Derbyshire County Council has selected Capgemini UK plc as its transformation partner in a plan that will replace existing IT with new technology beginning next April. Under the £5.6 million contract, Capgemini will replace the Council’s existing IT systems, which are based on older-generation mainframe technology, with the latest SAP enterprise-wide systems designed for local authorities.

The new systems, which will be used by some 8,000 Council employees, are expected to transform the flow of information within and between Council departments, support improved budget and revenue control, enable more informed decision-making, identify procurement savings, and cut time spent by Council staff in processing and accessing data.

David Hickman, Transformation Director at Derbyshire County Council, said: “We are committed to continuous improvement in the way we work, in the services we provide and in making the best use of taxpayers’ money, and the record shows that we have delivered on those commitments year after year. We plan to do even better in the near future and our new IT platform will be key to achieving that aim.”

The majority of the new IT systems, including financials, procurement, HR, payroll and business intelligence, are scheduled to go live in April 2010, with the 25-strong project team of Capgemini IT and business consultants being based at the Council’s headquarters in Matlock until then.