TCS signs digitisation deal with Scandinavian airline SAS

Indian IT services provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Thursday said it had signed a deal with Scandinavian airline SAS to help it transform digitally.

The company also said that the new partnership will build on the already existing partnership since 2017 and help build an improved experience for SAS customers, creating points of differentiation and competitive advantage for the business. 

At the same time, the technology platforms TCS will develop with SAS will help the business to grow and transform effectively, it said, adding that SAS will use Ignio, TCS' cognitive automation software, to manage IT operations intelligently and drive data-driven decision-making.

"Our new strategic partnership with TCS will help us to realise the potential of technologies such as cloud, Al and automation, which are key pillars on which our future growth will be based," Mattias Forsberg, CIO of SAS, said.

"TCS' cognitive automation software, Ignio and Machine First Delivery Model will improve customer service, reduce response times for customer queries, and deliver new insights for business decision-making, while providing enhanced levels of stability and security," he added.

The partnership will also focus on developing new agile ways of working, which will allow SAS to bring innovative products and services to the market faster, TCS said in a statement.

"Digital technology presents businesses with huge opportunities for organic growth and improved bottom lines, and this is especially important for the aviation industry, which has historically had to contend with fierce competition and slim margins," said Avinash Limaye, country head, TCS Sweden. 

"Our Business 4.0 approach is resonating with customers, in providing a blueprint for how technology can help them evolve more rapidly and capitalise on new market opportunities," he added.

As part of the earlier partnership, TCS had helped SAS build a digital foundation for its business including an always-on IT platform and an e-commerce platform. 

TCS also worked with SAS' innovation lab to deliver customer service across innovative channels, such as Turi, a new artificial intelligence (Al)-powered personal travel agent chatbot.