JetBlue expands its relation with Tata Consultancy Services

TCS to modernise the airline's IT foundation platform and enhance digital customer touch point

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's leading information technology (IT) services provider, and JetBlue, one of the leading airlines in the US, are ramping up their relationship to strategically optimise and transform key business channels and enhance digital customer touch points.

During a three-year relationship, JetBlue has leveraged TCS' airline expertise to develop new platforms, and for quality assurance and infrastructure services. As part of a recently signed strategic agreement, TCS will now manage several additional programmes alongside JetBlue, including modernisation of the airline's IT foundation platform to enhance data analytics and operational agility, and developing tools for customers and JetBlue crew members.

"This strategic agreement is a reflection of our confidence in TCS as the right partner for our global talent and technology transformational needs," said Eash Sundaram, executive vice-president and chief information officer, JetBlue. "We love their culture, customer focus and see them as a valued extension of our teams."

Furthermore, TCS will expand its innovation center in Pune in the next two years to support the JetBlue Digital initiatives, complementing the US-based JetBlue team, as well as TCS team members in the US and Mexico.

"To serve digital consumers, companies need to market to a 'segment of one' today instead of taking a more traditional mass market approach," added Surya Kant, president-North America, the UK and Europe, TCS. "Organisations need to embrace digital as the default, and we deeply value our relationship with JetBlue, as we collectively help to further transform their operations and competitive standing."

As part of the expanded relationship, JetBlue can benefit from TCS' COIN (Co-Innovation) Network. This specifically involves access to TCS' Airline and Digital Innovation Labs, which focus on identifying business challenges and opportunities (e.g., operational analytics and optimization) in the travel and hospitality sector, and how to leverage technology and airline expertise to quickly develop solutions.