Fujitsu today announced it has won the multi-million dollar Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) contract to provide a comprehensive system for issuing Australian passports.
{loadposition dswan}In what will be one of the largest Microsoft CRM implementations for a Federal Government agency, Fujitsu won the highly competitive eight-year contract through what it described as its "managed services expertise" and its "capability to integrate a Microsoft stack that aligns with DFAT’s enterprise direction."
The tender forms part of DFAT's Passport Redevelopment Program, which is beginning this year.
With increasing demand by Australians for passports, and a forecast of up to two million passport applications per year by 2015, the new system will apparently enable the Australian Passport Office to maintain the service level commitments of its charter.
DFAT’s Chief Information Officer Tuan Dao said: “DFAT is committed to the continuous improvement of our processes and services. The program will deliver a contemporary passport system for Australia that will be more secure, efficient and responsive.”
Over the next three years the Passport Redevelopment Program (PRP) will replace the current technology used to print and issue Australian passports, which is rapidly approaching the end of its capacity.
The PRP will introduce a number of new services and streamline passport application processes using Microsoft CRM workflows for bulk scanning, case management, fraud control, workflow and passport printing solutions.
At the contract signing in Canberra today, Chief Executive Officer of Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand Mike Foster said, “we are proud to be working with DFAT on providing innovative technology solutions to enable DFAT to deliver continuous service improvement to the Australian community.
"The selection of Fujitsu technology and people to deliver this leading-edge platform confirms Fujitsu’s place as a trusted public sector partner.”