Logicalis, has been awarded a 4-year managed service contract with high-street retailer, Marks & Spencer. Logicalis will be tasked with improving the efficiency and agility of M&S' IT network as well as supporting the cost-effective deployment of innovative ICT services that will help maintain M&S' competitive position.

Logicalis' Managed Service Centre (MSC) and onsite teams will provide engineering, design and development support, for the management of wired and wireless network infrastructure across M&S' 591 UK stores and regional offices. The service will optimise the performance of M&S' existing ICT estate, and support M&S' IT team in delivering critical IT and business processes such as transaction services and PoS.

During the course of the contract, Marks & Spencer will open a number of stores, all of which will be migrated onto the network monitoring service.

Damone Quigley, head of infrastructure and application services for Marks & Spencer comments: “It wasn't simply a case of finding a supplier that could deliver technology services. We sought a partner with the ability to align IT performance to the needs of the business, can demonstrate innovation in service delivery, can share in risk and reward, and is flexible enough to adapt to the future demands of the retail environment.”

Tom Kelly, managing director of Logicalis UK, adds: “Marks & Spencer required a partner that had a clear understanding of their business imperatives, and could align services to provide tangible commercial and operational value. Logicalis will act as a seamless extension to Marks & Spencer's IT team, with a strong cultural fit and understanding of the pressures of operating in the retail industry.”