Qantas Group has said up to 850 roles will be affected in the coming years as it forms a strategic partnership with Accenture.
The airline group said it is seeking to modernize back-end systems, processes and data through the partnership and described the move as “the next critical step to remove complexity, unlock innovation and accelerate the group’s use of AI.”
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the company was focused on providing “redeployment” to other parts of the group where possible, including new roles being created in Australia.
She added that “standing still was not an option” given the current pace of technology change.
"We need to reinvent the processes, platforms and data behind our business so we can innovate faster and deliver a better, more connected experience for our customers and our people. That means fundamentally redesigning how the work behind our airline gets done, so it is simpler, more connected and keeps getting better, with automation and AI built in from the start,” Hudson said.
The partnership involves Accenture investing to speed up the modernization of Qantas’ data platforms. Some corporate functions will move to Accenture and be handled by teams in Australia and India.
The carrier said work with Accenture will build on existing initiatives already underway through the Qantas product innovation center, unveiled earlier this year. It also said it invests approximately $685 million in technology every year.