EDS and Air Liquide have announced a contract through which EDS will manage Air Liquide`s telecommunications network on a global basis - enabling the global provider of industrial and medical gases to become the first French company to outsource its entire telecommunications network to a single integrator.
Under the five-year contract, financial terms of which were not disclosed, EDS will help Air Liquide transform its voice and data network infrastructure by implementing a single shared network that will converge voice and data, and optimise the company`s network management.
"With EDS, Air Liquide is partnering with a global provider possessing the experience, capability and innovation to address the magnitude of change required to achieve its goals and objectives," said Jean-Claude Buono, executive vice-president and member of Air Liquide`s management board.
"This agreement will help us to transform our telecommunications infrastructure into a global and unique network, which is key to the implementation of shared services across the whole organisation."
Leadership in communications services
EDS Communications Services is a global leader in network support and management services, providing secure, comprehensive, customisable network services, which are scaled and engineered to match clients` operating plans. EDS designs, builds, deploys and manages seamless network solutions that integrate voice, video and data; improves the effectiveness of data exchange in the supply chain; and delivers secure connectivity and smooth operations over both wired and wireless platforms.
"EDS has the global reach and expertise to assist Air Liquide in achieving its goals - now and in the future," said Joseph Warnement, president of EDS Communications Services. "Beyond technical capabilities, EDS mobilises the people, resources, methodologies and delivery mechanisms necessary to make Air Liquide`s entire global infrastructure more consistent, reliable and performance-oriented."
Chemical industry expertise
EDS is also a leader in providing innovative IT solutions to organisations in the chemical sector. The company`s offerings address each level of the enterprise, from strategy and planning to plant site to customer, building and integrating systems into a complete solution for companies including Dow, DSM and Solutia.
"As one of the world`s leading providers of industrial and medical gases, Air Liquide understands that staying on the cutting-edge of technology helps maintain a competitive advantage in the highly competitive global marketplace," said Juli McCready, vice-president of EDS` Manufacturing Global Industry Solutions group. "Global chemical companies are facing increasing pressure to communicate quickly and seamlessly. EDS has the experience in chemicals combined with our unparalleled network and communications services to be uniquely positioned to help Air Liquide and its more than 30 000 employees in 65 countries work as a nimble organisation."
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Air Liquide is a global provider of industrial and medical gases and related services. By staying at the vanguard of technological leadership, Air Liquide provides its customers all over the world with new products, services and solutions. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has 130 subsidiaries in more than 65 countries and employs around 30 800 people. Sales in 2001 totalled 8,328 million euros, with revenue outside of France accounting for 77%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and the EuroStoxx 50 indexes (Euroclear 12007).
EDS
EDS, the leading global services company, provides strategy, implementation, business transformation and operational solutions for clients managing the business and technology complexities of the digital economy. EDS brings together the world`s best technologies to address critical client business imperatives. It helps clients eliminate boundaries, collaborate in new ways, establish their customers` trust and continuously seek improvement. EDS, with its management consulting subsidiary, AT Kearney, serves the world`s leading companies and governments in 60 countries. EDS reported revenues of $21.5 billion in 2001. The company`s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EDS) and the London Stock Exchange. Learn more at www.eds.com.
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