UK retail giant Morrisons renews Crimsonwing contract

Since its establishment in Malta in 1998, Crimsonwing has had a lasting relationship with the blue-chip UK retail giant Safeway. With over 350 projects delivered to Safeway, their seven-year relationship was a healthy and productive one.

A vast network of stores retailed in excess of 35,000 product lines. Crimsonwing worked as an extension of Safeway's IT department, helping to ensure warehousing, logistics and other mission critical systems were operating smoothly.

When in January 2003, the announcement came that Morrisons, among others, had put in a bid for Safeway, the future was less than certain. With 547 stores, Morrisons had 11.3 per cent of the UK market but was still considerably smaller than Safeway.

After lengthy debate by the Competition Commission and 14 months after Morrisons had tabled its first bid, Morrisons took over the helm of Safeway. Although Morrisons had never previously outsourced offshore, Malta's near-shore proposition made commercials incredibly attractive.

So much so that the end of 2005 saw a renewal of the Morrisons contract. According to Crimsonwing's head of Professional Services, James Bonello: "Our relationship with WM Morrisons has gone from strength to strength and, over the years, we have managed to move up the IT value chain and become a strategic partner involved in a wide range of software development and support activities.

"The success of our relation is founded on the strengths of our employees, who work hard and are committed to help our customers achieve sustainable business benefits through IT solutions."

The Morrisons account is one of Crimsonwing's largest. Possessing good business knowledge supplemented by excellent technical skills, the Crimsonwing team have ensured continuity and minimised disruption during a critical transitional period.

The ring fencing of resources coupled with an amazing average of five years' seniority on the Morrisons account means that knowledge is retained within the team and resources are used effectively.

The move to their Bradford HQ has been regarded as extremely positive, causing little change if any to daily operations - as a nearshore location Crimsonwing are location independent. A Crimsonwing programme manager spends half his time onsite while other key staff make regular visits to Leeds.

This has worked extremely well in the past, improving communication and efficiency. At the same time, Crimsonwing staff have gained valuable exposure working with the UK's fourth largest supermarket group.

Mark Caruana Montaldo, project manager on the Morrisons account said: "Crimsonwing has had over seven years of solid commitment and a huge success as an IS partner in the UK supermarket industry. Morrison's have showed the same enthusiasm and renewed confidence which we look forward to translate into a long and successful working relationship."

As in the past, Crimsonwing continues to run Morrison's core system together with 24/7 support. With the uncertainties of the past year now clearly resolved, the Morrisons team at Crimsonwing are back at work supporting and enhancing the Morrisons retail business.

With the prospects of new challenges in the year ahead, the team is committed to deliver real and tangible benefits. For more information visit www.crimsonwing.com