Source:Australianit.news.com
SUNCORP has brought in Satyam Computer Services to build customer analytics software for the bank, increasing the number of Indian technology firms it uses.
Suncorp corporate and customer systems general manager Paul Detheridge confirmed that the Queensland financial services company had been working with Satyam since July.
The bank has also worked with long-time Satyam rival Infosys, which recently handled a major desktop migration project for it.
Mr Detheridge said Satyam had been contracted to build customer analytics capability for the Suncorp group and that work was being carried out in Australia and offshore.
"We recognised the need to form a strategic partnership with an outside provider to deliver this project, as we need the flexibility to scale up in this area to meet business demand when required, and because we recognised that more experienced subject matter, experts were available externally," Mr Detheridge said.
"Satyam's contribution to the partnership is being delivered mainly through its onshore capabilities. This is about building new capability in the business. We are not outsourcing jobs."
Satyam is believed to be carrying out most of the work on the contract at its Brisbane software development centre, which opened earlier this year.
Satyam had previously said it had two foundation customers for the software development centre but the company's Australian manager had declined to reveal who those customers were.
The win for Satyam comes as India's software services heavyweights begin to build momentum in Australia following years of debate over the value of offshore outsourcing.
Outsourcing decisions that involve an offshoring component are increasingly hinging on the issue of skills rather than costs, as reflected by the Suncorp agreement and a recent AMP deal under which Infosys will upgrade the bank's Siebel customer relationship management system.
