Partnering is the theme for the future, says BT

BT CEO Sir Peter Bonfield has told a CBI conference that partnership between customer and suppliers must replace adversarial contract relationships.

Commenting on the communications industry in particular, he said: "The speed of change is amazing. But the acceleration of change is breathtaking. And in a world like this, the last thing you need is inflexible, adversarial relationships with your suppliers."

Sir Peter suggested that the internet, more than any other factor, will change the way companies do business. "This applies to human resources, as much as marketing. And it certainly applies to procurement and partnership sourcing," he added.

BT has already launched a project to transfer 1000 suppliers to an internet platform. Ultimately, it expects to make a considerable savings.

Ironically, this boost for applied technology comes at the same time the company is being accused of holding back the pace of e-economy development.

Chairman Sir Iain Vallance has admitted at the Telecommunications Managers Association conference that, in part because of its legacy of older systems, BT is regularly accused of inhibiting internet take-up. He rejects that notion, of course.

Elliott Chase