HCL signs digital transformation deal with Japanese truck maker UD Trucks

HCL Technologies on Monday said it has signed a multimillion-dollar digital transformation and hybrid cloud contract with Japanese vehicle manufacturer UD Trucks.

Noida based HCL will deliver end-to-end information and technology (IT) transformation across digital platforms, agile digital application development, migration, support and maintenance, and digital workplace services, as per a statement.

“When signing such an important deal, you not only check that the technical capabilities are there for today and the foreseeable future, you also deeply assess the partnership you are entering into to see how it matches your values and long-term ambitions,” Nicolas Gendre, senior vice president of purchasing at UD Trucks, said.  

Founded in 1935, UD Trucks offers a range of heavy-duty trucks Quon and Quester, medium-duty trucks Condor and Croner, and light-duty trucks Kazet and Kuzer, as well as associated operational and financial services.

In October 2020, Swedish multinational manufacturing company Volvo said it would sell UD Trucks to Tokyo based Isuzu Motors in a 243 billion Japanese yen (about 20 billion Swedish krona) deal by the first half of 2021.

As a result of changing operational structure, UD Trucks has had to build and migrate to its own dedicated IT environment, while ensuring service continuity, the statement said.

By moving to a new next-generation IT environment, UD Trucks aims at leveraging the power of cloud and internet of things (IoT) while providing its employees globally with an enhanced user experience.

“Corporate transitions create special scenarios that require expertise at the intersection of end-to-end business processes and technology. Our engagement with UD Trucks is a fantastic illustration of how HCL can support setting up core IT capabilities leveraging HCL’s Cloud Smart strategy and accelerate next-generation digital services for our clients,” Pankaj Tagra, HCL’s Nordic and DACH head, said.

HCL is set to report its fourth quarter ended March 2021 financials on April 23.

The Infosys-Daimler deal was another recent Indian IT deal in the vehicle manufacturing segment.