Patni to provide managed services to UK healthcare provider BUPA

The UK-based private healthcare provider and insurer, Bupa has appointed Patni Computer Systems to provide a managed service for its core business applications.

The Patni team will include 40 technical specialists based in the UK and India over the three-year contract duration. Patni had been working with Bupa for two years before agreeing this new contract and is one of a small number of third party suppliers retained by Bupa as part of its multi-vendor outsourcing strategy.

The new contract with Patni forms part of a worldwide initiative by Bupa to drive change within its IT function. This initiative has three main aims: to improve levels of service to the business, to support quality software developments and to promote global re-use of applications and processes.

Founded in 1947, Bupa is an international health and care group, providing a broad range of services including private medical insurance, care homes for older people and young disabled, health assessments, workplace health and childcare services, to over 10 million customers around the world. Its group revenues were £4.24 billion in 2007.

As part of the new service Patni will work with David Guest, Bupa's chief applications officer, to manage and support group applications including PeopleSoft, business intelligence (BI) reporting applications, Web applications and a second phase of BI tools. Patni has effectively become a 'holding area' for new applications that are under development and will be delivered to the business as part of a pipeline of work.

David Guest explains, ''The Group's ambition is driving change in IT. We are a large company and our staff and customers expect professional levels of service, while growth in business volumes will continue to put increasing pressure on services and drive additional requirements. Our software is becoming ever more critical to the business, and they expect it to be delivered on time and work the first time. Our range of services, geographies and IT assets is also increasing, so simplification and re-use are both important. Offshoring is an obvious part of the jigsaw.''

''Bupa chose Patni to support its drive to reduce costs and improve service quality'', says Guest. ''Costs for introducing and supporting new applications are now predictable and easier to manage''. Guest adds, ''Our approach is always to ensure that day-to-day activities are taken care of, and that we're 'keeping the lights on'.  The second step is to provide added value to the business, and the third to introduce strategic services in line with the overall direction that the business is taking. By working with Patni, we have more predictable IT costs and reliable systems and can deploy our in-house staff into higher profile projects that keep them motivated. We also value Patni's advice on how to innovate with IT.''

Brian Stones, executive vice president at Patni said, ''We are delighted to extend our relationship with Bupa and to play a part in its strategy to improve customer service, increase transparency and predictability of IT costs and build repeatable global solutions. Patni has the global footprint and technical expertise to help ensure success for Bupa's IT team.''