Infogain expands operations to the UK and establishes first dedicated transportation practice

Leading US integrator invests in UK transport market and launches Passenger Relationship and Information Systems Management (PRISM) framework to deliver end-to-end customer service capabilities to UK transport operators

Los Gatos, California, 21 January 2009: Infogain Corporation, a leading provider of CRM, ERP, Integration and Business Intelligence solutions today announced the expansion of its International operations in establishing new European headquarters in the UK with a dedicated transportation practice, operating out of Manchester.

The opening of the new UK office also marks the launch of PRISM, Passenger Relationship and Information Systems Management, a unique framework developed by Infogain for the seamless integration of operational, enterprise and retail applications with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for transport industry operators.

“There is no doubt that in times of economic uncertainty transport operators are looking to gain greater control and higher visibility over expenditure within their operations. These important decisions can only be made if the right management information is made available to the right people in real time” said Mark Collin, the newly appointed Vice President for UK & Europe.

“Customer centricity is even more critical to delivering both service excellence and economic sustainability in this new age of public transport.  To this end, the PRISM framework has been developed over time through our work for major global transport brands to deliver a ‘light-touch’, end-to-end integration platform, marrying services back to the customer, cementing unprecedented customer loyalty, whilst delivering powerful business benefits. Our platform will, for the first time, capture loyalty value for what have traditionally been passive ticket purchases, essentially turning tickets into a measurable loyalty asset.

“We’re thrilled to be unveiling PRISM to the UK market, which is already adopting such solutions.  Transport operators here across rail, air, bus and coach are facing burgeoning operational and systems challenges in an increasingly competitive yet highly regulated market.  This framework provides a single customer view, pivotal in delivering unprecedented levels of customer satisfaction, greater efficiency and a tangibly higher Return on Investment from existing systems.”

Having previously established some presence in Britain, Infogain is now investing in a long-term strategy to develop its European market share from the UK.It is strengthening its sales and consultancy presence with a new management team, a dedicated international transport practice and a fresh approach to the market.  The company has strong relations with major strategic partners such as Oracle and Red Hat and aims to further cement these and broader technology partnerships, specifically in its focus on the UK transport sector.

“Infogain is a valued Oracle partner and a real innovator of integrated CRM solutions for the transport market,” commented Andy Martin, director of transport, logistics and construction for EMEA, Oracle.

“The PRISM framework looks to present a definite, end-to-end solution for Oracle’s Technology platform which we see as a great advancement in delivering a cohesive, customer-centric transport solutions, which we believe will be viewed with great optimism among UK operators.  We plan to give Infogain comprehensive support in rolling out this valuable initiative.”

Previously UK development director at Cityspace, Mark Collin was appointed as Vice President for UK & Europe for Infogain in November, with the remit of establishing the company’s position as a key player in the UK transport industry.  The management team is further complemented by Joe Lubczynskyj, with over 15 years of transport and logistics experience, heads up Operations and Service Delivery. Jim Pickup, as UK Board Director, will provide strategic direction and  advise on acquisition targets.

Infogain has already qualified for the prestigious Link-up accreditation scheme, a valuable endorsement of quality and recommendation for UK rail industry buyers, run by the Achilles Group.

Providing market context to the expansion strategy, Kapil Nanda, founder and CEO of Infogain Corporation said: “This expansion reflects our confidence that we have the right service offering for the UK transportation industry.  Further, in establishing a tangible presence in Europe, we will be strengthening our proposition in hands-on consultancy at a time of economic uncertainty when organisations will be looking for cost-effective resources to deliver critical integration, CRM, ERP and Business Intelligence solutions. With over 1,000 staff worldwide including 800 highly qualified personnel in our Global Development Centres in New Delhi and Pune, our dual shore facilities perfectly fit the bill.”