Pfizer extends HP's IT outsourcing contract in Asia

Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, has extended its IT outsourcing agreement with Hewlett Packard (HP) for helpdesk support in Asia.

In a media statement Wednesday, the pharmaceuticals firm said that it has also appointed HP to consolidate its service desk operations across 14 countries in the region.

HP has been providing Pfizer with a range of IT and services support since 1999, when the pharmaceuticals company first outsourced its Japanese helpdesk operations to the US vendor. This includes service desk support, server, network and desktop management, as well as user and data center support.

Under the new contract, however, HP will provide IT outsourcing and services support for Pfizer's Asia-Pacific helpdesk operations from China--instead of Japan. According to HP, it is already in the process of shifting Pfizer's Japanese helpdesk operations from Tokyo to Dalian.

The migration of Pfizer Japan's helpdesk--which commenced in September 2006--is expected to be completed by the end of June 2007, HP stated. All service desk functions that were previously housed in Japan will move to HP’s Dalian-based Global Solution Center.

HP said that the process will be carried out for Pfizer's 14 other helpdesk operations across the Asia-Pacific region, as service desk operations are consolidated in Dalian.