Kesko names CGI a strategic partner for digital transformation
Finnish trading group Kesko has named CGI a strategic partner for digital transformation, with the two companies to collaborate on a range of technology-driven initiatives over the coming years.
Founded in 1941, Kesko is a retailing conglomerate with its head office in Helsinki. The company is engaged in the grocery trade, building and technical trade, and car trade. It also has operations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
As digital and technology continue to disrupt every aspect of retail, Kesko has set itself the ambition of becoming a digital forerunner in the sector. Following a thorough search and tender for the right digital transformation partner, CGI emerged as the chosen winner.
“In the competitive bidding process, our aim was to find a partner with the best capability to support our business growth and development by leveraging the newest technologies efficiently,” said Arto Hiltunen, CIO at Kesko. “CGI’s strong international expertise combined with local presence convinced us of the company’s ability to support us in achieving our objectives.”
The partnership covers a wide range of IT services, including end-user services, capacity and cloud services, as well as integrations. In addition, CGI will support Kesko with exploring areas where automation and AI-based solutions can help the group improve productivity and innovate the business.
Commenting on the project, Leena-Mari Lähteenmaa, President of CGI in Finland, Poland and Baltics, said: “At CGI, we help retailers leverage technology, data and AI to boost profitability by delivering friction-free omnichannel customer experiences, enhancing supply chain agility, streamlining store operations, advancing sustainable transformation, and optimizing IT investments.”
“In the region, the current trend in the IT sector is that companies like Kesko are now building strategic collaboration models in which partners participate closely in business development and growth as shared goals and risks. We thank Kesko for the trust in forming a genuine and deep partnership, where the achievement of strategic goals is guided by joint metrics and investments.”
IT partners
The contract with CGI is part of a wider IT services framework recently announced by Kesko. Other partners selected by the retailer are Elisa, Futurice, Nitor, Fujitsu, and Tata Consultancy Services.
“This is the biggest IT services transformation in Kesko’s history. It enables us to build an even more agile and technologically advanced IT operating model that will allow, for example, more extensive utilisation of AI, increased level of automation, and strong information security,” said Hiltunen.
Kesko generates net sales of around €12 billion and employs approximately 18,000 people. The company has around 1,700 stores across its footprint.
