TNT Express N.V. (TNTE.AE) said Wednesday it has signed a five-year business process outsourcing contract with Accenture, as part of its drive to focus on core express delivery activities, reduce indirect costs and improve operational efficiencies.

The delivery services firm said the move will allow it to consolidate and standardize back-office operations, which are now carried out at local level.

The contract with Accenture is an important step in establishing Global Business Services, a major project under TNT's outlook strategy, it said. As guided in February, Global Business Services are expected to deliver annual cost savings of between 100 million Euros ($112.41 million) and EUR150 million from 2018, with the first savings in 2016.

Source: MarketWatch