Cambridge Service Alliance

The multinational firms are founding members of the Cambridge Service Alliance – a global partnership between business and academia. The Alliance is designed to develop new understanding of 'servitisation', a trend which has seen businesses from a wide range of sectors develop innovative services to meet the changing needs of customers.

In particular, the Alliance will examine complex service solutions which integrate technology, processes, organisations and information in an environment where competition and pressure on public finances ensures the need for ever-increasing effectiveness. These solutions are already being utilised by major organisations such as the British armed forces.

The new body will investigate how the transition to service can be improved and how it can benefit business. As well as undertaking research into the design and delivery of service excellence, it will develop education programmes and supporting tools and techniques.

Andy Neely, Director of the Cambridge Service Alliance, explains: 'Through-life services can offer customers greater value and reduce costs, while increasing the predictability of future revenue. We’re delighted that BAE Systems and IBM have agreed to be core partners in this new project. Both companies recognise the importance of improving our knowledge of service systems in order to tackle the organisational challenges this brings.'

The Cambridge Service Alliance builds upon the success of BAE Systems and IBM's previous partnership with the University of Cambridge that investigated new service-related business models. Business-led, the Alliance brings together the Institute for Manufacturing's expertise in the servitisation of high value manufacturing and the Judge Business School's experience in improving business models in a range of industries.

For more information, please contact Rob Halden-Pratt (rwh26@cam.ac.uk), Communications Officer, Institute for Manufacturing.