption of the Business Online Productivity Suite (BPOS) and the Microsoft Azure PaaS (Platform as a Service). By partnering with Microsoft Capgemini allows companies to make the journey to the cloud on their own their own terms.

Applications Lifecycle Services
With a dedicated global service line to Application Lifecycle Services, Capgemini provides support for applications lifecycle assessment and management of the Microsoft ecosystem. This includes legacy application migration, mainframe migration and custom software development for the Microsoft Platform.

Business Information Management
As leader in Business Information Management, Capgemini uses the Microsoft tool set including SQL Server, Excel and SharePoint to assist companies in rationalizing and taking action on the information locked inside an enterprise.

Testing
With the introduction of Windows 7, Windows Azure and the broad new product suite Microsoft will bring to market, Capgemini delivers testing services to clients to ensure smooth migrations and minimize deployment timeframes.

“Capgemini is honored to receive this award from Microsoft” said Oliver Picard, Chief Sales Officer,
Capgemini. “As anindependent consultancy, Capgemini has a strong reputation for providing the right
solutions to a given client’s business problems. In many cases Microsoft’s solutions are integral to our clients’
success”.

About Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working, the Collaborative Business Experience. The Group relies on its global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to get the right balance of the best talent from multiple locations, working as one team to create and deliver the optimum solution for clients. Present in more than 30 countries, Capgemini reported 2009 global revenues of EUR 8.4 billion (approximately USD $11.6 billion) and employs 90,000 people worldwide.
More information is available at www.capgemini.com.
Find more information about Capgemini’s Microsoft alliance

About Sogeti Group
Sogeti is a leading provider of professional technology services, specializing in Application Management, Infrastructure Management, High-Tech Engineering and Testing. Working closely with its clients, Sogeti enables them to leverage technological innovation and achieve maximum results. Sogeti brings together more than 20,000 professionals in 15 countries and is present in over 200 locations in Europe, the US and India.
Sogeti is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cap Gemini S.A., listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
Learn more
Rightshore® and Collaborative Business Experience are trademarks belonging to Capgemini.

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Paris, June 23, 2010

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today announced the findings from a new study into the automotive supplier industry, revealing key strategies offering the potential for significant cost reduction, currently being overlooked.

Capgemini’s “Cost Management in the Automotive Supplier Industry” study, which included interviews with more than 20 leading tier 1 automotive suppliers, found that while cost reduction in traditional expense categories such as finance control, procurement, manufacturing, HR and admin have brought short-term benefits, suppliers could be doing more to address additional cost categories that have until now been overshadowed: customers, innovation, products and globalization.

In recent years, intense competition in the automotive supplier industry has resulted in significant changes to the landscape, with the emergence of new markets and new players. In this challenging environment,effective cost management has become vital for suppliers to maintain profitability. Yet, despite a growing emphasis on cost-reduction strategies, Capgemini’s research reveals a lack of true progress in the area of cost management.

The study highlights 4 additional areas of concern for automotive suppliers which should be addressed in order to achieve further cost reduction:

1. Customers
The research found that 90 percent of automotive suppliers incur costs of up to 7% of sales due to flexibility requirements for delivery schedules, highlighting the increasingly difficult challenge of fulfilling strict OEM requirements relating to quality and flexibility.

2. Innovation
In many cases, a significant share of the supplier’s investment in innovations cannot be translated into sales or market share. Product or process innovations can provide companies with price or cost advantages through short-term monopoly positions but at the same time, innovations can involve both high costs and high risk when there is a lack of market acceptance.

3. Product
The majority of suppliers surveyed are faced with an increasing range of more technically complex product variants, with an increasing number of electronic components, which can make it difficult to achieve planned targets related to time schedules, costs and quality in production. However, to a large extent, product requirements are influenced by the customer and relevant legislative bodies.

4. Globalization
Some automotive suppliers have yet to realize the full expected cost advantages from procurement and production in low-wage countries, with just 11 percent of those surveyed achieving significant cost advantage here. Companies are beginning to discover that rising supply chain and logistics costs can partially neutralize the positive impact of lower wage costs.

Automotive suppliers have tended to overlook these four areas, viewing them as being more difficult to control than conventional cost categories. However, strategies for cost management here should be at the forefront of suppliers’ efforts for cost reduction and the study also outlines recommendations to improve cost management.

The study assesses the cost drivers in each of the four categories, assessing them in terms of their cost, impact and influenceability. The most important cost drivers are those which can be greatly influenced internally and, at the same time, have a high cost impact.

“From our study, it is evident that the influenceability/cost impact relationship should always be the basis for targeted and successful cost-cutting measures,” said Kai-Olaf Dammenhain, Head of Automotive SAP Practice, Central Europe, Capgemini.“As such, cost drivers, rather than the type of costs, should be the starting point for any cost-management initiative and knowledge of the extent of the influence for each driver is essential.”
Download a full copy of the research

About the “Cost Management in the Automotive Supplier Industry” study
Capgemini’s “Cost Management in the Automotive Supplier Industry” research was designed to examine whether the automotive supplier industry is using the correct levers to reduce costs efficiently and effectively by examining the impact, causes and interrelationships of key cost derivers. The research was conducted by Capgemini’s Automotive Center of Excellence in Stuttgart, Germany, and included interviews with executives from more than 20 leading tier 1 automotive suppliers from around the world.

About Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM. The Group relies on its global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to get the right balance of the best talent from multiple locations, working as one team to create and deliver the optimum solution for clients. Present in more than 30 countries, Capgemini reported 2009 global revenues of EUR 8.4 billion and employs 90,000 people worldwide. More information is available at www.capgemini.com.
Rightshore® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini.

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Paris, June 16, 2010 – World Quality Report highlights growing focus on testing initiatives as organizations continue to invest in new applications to increase business agility for competitive advantage.

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, together with Sogeti, its local professional services division, today released the findings of the 2010-2011 World Quality Report. This in-depth study of enterprise application quality assurance and emerging trends in Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), sponsored together with HP, reveals that the majority of companies (60 percent) around the world are hosting up to 50 percent of their applications in a cloud environment.

Along with an increase in applications deployed in the cloud, organizations are also deploying agile IT delivery in their applications and infrastructure as they look to streamline operations. Close to 60 percent of respondents expect to use agile development methods to deliver new applications over the coming year. As a result, organizations are starting to adopt agile delivery methods and cloud computing technology as a part of their application quality assurance.

The report also provides a detailed profile on IT development and quality assurance trends in six specific industries: Consumer products and retail, distribution and logistics, financial services, public sector, high tech and telecoms.

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Toronto, Canada, Paris, France, June 9, 2010

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, announced today that its subsidiary, Capgemini Canada (“Capgemini”), has signed a $650 million CDN (€500 million) contract extension to 2015 with Hydro One Networks Inc., a large North American transmission and distribution electric utility.

Capgemini will provide Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) and Core Systems Support services to Hydro One in order to support their evolving business needs.  This contract extension demonstrates Capgemini’s in-depth knowledge of the utilities market and its industry-leading experience with technology implementations across North America.

The original contract between Hydro One and Capgemini was effective December 2001, and this current contract extension calls for Capgemini to continue to provide the following services in support of Hydro One’s business transformation and investment program:

• Business Process Outsourcing – a full scope of services including Source-to-Pay, Finance & Accounting,  settlements and customer service and billing as well as HR/Payroll
• Information Technology Outsourcing – Infrastructure Management and Applications Management services
• Core System Support – Implementation and optimization of Hydro One’s packaged core systems, including SAP among others.

“We’ve been collaborating with Hydro One on various technology initiatives for nearly 10 years, and we’re delighted to extend this strategic relationship with them,” said Ian Roy, vice president, Energy, Utilities and Chemicals, Capgemini. “By leveraging our global capabilities in the utilities industry, we’ve been able to transform our solution to meet the needs of the Hydro One business that result in efficient processes that support sustainable business performance and allow them to continue to deliver optimal services to their customers throughout Ontario.”

About Hydro One

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario’s approximately 28,9000 kilometer high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and an approxmiately 123,500 kilometer low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.

More information is available at www.hydroone.com

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Toronto, Canada, Paris, France, le 9 juin 2010

Capgemini, un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance vient de signer - via sa filiale Capgemini Canada (“Capgemini”) – une extension de contrat d’un montant de 650 millions de dollars canadiens (500 millions d’euros) avec Hydro One Networks Inc., un des leaders du transport et de la distribution d’électricité au Canada.

Capgemini continuera de fournir à Hydro One jusqu’en 2015 des services de BPO, d’infogérance et de support aux systèmes informatiques centraux afin d’accompagner l’évolution des besoins informatiques de l’électricien. Cette extension de contrat témoigne de l’expertise de Capgemini dans le secteur des utilities et de sa capacité à mener des projets technologiques de grande ampleur en Amérique du Nord.

L’accord initial entre Hydro One et Capgemini remonte à décembre 2001. Selon les termes de l’extension de contrat qui vient d’être signée, Capgemini continuera de fournir à Hydro One une large palette de services pour accompagner son programme de transformation :

• Externalisation de processus métier : une gamme complète de services BPO couvrant les domaines des achats, de la gestion financière et comptable, de la relation client, de la facturation, des ressources humaines et de la paie.
• Infogérance : services de gestion des infrastructures et des applications.
• Support aux systèmes informatiques centraux: intégration et optimisation des systèmes centraux d’Hydro One (notamment ceux reposant sur des solutions SAP).

« Nous travaillons avec Hydro One sur plusieurs projets technologiques depuis maintenant près de dix ans et nous sommes ravis de la confiance que nous témoigne Hydro One et de poursuivre avec ce client prestigieux cette collaboration stratégique », souligne Ian Roy, directeur associé au sein du secteur Énergie, « utilities » et  chimie de Capgemini. « Grâce à notre expertise mondiale dans le secteur des utilities, nous avons réussi à développer de nouvelles solutions pour répondre aux attentes d’Hydro One. Les processus efficaces que nous avons mis en place soutiennent les performances du groupe à long terme et lui permettent de continuer à  fournir des prestations d’une qualité optimale à ses clients de l’Ontario. »

À propos d’Hydro One

Hydro One distribue de l’électricité de manière sure, fiable et responsable aux particuliers et aux entreprises de  l’Ontario. L’entreprise possède et exploite un réseau de distribution à haute tension de 29 000 kilomètres qui  alimente les grandes entreprises et les installations municipales, et un réseau de distribution à basse tension de 122,000 kilomètres qui alimente 1,3 million de clients et de plus petites installations municipales. Hydro One est  détenu entièrement par à la province de l’Ontario.

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The deal will involve implementation, technical maintenance, and hosting of the new Customer Care and Billing (CCB) System for Futuro B. V., a shared service centre between five Dutch water companies.

The Netherlands, May 31, 2010 – Capgemini Netherlands B.V. (“Capgemini”), a subsidiary of Capgemini Group, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has signed a €6 million deal with Futuro B.V. in two lots : “building and implementing” and “hosting and technical maintenance” for a Customer Care and Billing system based on SAPISU.

Futuro is a company of 5 Dutch drinking water companies. The deal strenghtens Capgemini’s position in the Dutch Utilities market. Under the closed contract, Capgemini will start with 3 out of the 5 Futuro companies and will build, implement, and host the Capgemini Water Template.

Capgemini’s Water Template is based on SAP-ISU (SAP’s Industry Solution for the Utilities Market). The deal will involve implementation, technical maintenance, and hosting of the new Customer Care and Billing (CCB) System for Futuro B. V., a shared service centre between 5 Dutch water companies. Under the contract, Capgemini will first start building and implementing the Water Template for water company Dunea. The go live date for Dunea is scheduled for January 2011. Waterbedrijf Groningen and Waterleiding Maatschappij Drenthe would go live on April 2011.

Commenting on the deal, Peter Stemerdink, Account Executive, Capemini Netherlands B.V. said, “Our knowledge of SAP and deep expertise in the drinking water market helped us to close the deal. It has allowed us to consolidate our position in the Dutch water market in a significant way.”

The deal will leverage Capgemini’s Rightshore® delivery model with a major part of the work - close to 40 percent – taking place in Mumbai, India, and comprising configuration management, and installing the SAP Solution Manager. Futuro B.V. will benefit from a standardized SAP-based landscape that would enable flexibility of the architecture and facilitates the integration of new functionalities in the future.

Peter Stemerdink added: “This is a flexible, future proof and easy to operate billing and CRM system.”

Commenting on the significance of the deal, Piet Jonker, CEO of Dunea and Director ad interim of Futuro B.V. said, “In Customer Care and Billing there are economies of scale. For that reason, the five water utilities have joined their efforts with Futuro. In Capgemini we have found a partner which can help us to reach our goal of delivering high quality service at low costs to our 1.6 million customers.”

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Firms offer cloud services based on the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite and Capgemini’s new Infostructure Transformation Services offering.

PARIS and REDMOND, Wash. — May 19, 2010 — Capgemini Group, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, and Microsoft Corp. today announced an alliance agreement aimed at helping businesses make the move to the cloud.

As part of the alliance, Capgemini will market and deliver the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite, Microsoft’s cloud-based communication and collaboration service, through Capgemini’s recently announced Global Service Line of Infostructure Transformation Services, a unit created to help clients accelerate sustainable cost reduction and access the benefits of cloud computing and software as a service.

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End-2009 figures point to similar trade growth levels in Q1 2010 as domestic consumption increases and despite declining Government stimulus.

Paris, April 28, 2010 – Capgemini Consulting, the global strategy and transformation consulting brand of the Capgemini Group, today announced figures from the second edition of its Global Trade Flow Index*, which sees continued growth in world trade volume. This Index tracks trade by quarter, based on the latest available official data from national agencies of the 23 Top countries in the global trade arena.

Figures revealed growth of 8.5 percent in worldwide trade (the import and export of goods and services worldwide) in Q4 2009, following near-identical growth levels in Q3 2009. This points to a similar level of growth of this leading indicator for world economic health into 2010, still driven by increasing domestic consumption levels to compensate for less Government stimulus.

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Qualified SAP® Business All-in-One partner solution enables fast, cost-effective ERP implementations.

New York, March 17, 2010 - Capgemini today announced the availability of EnergyPath™, a new qualified SAP® Business All-in-One partner solution designed specifically for the oil field services and drilling industries.

Capgemini’s EnergyPath solution will help companies develop and implement flexible enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems at an accelerated pace and reduced cost. The EnergyPath solution will assist prospective companies that are looking to streamline operations and gain greater visibility and control of core business processes, ultimately enabling better decision-making in response to industry challenges.

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PARIS, April 15, 2010 – Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today launched findings of new research titled “Service as a Strategy”.

The research found that while some manufacturers still view service as a cost element, an increasing number have successfully grown their service business while transforming it to a profit-center perspective.  For those companies that have begun the process of transforming from a product-centric to a service-focused approach, service is viewed as a strategy. And evidence suggests that a strong service strategy can have a positive impact on a manufacturer’s financial performance.

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Multi-year engagement leverages Capgemini’s internationally recognized expertise in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) procurement.

PARIS, April 13, 2010 – Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today announced that its subsidiary Capgemini America Inc (“Capgemini”) has entered into a new agreement with Kraft Foods to support the food’s company’s procurement operations in North America. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Capgemini will assume responsibility for the strategic sourcing and spend management of various purchasing categories.

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