National Express has signed an eight-year IT modernisation deal with IBM and Vodafone Business to help the coach company with its hybrid cloud plans.

Under the agreement, the Vodafone Business and IBM venture will modernise National Express’ IT estate by moving to IBM Cloud and implementing a hybrid cloud strategy, building on the existing connectivity services provided by Vodafone Business.

IBM and Vodafone said that this would allow National Express to manage multiple clouds in different locations and from different vendors, as well as letting it scale up and down to support spikes in usage.

There will also be extra security and risk management to protect National Express’s infrastructure.

The agreement covers the provision of cloud and digital services that will underpin National Express’ ‘digital first’ approach; to use the latest technologies to raise customer and safety standards, drive efficiencies and grow its business. 

The deal will also mean that National Express can start to develop customer-focused innovations, such as personalised passenger experiences, flexible payment options and always-connected vehicles.

The coach firm will also have access to other cloud services and new technologies such as 5G, IoT, edge computing and analytics.

Debbie O’Shea, group chief information officer for National Express said that the partnership enables the company to “move to a cloud environment giving us a future-proofed platform with increased flexibility that will better support our business”.

“It also will provide access to emerging and innovative new technologies,” she added.

Anne Sheehan, business director at Vodafone UK, said that cloud services and connectivity are now “inseparable”.

“We will provide National Express with the holistic solution it requires to drive digital innovation across its business – faster, simpler and at scale,” she said.