7-Eleven, EDS Expand Partnership

DALLAS -- 7-Eleven Inc. and EDS inked a $175-million, seven-year contract to provide the convenience store chain with a full information technology (IT) package of integration, intelligent storage and full-scale hosting services.

Under the agreement, 7-Eleven will pay for services as they are used. The new agreement, which extends a contract signed originally in 1995, also expands EDS?s role as one of 7-Eleven?s primary IT providers. The company has moved from providing systems development to becoming the company?s principal systems and services integrator, providing hosting and intelligent storage services for the company?s corporate data. Currently, EDS manages 7-Eleven?s data storage hardware and software. Through the new agreement, EDS will continue to develop and enhance the chain?s ordering, distribution, financial and vendor systems.

In addition, EDS?s hosting solutions will enable 7-Eleven to rapidly deploy its new, technologically advanced Vcom e-commerce program now being tested at 98 stores in Texas and Florida. EDS hosts 7-Eleven?s Vcom transaction engine and database software, which provides transaction routing between the kiosks and Vcom partners. 7-Eleven plans to begin deploying additional Vcom kiosks this year.

"EDS?s reliable, scalable and secure services have helped keep IT systems on track and up to date in 5,700 7-Eleven stores in North America so that customers can walk in around the clock and get the products and services they need," said Keith Morrow, 7-Eleven?s chief information officer. "This new agreement gives us greater value for our IT investment by lowering our operating costs and providing greater flexibility, which allows us to redirect resources to aggressively pursue e-business initiatives, such as the in-store electronic kiosks we are currently testing."