Indian IT services company HCL has signed a partnership agreement with IBS which will see HCL deliver technical services to distribution outfit IBS.

These will include product development services as well as customer delivery and support services.

IBS has for several years successfully off-shored development and customer projects to Portugal and Poland as well as partners in India. The new deal will accelerate the shift of resources into a central skills pool while letting IBS benefit from HCL’s experience and of software development and deployment, says the company.

"This is a very exciting partnership that we are embarking upon," says Mike Shinya, President and CEO of IBS. "We tendered offers from several extremely well qualified off-shore partners but were very impressed with the HCL team’s energy, commitment to rapid delivery and the extensive experience including more than 50,000 professionals of which over 1,200 with iSeries experience.

"This partnership is an important achievement in the strategic progress in improving profitability and a step in becoming the leading distribution management solution company."

IBS customers will also be offered an Upgrade Factory setup, which will help upgrade them to the latest release of the IBS Enterprise suite. HCL will also work on the development of IBS' new product line, Enterprise for Windows, scheduled for launch in 2009.

Rajeev Sawhney, President for Europe at HCL Technologies says, "We are delighted to have signed this agreement to become an IBS partner. Our combined expertise will offer customers an even greater level of excellence in service. We are very pleased with this innovative and collaborative relationship." X