Kyndryl, the world’s leading provider of infrastructure technology services, is riding the wave of recognition in the BeLux market for the quality of its services.

Two brochures stand out. In the first, the Partnership Benchmark 2023 by S-Square, Kyndryl occupies a fine place at the top right-hand corner of the Leaders in the Infrastructure & Cloud segment with a score of 3.87, ahead of Accenture, DXC and Cegeka respectively. In Whitelane‘s 2023 BeLux IT Sourcing Study, Kyndryl came out on top with an overall satisfaction level of 82%, one of the best in the Belux region for all IT activities combined.

For Liesbet D’hoker, Managing Director, Kyndryl BeLux, these two brochures speak volumes about the work accomplished by the former IBM outsourcing subsidiary since its spin-off in 2021, which is now the world’s leading infrastructure services provider. While its financial situation is still delicate, the market’s recognition is undeniable. Everywhere. And, in particular, in the BeLux region. Kyndryl is stepping up its energy and activity in its various markets. There are six global managed services practices and one customer consultancy practice, combining managed services, consultancy and implementation. Each of the six practices manages a different aspect of technology: cloud; digital workplace; security & resiliency; network & edge; data & AI; core enterprise & zCloud applications.

An exceptional mainframe resource centre

The last activity is unique. All our mainframe customers are in the process of modernising,” observes Liesbet D’hoker. From the migration of large systems to their automation, we help these key accounts to design a path to transformation through a tailor-made systems modernisation strategy that puts applications and data first.“

From now on, the mainframe workloads of the various European countries will be grouped together on the Z-16s in the south of the country”, explains Liesbet D’hoker, not without pride.

Belfius, Carrefour, Daikin…

The new services agreement signed last year with Belfius is also a major step forward. The new partnership is designed to offer greater flexibility and unlock new technologies to drive innovation and customer satisfaction through new hybrid services and ongoing investment in the Group’s on-site technology platforms.

In practice, Kyndryl continues to ensure resilient operational management by providing private infrastructure platforms as a Platform-as-a-Service, such as mainframe and distributed servers and the workplace. This includes the data centre, LAN network and securing the Belfius IT environment.

Other major customers, many of them long-standing, include Daikin and Carrefour. For the latter, Kyndryl migrated all its operations (over 400 servers) together with Carrefour to Google Cloud Platform.

The business value of AI within reach

In terms of market trends, Liesbet D’hoker sees a growing interest in artificial intelligence to benefit their modernisation plans. “The consensus is that the potential of GenAI far outweighs the risk. Nevertheless, senior executives are aware of the risks, and even as they strive to test and innovate, there will be a lot of discussion and advisory work around maintaining confidentiality, protecting intellectual property, stopping data leaks and controlling costs. And there, at these different levels, we have the potential to intervene!

Artificial intelligence means more governance. Companies that don’t have the in-house skills to manage their data will need trusted partners with expertise in data governance, business processes and industry-leading applications. “Only then will AI-based IT fleets be able to deliver essential business value.”

And, at the end of it all, the plan to reduce our carbon footprint

However, other trends – such as intelligent cloud strategies, strengthening security and resilience systems, and using technology for climate progress – will also define the technology landscape and decision-making in the year ahead. I also see that organisations are looking for advice on how to create a culture focused on sustainable development,” continues Liesbet D’hoker. They all want to significantly reduce their carbon footprint. To take full advantage of technology, IT and sustainability managers need to develop scalable projects that can integrate environmental solutions into current business practices.“

The Managing Director BeLux also has high expectations of new ways of working. Since companies began equipping themselves for an economy based in part on hybrid working a few years ago, the need for digital agility has only accelerated, she notes. “As well as continuing to invest in digital workplace technologies to improve efficiency, productivity, security and capability, businesses will start to focus more on the experience.”

Technologies such as AI and the cloud are helping to fuel these trends, but employers need to integrate them with people-centred strategies to attract and retain the best talent. Concludes Liesbet D’hoker: “With a clear purpose and the right values, companies can deploy technologies that build teams, reinforce a sense of belonging and reduce friction in the performance of day-to-day tasks.”