CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB), a leading provider of utility software solutions and services , is working with Puget Sound Energy (PSE), Washington state’s largest energy utility, to deliver an enterprise-wide Mobile Workforce Management (MWM) solution that will automate the work of over 450 field resources and close to 100 dispatchers, supervisors, back-office and operations personnel.
CGI’s utility solutions team will implement its PragmaCADTMMWM solution to coordinate the movements and operations of PSE’s field resources by automating field-resource allocation, scheduling, assigning, dispatching, and monitoring of field work for four of PSE departments including Gas First Response, Electric First Response, Gas Operations and System Control and Protection Sub-Stations.
Integration to customer information and SAP systems will be developed using Web Services and MS-Biztalk middleware, providing real-time source information to optimize operations and core business processes. PSE field employees in specially equipped vehicles will receive work assignments on laptop computers via wireless links. This will result in the elimination of paper work-orders and reduce the frequency of non-essential work-dispatch communication.
François Ouzilleau, Sector Vice-President for CGI’s Utility Solutions Sector, says, “CGI is delighted to serve as a valuable partner in the realization of Puget Sound Energy’s vision of increased efficiency and higher levels of customer responsiveness and productivity. The flexibility and scalability of our PragmaCAD solution can expand to meet PSE’s broader mobile computing, allowing for additional business benefits and organizational change.”
CGI provides information technology solutions to North America’s leading utility providers. In the past 12 months, CGI’s Utility Solutions Group has signed agreements with utilities in North America including Exelon Energy Delivery, Hydro Ottawa and EPB of Chattanooga, Tennessee. CGI’s utility clients include Baltimore Gas & Electric, Hydro Quebec, Hydro One, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Oklahoma Gas and Electric, Public Service Electric and Gas and Southern California Edison. CGI utility solutions and services span the horizontal workflow between customers, control rooms and field crews. Real-time, continuous management of critical processes are enabled through a field-proven solution portfolio that includes mobile workforce, outage and network management and real-time operations management.
About Puget Sound Energy
Washington State’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) serves more than 1 million electric customers and 713,000 natural gas customers, primarily in western Washington. PSE meets the energy needs of its growing customer base through incremental, cost-effective energy efficiency, low-cost procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. For more information, visit www.pse.com.
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is one of the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in the world. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 25,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. CGI's annualized revenue run rate stands at $3.6 billion (US$3.1 billion) and at December 31, 2006, CGI's order backlog was $12.6 billion (US$10.9 billion). CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology and MidCap Indices. Website: www.cgi.com.
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For more information:
Heather Tracy
Director, Sales & Marketing
514-228-8800 ext. 3893
heather.tracy@cgi.com
Yvonne Gibson
Director, Communications
905-695-6421
yvonne.gibson@cgi.com
