Tesco signs eight-year Microsoft deal

Tesco has signed an eight-year deal with Microsoft that will give the supermarket giant access to the latest versions of Microsoft products and services.

The deal will see Tesco use Windows, Office, SharePoint, Exchange, Lync, System Centre, BizTalk and SQL Server in its head offices, stores and datacentres, across the 14 countries in which it operates.

The firm said it is expecting to see value immediately through its deployment of SharePoint, Exchange and Lync to create a new global collaboration platform.

The collaboration platform will allow Tesco employees to share skills, knowledge and best practices with international subsidiaries, as well as facilitate product innovation with internal experts and suppliers.

"We have lots of colleagues in Tesco, doing lots of jobs all over the world," said Mike McNamara, group CIO at Tesco.

"These technologies can help bring us together to share learning and expertise, views and opinions, thoughts and ideas."

The deal will also see Tesco benefit from consultancy from Microsoft Services' Enterprise Strategy programme. According to Microsoft, the programme will help Tesco set strategy and prioritise and deliver projects, meaning risks are reduced and savings increased.