John Lewis backs IT outsourcing model with Wipro deal

John Lewis Partnership is shaking up its technology operations via a new partnership with Wipro.

This will see the latter take over IT infrastructure services for the retailer, with 244 non-customer facing John Lewis employees being transferred to Wipro later this year under TUPE regulations, a measure that acts to preserve staff members’ terms and conditions during a switch of employer.

According to John Lewis, this represents “a significant step in the creation of the Partnership’s new Technology and Change function, which will better support its business strategy and enable it to respond even more quickly to the digital expectations of customers”.

Wipro will deliver services such as cloud hosting, networks, end user compute and an internal help desk for the Partnership’s 80,000 Partners. Mike Sackman, Chief Information Officer at the John Lewis Partnership, says: “Today is an important milestone in the evolution of our Technology and Change team, as we become better equipped to support the Partnership’s future business strategy.”

Consumer behaviour is changing and, in a post Covid-19 world, the retailer needs to be more agile, adapting more quickly to change, he adds. “Wipro will support us in the delivery of that ambition, ensuring that we always have access to up-to-date technologies and specialist expertise.”

Srini Pallia, President, Consumer Business Unit, Wipro, comments: “Retail and consumer buying behaviour have transformed and our big bets on industry solutions, Cloud, Digital, Cyber Security and Wipro’s AI and Automation Platform Wipro HOLMES, position us well to accelerate the Partnership’s key priorities.”