Infosys Signs 3-Year Tech Partnership Deal with Australian Open

The Australian Open has appointed Infosys, India’s second largest services and consulting company, as its new major technology partner for the tournament, one year after it ended its partnership with IBM.

While the financials of the deal are not known yet, the partnership will be up for renewal after three years.

American technology giant IBM was the technology partner for the Australian Open for 24 years before the partnership ended last year. For the 2018 tournament, Tennis Australia, the governing body of the sport in the country, did not have a technology partner, which left a gap in its match analytics, according to Sportbusiness.com.

As part of the new deal, Infosys will leverage its expertise in emerging technologies like big data & analytics, artificial intelligence, as well as virtual and augmented reality, to provide unique, innovative and engaging experiences for fans of the tennis tournament, the Bengaluru-based firm said in a statement.

“Partnering with Infosys is an exciting next step in our ongoing quest to innovate the Australian Open and engage new audiences across the world. We have long understood the importance of using data and insights to improve connections with our fans, players, coaches and the rest of the tennis community and we look forward to working with Infosys to change the way we all experience our great sport in the future,” Craig Tiley, Tournament Director, Australian Open, said in a statement.

“This partnership is about creating new ways of experiencing the Australian Open. We’re really excited about the opportunity to showcase how digital technologies can enhance the boundaries of this tournament, to change the way the Australian Open is watched, analyzed and played,” Salil Parekh, CEO and Managing Director, Infosys, said. “This association with Tennis Australia also reaffirms our strategic commitment to the region where we partner with some of the leading enterprises in driving their digital transformation agenda.”

Indian technology service providers are increasingly forging partnerships with sports clubs and sporting events to upgrade fans’ experience and engagement with players, matches, and a host of other activities. HCL Technologies has a digital partnership with Manchester United, while Tech Mahindra has a deal with Jaksonville Jaguars, both of which are British soccer clubs, moneycontrol.com reported.

The Australian Open, said to be the biggest sports and entertainment event in the world in January, is governed by Tennis Australia. All Australian Open 2019 tickets will be available on sale from Oct. 9, 2018.