Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 20 | Page 16

NEWS Wirecard starts partnership with European leading digital automotive platform company W irecard, a global innovation leader for digital financial technology, has entered into a strategic partnership with Berlin-based AUTO1 Group, one of Europe’s leading digital automotive platforms. The agreement was fostered through SoftBank’s existing partnership with Wirecard and AUTO1 Group, and will cover several products in the area of digital financial services. AUTO1 Group revolutionised the way cars are traded by developing a fully digital platform that enables both private customers and professionals to trade cars seamlessly throughout Europe. Well known for its affiliated companies, wirkaufendeinauto.de, AUTO1.com, Autohero and AUTO1 Fintech, the group meanwhile offers several additional digital services along the value chain of car trading. AUTO1 Group reported a €2.9 billion revenue in 2018 and boasts a car stock of more than 30,000 vehicles and more than 1 million private customers. Wirecard and AUTO1 Group will further develop digital financial services together, offering consumers state-of-the-art services via boon, Wirecard’s consumer payment and banking platform, while professional partners will benefit from the partnership via AUTO1 Fintech, AUTO1 Group’s digital loan specialist unit. ////////////////// BT elevates Schindler’s network to new level B T has announced it has signed a contract with Schindler, one of the world’s leading providers of elevators, escalators and moving walkways, as well as maintenance and modernisation services. BT will provide Schindler with a reliable and secure network and voice solution connecting about 500 sites worldwide. BT will deploy and manage a consolidated global network infrastructure for Schindler, connecting its data centres, offices, factories and contact centres globally using IP Connect, BT’s highly reliable and secure network service and a global Internet solution. This will remove the complexity of dealing with a multitude of network operators. It will offer Schindler better visibility of cost and performance as well as improved end-to-end service quality. Matteo Attrovio, Chief Information Officer, Schindler Group, said: “A global, secure, integrated network is a crucial element of our digital strategy. It will allow us to move from a fragmented network of suppliers to a global provider that can offer a fully managed, high quality end-to-end network service.” Bas Burger, CEO of Global, BT, said: “We are proud to have been chosen by Schindler as a trusted adviser on its Digital Transformation journey. Schindler is a fast-growing, global company and we are happy to support it with our services and 16 INTELLIGENTCIO Mall of Switzerland escalators expertise all around the globe. Schindler moves more than 1 billion people every day and it is fantastic that we can support it in providing a safe and secure service.” www.intelligentcio.com