Accenture supports Etihad Airways with transformation

Etihad Airways has hired Accenture in a multi-million dollar deal to improve the carrier’s productivity, efficiency and growth potential. The deal will see Accenture deliver a range of professional services, with the aim of supporting the carrier’s staff with embracing best practices, as well as to support the firm’s technology partner SAP with testing its software solutions to the carrier.

Etihad Airways began flying in 2003, growing to a fleet of 116 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to date. Since its founding, the Gulf carrier has, from its base in Abu Dhabi, moved more than 14.8 million passengers. The carrier has expanded to travel to the corners of the earth, with flights and cargo destinations to almost every continent, including the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. With its recent successes, the carrier is scaling up, and is in the process of nearly tripling capacity with the addition of around 200 new aircraft – including eight A380s.

The new collaboration agreement signed between Etihad Airways and Accenture will see the consultancy firm take a role in developing Etihad corporate process and staff toward industry best practice. To do this, the advisory firm will deliver strategy and management consulting services in the areas of human resources, finance, and procurement and supply management, which is expected to result in a business transformation that moves Etihad toward improved productivity and efficiency.

The multi-million dollar deal will also see Accenture work with Etihad’s technology partner, SAP, supporting the implementation of the a Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution, and test the solutions at a new Testing Centre of Excellence located at Abu Dhabi as part of Etihad Airways’ existing operations.

Etihad Airways’ Chief Information and Technology Officer (CTO), Robert Webb, says, “To sustain Etihad Airways’ current and future growth, we need to achieve operational and organisational efficiency by creating an integrated approach to business processes, underpinned by a scalable, common technology platform. We believe that working with world-class business transformation and technology companies like Accenture and SAP will help us realise this goal and prepare our business for years to come with an increased focus on the guest.”

Omar Boulos, Regional Managing Director for Accenture in the Middle East, says, “This business transformation, built on the next-generation SAP HANA platform, will elevate Etihad Airways to the next level. By developing a technology-driven business strategy, Etihad will benefit from improved productivity and simplified and more integrated core business processes that will give them greater flexibility across the organisation.”