Water Corporation awards $59m services contract to Empired

WA’s Water Corporation has awarded a $59m, seven-year contract for delivery of digital workplace and infrastructure managed services to Empired. The contract, which has an option to extend for one year, also includes service delivery management and cross-functional IT services management.

The digital workplace services component includes service desk, desktop support, field services (including remote site visits), mobility services, standard operating environment (SOE) services and managed operating environment (MOE) services.

The infrastructure managed services component incorporates on-premises infrastructure (including the operational technology environment) and cloud services such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft 365.

Empired’s Continuous Service Evolution delivery model was seen as a high-value differentiator. Continuous Service Evolution (CSE) provides customers with an always valued, always relevant service by placing specific attention on customer centricity, embracing measures of success beyond the conventional and delivering a continuous pipeline of iterative positive change.

The partnership will be heavily focused on strengthening jobs and skills in Western Australia by investing back into the community and driving local employment with a full onshore delivery model. This includes an emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, commitment to delivering respective Reconciliation Action Plans, and the engagement and training of students, in particular females, in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Elise Vervetjes, General Manager, Information & Technology, Water Corporation, said the focus is on innovative solutions.

“Water Corporation is excited to enter into this multiyear partnership with Empired which strongly aligns with our purpose of sustainable management of water services to make Western Australia a great place to live and invest,” Vervetjes said. “This strategic partnership with Empired will focus on innovative solutions to provide the best experience for our people from anywhere, anytime, across the state to ensure we can deliver great value to our customers, the people of Western Australia, now and in the future.”

Russell Baskerville, Empired Managing Director, said the partnership offers opportunity beyond the nuts and bolts of the contract.

“The partnership with Water Corporation provides Empired an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the Western Australian community in line with our diversity and inclusion initiatives. Cultural alignment is great, with both organisations demonstrating an ongoing commitment and strength in working with the community to deliver innovative, reliable citizen services,” Baskerville said.

“Empired’s investment and focus on the heavy assets and utilities sectors continues to enhance our capabilities and competitive advantage. This deal cements Empired, and its parent Capgemini, as the leading utilities service provider in Australia and New Zealand on the back of other partnerships including Western Power, Horizon Power, ElectraNet and First Gas Group in New Zealand.”

Empired was recently acquired by French multinational Capgemini, which has signalled its commitment to the ANZ market over the last 18 months via a string of high-profile acquisitions and major contract wins.

“Empired is excited to be a part of Capgemini and the opportunity this presents for our people and our clients,” said Baskerville. “Their global commitment to innovation is second to none and we have been delighted with Capgemini’s openness to embrace Empired’s culture and commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and automation to support our clients’ business goals.”

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