General Motors Acceptance Corporation Places $30 Million IT Contract
26 August 1999
General Motors Acceptance Corporation Places $30 Million IT Contract for New Finance and Leasing Systems
NEW YORK--Aug. 25, 1999--Worldwide Applications will be Developed in the United Kingdom
General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), the finance and leasing arm of General Motors, has awarded a contract worth $30 million for the development of a new retail contract management and administration system to Cap Gemini, a world leader in IT services and business consulting.
The new system, which will be deployed in 33 countries worldwide outside the United States and Canada, will give GMAC the flexibility to develop a wider range of purchasing, leasing, service and insurance plans and options for corporate and private motorists and buyers, as well as improving customer service and staff productivity.
The contract was placed using GMAC's Market Testing and Resource (MTR) process, and in preference to competing bids from other global IT services companies, by the Information Systems and Services (IS&S) division of GMAC International Operations, headquartered in High Wycombe, United Kingdom. The systems will be developed by Cap Gemini teams in the UK working in close partnership with IT and user staff from GMAC.
Robert Westcott, vice president and chief information officer, GMAC IS&S International Operations, said: "Cap Gemini was able to amply demonstrate world-class capabilities in systems development plus an impressive understanding of, and track record in, both finance and automotive markets. We are therefore satisfied that this key development project is in safe hands and that the resulting systems will further improve our competitive edge."
He added that Cap Gemini's OTACE (On Time and Above Customer Expectations) process inspired confidence that the project would be completed by its target date of the third quarter in the year 2000.
The new systems will be implemented in 33 countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, beginning with implementations in the UK and Germany. Special flexibility built into the solution will enable it to be tailored quickly and easily to meet the varying legal requirements of the markets in which it will be used.
Les Mara, executive director of Cap Gemini UK, said: "I am delighted to see this major new contract coming hard on the heels of last year's multi-million dollar contract from General Motors. Our proven ability to address business-critical challenges from global clients was a key factor, and I look forward to reporting on the successful completion of this project on time, on budget and above customer expectations."
The approach and technology platforms for the project are currently being finalized based on activities conducted by Cap Gemini during an eight-week transition project. The technologies will include Oracle, Unix NT and a three-tier thin-client architecture utilizing web technologies as appropriate. Cap Gemini will also act as prime contractor for the project, directing and coordinating the work of the software and hardware vendors involved. The solution will strongly feature scalability in order to meet the needs of GMAC operations of varying scale in different countries.
General Motors Acceptance Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is one of the world's largest financial services companies, with business lines in automotive finance, commercial and residential mortgages, and insurance. GMAC operates in 35 countries and, since inception in 1919, has extended more than $962 billion in credit to help finance more than 143 million cars and trucks.
Cap Gemini Group is the largest European management consulting and IT services company. In the U.S., Cap Gemini America, Inc. has 4500 employees at 35 locations, and 1998 revenues of $623 million. Cap Gemini's shares trade on the Paris Bourse (CAPP.PA). With revenues in excess of $4 billion in 1998, Cap Gemini employs over 40,000 people in 20 countries, the United States and the Far East. Cap Gemini's mission is to design and deliver strategic change through ideas, people, and technology. Cap Gemini can be reached at www.capgemini.com.