TCS Partners with Extreme Networks on Integration of Zebra, Avaya and Brocade Networking Asset Acquisitions

Tata Consultancy Services announced that it has successfully completed the integrations of Zebra’s wireless LAN business, Avaya’s networking business and Brocade’s data center switching, routing and analytics solutions into the ecosystem of Extreme Networks, a leading software-driven networking company.

Extreme Networks embarked on this ambitious journey by acquiring networking assets from Zebra, Avaya and Brocade, within a short time span of approximately 12 months, to become the only pure-play, end-to-end wired and wireless enterprise networking company in the world.

TCS was chosen by Extreme Networks to drive this initiative due to its highly repeatable Post-Merger Integrations (PMI) methodology and industry leading Quad A framework. Since PMI is a highly complex and an extremely challenging initiative usually taking place under severe time pressure and in parallel to a running business, Extreme Networks required a strategic partner that could work in lock-step, bringing scale, thought leadership and PMI expertise to de-risk and successfully deliver this integration within an aggressive timeline.

To achieve this, TCS established an Integration Management Office (IMO) to drive the program governance, value management, enterprise architecture and organizational change management. The program involved a multi-tower transformation including ERP, CRM, F&A, Supply Chain, and PMO.

In addition, TCS put together a cross-functional team to analyse and identify opportunities to harmonize and rationalize Extreme Networks heterogeneous IT landscape comprising of both ERP and non-ERP applications. The rapid pace of the engagement and aggressive timelines necessitated rigorous test and validation along all key phases of the Integration program requiring the establishment of a “test factory” that enabled process standardization and accuracy to ensure high quality deliverables.a