Cognizant extends cloud migration deal with Norwegian conglomerate

IT services firm Cognizant has announced on Monday that it is modernising the IT infrastructure of Orkla, an industrial investment company based in Oslo, Norway, by helping them move to a cloud-based model. 

Cognizant is a long-standing advisor to Orkla, and the two companies have partnered on several digital transformation projects since 2013, which include ongoing IT support and management in IT infrastructure, digital workplace, SAP, public cloud and security.

The extended partnership for Orkla’s own enterprise IT unit — Orkla IT — will see Cognizant modernising the delivery model that is “essential for the business transformation of the companies under the Orkla umbrella,” the company said in a statement.

“It will also enable SAP and infrastructure services to improve continuously, which will allow Orkla IT to be fully aligned to current and future business opportunities,” it added.

“When businesses transform to cloud-based models they are setting themselves up for a more modern, agile and secure IT infrastructure. “Cognizant’s solutions will help Orkla’s IT services to be more cost-effective, stable and meet the wider business needs both now and in the future,” said Anne-Sofie Risåsen, head of Nordics and Baltics, Cognizant.

“Together, we have built a solution construct that provides Orkla IT with the flexibility and agility required to address Orkla’s business needs built on best practices, efficiency and operational excellence and committed year-on-year cost savings,” she added.

“As the digitalisation continues to evolve, it is evident that a modern, secure and agile way of IT deliveries serves our companies and customers,” said Geir Olav Nistad, CEO, Orkla IT AS.

Cognizant first made inroads in Norway nearly two decades ago with its head office in Oslo and currently has around 420 employees in addition to over 800 employees at near-shore IT delivery centers in Latvia (Riga) and Lithuania (Vilnius). The company also acquired Norwegian IT and BPO service provider Frontica Business Solutions for nearly $128 million in October 2016 and has focused on sectors such as financial, healthcare and industrial sectors.

In May, Cognizant reported a nominal 3% YoY rise in its net profit in the March quarter of FY-23. However, the company reported a 0.3% decline in its revenue $4.8 billion in the quarter under review.