BP axes 540 vendors and opts for one reseller channel, Computacenter

Experts predict more middle men will be appointed in 2010

BP axes 540 contracts with vendors

BP has appointed IT infrastructure services supplier Computacenter as its worldwide IT reseller in a deal worth £92m that will last five years.

The deal has seen BP axe 540 hardware and software contracts with vendors.

US reseller CompuCom will act as Computacenter’s partner in the deal, and the companies have a margin-sharing arrangement that depends on the location of the supplier.

The appointment of Computacenter and CompuCom will simplify BP’s supply chain and the energy giant’s Global CIO Dana Deasy said of the move: “By consolidating and simplifying our IT supply chain, we’ll reduce our IT supplier base by at least 540 vendors [and resellers], and significantly remove cost while making the processes more simple."

Computercenter will procure a raft of IT equipment for BP including software licences, desktop applications and general maintenance servers.

It is believed that there is no longer any benefit from going direct to the vendor or supplier, as most are now based in China or Taiwan and have similar supply chains. Industry experts predict an increase in reseller contracts in 2010.