Kellwood Renews Information Technology Outsourcing Agreement with EDS

PLANO, Texas and ST LOUIS, Missouri – EDS and Kellwood Company today announced the two companies have renewed their long-term information technology (IT) services relationship. With the seven-year agreement, EDS will continue to provide a full package of leveraged IT services to support the marketer of apparel and consumer soft goods’ future strategy. The financial terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

New to the agreement is a process for innovation in which EDS and Kellwood technical and business team members will collaborate to share, review and prioritize innovative ideas. The ultimate objective is to help Kellwood reduce costs and improve overall business operations.

“Over the years, our joint teams have demonstrated that IT can have a positive and strategic impact on our business,” said W. Lee Capps III, COO for Kellwood. “Moving to this more innovation-friendly delivery model will help us remain agile and a leader in our very competitive and fast-moving industry.”

Michael M. Saunders, Kellwood vice president and CIO added, “Our goal with EDS is to leverage our partnership to drive innovation while reducing our cost of operations, which allows us to partner on more valued-added initiatives.”

The agreement marks the beginning of the companies’ second decade as strategic business allies. Since the relationship began in 1996, EDS has helped Kellwood use IT to improve its ability to manage inventory levels, ordering processes and supply chain.

EDS will continue to manage Kellwood’s IT infrastructure, which includes its midrange computing systems that are located in Kellwood’s St. Louis data center, data and information storage environments and the company’s communications network. Additionally, EDS will continue using its Best Shore® model to manage Kellwood’s software applications. These applications play a significant role in Kellwood’s day-to-day business, including supply chain, corporate and financial functions.

The IT infrastructure also includes Kellwood’s computing environment for its approximately 3,200 employees in 25 locations, including service desk and support for desktops, printers and mobile computing devices.

“Through strategic thought leadership and sound IT practices, the EDS team will help Kellwood reach their goal of becoming a more agile and efficient company,” said Mike Klaus, vice president, EDS Global Consumer and Retail Industries. “We will continue to be the company’s business ally by applying our combined consumer manufacturing and retail industry expertise with EDS’ wide-depth of IT capabilities and experience to boost Kellwood’s competitive advantage.”

EDS will continue to work closely with its EDS Agility Alliance partners EMC, Microsoft and Oracle to deliver products and services to Kellwood.

EDS serves more than 200 consumer and retail industry clients. As a leading provider in the consumer and retail industries, EDS focuses on a variety of market segments including food/beverage, apparel/footwear, consumer products and retail outlets including restaurants, mass/department, grocery, drug, convenience, online/catalog and specialty.