Vodafone Group Plc has announced its intention to create a strategic partnership with Accenture to commercialize Vodafone’s shared operations. The partnership aims to accelerate growth, enhance customer service and drive significant efficiencies for its operating companies and partner markets.
The strategic partnership will build on Vodafone’s market leading shared services unit, Vodafone Intelligent Solutions (_VOIS), and intends to create a scaled, commercially driven and efficient organization with improved services and enhanced speed to market for its portfolio of offerings.
The new unit will leverage Accenture’s technology and transformation services such as its digital solutions and platforms and AI expertise, as well as tapping into Accenture’s learning capabilities to continuously create new skilling and career paths for its people.
Accenture will also invest €150m for a minority stake in the partnership, with Vodafone retaining majority interest, management control and sourcing decisions.
Vodafone and Accenture have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and the strategic partnership is subject to completion of the definitive agreements which are expected to be completed in spring 2024.
Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture, said: “We are proud to have partnered with Vodafone for over 20 years across many strategic programs. We are excited to take our partnership to a new level with this ground-breaking joint venture that will help power Vodafone’s reinvention and create significant value for their operating companies, partner markets and employees.
“This move speaks to their ambition to work in entirely new ways, reduce structural complexity, open avenues for growth, create better experiences for their customers and provide additional career paths for their people.”
Margherita Della Valle, Group CEO, Vodafone, said: “Today’s announcement is a significant development for Vodafone as we change and simplify the way we work to better serve our customers and drive growth.
“The partnership with Accenture opens up new opportunities for our company and our people. We’re excited about the potential of our new commercial shared services organization and the potential to serve not only Vodafone’s own markets but our Telco partners across the industry.”
