ABB and TCS sign multi-million AI network overhaul agreement
ABB and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have levelled up their 20-year relationship with a multi-million dollar, multi-year deal to rewrite how ABB’s global digital network runs.
ABB has more than 160 manufacturing sites with 111,900 employees working across them.
TCS’ software systems and cloud technology aims to better connect them all through a centalised, AI-powered network that can fix itself.
Moving from infrastructure to intelligence
Global companies like ABB often suffer from fragmented networks where different systems run in different offices, which can create security blind spots and lag times.
Under this new deal, TCS will run ABB’s Future Network Model programme, bringing everything under a standardised Network-as-a-Service model.
This approach aims to replace or update fragmented setups with a secure, scalable architecture using a centralised control hub to unite several key elements across ABB’s global footprint.
This includes service integration and management to coordinate all IT services, a dedicated global network operations centre for 24/7 oversight and advanced security capabilities to safeguard infrastructure.
At the same time, TCS will overhaul local and wide area network systems including LAN, WAN and next-generation software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) to modernise how physical offices connect.
By embedding AI directly into the fabric of the network, the new system will continuously monitor itself. If a connection drops in an office halfway across the world, or a security threat pops up, the AI can sense, adapt and help resolve the issue.
In their own words
ABB’s leadership team sees this as a foundational step for the next generation of industrial tech.
Alec Joannou, Group Chief Information Officer at ABB, highlighted how crucial this digital backbone is for the company’s evolution:
“The Future Network Model represents an important milestone in reinforcing the digital foundation of ABB’s global operations.
“As our business evolves, it is critical to have an ecosystem that is resilient, secure and aligned with long-term transformation goals.
“Our association with TCS reflects a shared focus on delivery excellence, continuous enhancement, and building capabilities that can support our strategic priorities.”
To deliver on that vision, TCS is leaning heavily into the long history between the two companies to embed AI straight into the core network.
“For over two decades, TCS has had the privilege of supporting ABB’s transformation journey, and the Future Network Model marks the next chapter in this partnership,” says Anupam Singhal, President of Manufacturing at TCS.
“With AI embedded into the network operations model, supported by secure digital infrastructure and our deep domain expertise, we are bringing our ‘infrastructure to intelligence’ approach to build a resilient, intelligent network backbone.
“Through this engagement, we will enable network systems that can sense, adapt and improve continuously, while strengthening reliability, security, user experience and scale as ABB continues to advance as a future-ready enterprise.”
