The Finnish IT service company Tietokeskus and the POP Bank Group have signed a major outsourcing agreement under which Tietokeskus will take responsibility for the maintenance, management, and development of POP Bank’s core IT infrastructure. As a service, Tietokeskus will provide POP Bank with IT equipment, network and local area network solutions, cloud-based office software, and support services.
The office infrastructure project is part of POP Bank Group’s core banking system renewal. A modernised and more agile IT infrastructure, combined with the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, will significantly accelerate POP Bank’s system and service development.
Going forward, POP Bank will purchase its core IT infrastructure as a service from Tietokeskus, which will deliver 810 laptops, 842 monitors, and 58 new fibre-optic connections to all 68 POP Bank branches across Finland. Tietokeskus will also provide the bank group with new internal and external network solutions, firewalls, and Microsoft 365 and Azure software as cloud services.
“We are extremely proud that POP Bank has chosen to outsource its core IT infrastructure to Tietokeskus. As a nationwide operator, we are able to serve POP Bank branches across Finland. This is an extensive modernisation project in which POP Bank is moving to purchase all core IT flexibly and securely as a service. Cloud services will also be widely in use throughout POP Bank going forward,” says Ari Kaikkonen, Client Director, IT Services at Tietokeskus.
“Tietokeskus performed excellently in both the planning and execution of our nationwide project. In a major project like this, cooperation, communication, detailed planning, and the ability to react quickly to surprises are key. Tietokeskus is the right partner for POP Bank because their agile and solution-oriented approach matches our own ways of working. The new modern office infrastructure, services, and network solutions will improve efficiency across POP Bank branches,” says Rainer Sahlberg, CIO at POP Pankkikeskus.
According to Kaikkonen, an increasing number of companies today are outsourcing the management of their core IT to a capable partner.
“IT professionals in organisations are focusing less on day-to-day IT operations and more on strategic development and supporting business innovation through new technologies – for example, how to leverage AI in service development or use software robotics to automate routine processes,” Kaikkonen says.
Further information:
Ari Kaikkonen, Client Director, IT Services, Tietokeskus Oy
+358 50 385 4217
ari.kaikkonen@tietokeskus.fi
Rainer Sahlberg can best be reached through POP Bank’s communications,
Maija Hyötyläinen, Communications Manager, +358 50 572 9679, maija.hyotylainen@poppankki.fi
Tietokeskus is a leading provider of IT services and equipment for businesses and public sector organisations across Finland. The company operates 14 offices nationwide and had a turnover of approximately €130 million in 2023.
POP Bank is a Finnish banking group employing more than 700 experts and offering retail banking services to private customers as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. According to EPSI Rating, POP Bank has the most satisfied retail and business customers in Finland and the Nordic countries.