Post Office has appointed two new technology suppliers as part of its programme to replace the controversial Horizon IT system and modernise technology across its branch network.
Professional services company Accenture and retail software specialist One View Commerce have been awarded contracts to support the transition as part of Post Office’s wider five-year transformation strategy.
Under the plans announced today (21 May), Accenture will work alongside Post Office and Fujitsu to take over operation of the existing Horizon system. The company will also help transfer knowledge, operational processes and key personnel during the handover period.
At the same time, Accenture and One View Commerce will jointly develop a replacement platform designed to provide a more modern system for postmasters and Post Office teams.
Post Office said the contracts form part of a broader effort to create a “digitally enabled, more sustainable business”.
The organisation added that there would be no immediate changes for branches, postmasters, retail partners or employees, with day-to-day operations continuing as normal during the transition period.
Fujitsu will continue supporting Horizon until its formal exit date, while Post Office said its priority would be to “maintain continuity and avoid disruption” throughout the migration process.
As part of the procurement process, Post Office will now enter a mandatory standstill period before contracts are formally signed, which is expected in early June. The company said it would provide further updates to postmasters and partners as the programme progresses.
At least 900 subpostmasters and subpostmistresses were wrongly prosecuted for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in the Horizon accounting software, in what has been described as one of the UK’s biggest miscarriages of justice.