Capgemini consortium wins UK government contract for electronic travel booking service


– A consortium led by Capgemini UK plc has won the contract to design and operate a new electronic travel booking service for use across UK Government Departments. This will be a true cross departmental shared service, which will enable the participating departments to realise substantial savings through improved management of travel booking and expenditure. The first user of the service will be the Ministry of Defence (MOD); other Departments will be able to take advantage of the service following the MOD’s lead. –


London, UK – August 06, 2007 – The contract was awarded by OGCbuying.solutions to Capgemini and covers the design and implementation of the service, as well as its operation for five years. OGC buying.solutions is an Executive Agency of the Office of Government Commerce in the Treasury. Capgemini is supported in the contract by travel specialists Carlson Wagonlit Travel and KDS, as well as Cognos, provider of business intelligence and performance management solutions.

The new online booking service for MOD will provide 300,000 staff around the world – covering both civil servants and armed forces – with a quick, easy and secure method of booking travel. For use by individuals or groups, the online tool will have a familiar look and feel to anyone who has ever booked a holiday or travel online.
Users will also benefit from access to in-depth supporting information including details of low-cost carriers, special offers and corporate deals negotiated by their departments. The service will give the MOD greater visibility of its travel expenditure and help ensure that its staff travel efficiently.

Cognos 8 BI solution will support the MOD in tracking employee travel, providing timely and accessible information to help spot trends and identify further cost saving opportunities.

Group Captain Andy Towler, Defence Travel Modernisation Team Leader, said: ‘This service is a key component of modernising travel within the Department which will simplify the travel booking process by allowing travel to be arranged online’.

Cliff Evans, MOD Account Director at Capgemini, said: ‘We aim to give MOD staff the speed, simplicity and choice of online booking combined with the stringent security required by the government in today’s world.’

Graham Walter, VP UK, Middle East and South Africa at Cognos, said: ‘Cognos’ provision of an easy-to-use analytical tool will provide the MOD with powerful insight and management information to help make better decisions about future cost saving travel initiatives.’
The service will provide an important step forward for the Government’s shared services agenda, enabling substantial cost savings to be realised by multiple Government departments through the secure use of the latest online technology.

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, which it calls the Collaborative Business Experience. Capgemini reported 2006 global revenues of EUR 7.7 billion and employs more than 75,000 people worldwide. More information is available at www.uk.capgemini.com.

About Cognos, an IBM Company
Cognos, an IBM company, is the world leader in business intelligence and performance management solutions.

It provides world-class enterprise planning and BI software and services to help companies plan, understand and manage financial and operational performance.
Cognos was acquired by IBM in January 2008.

For more information, visit http://www.ibm.com/software/data/ and http://www.cognos.com/uk/

For further information about Cognos, please contact:
Katy Lyons or Farimah Saadat at LEWIS, the PR agency

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