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UniSuper taps Google Cloud for data centre transformation
Wed, 7th Jun 2023

UniSuper, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, has selected Google Cloud as its preferred cloud provider for data centre transformation. 

The move spearheads the fund’s migration to cloud and signals UniSuper’s commitment to driving better outcomes for its members through efficient operations and advancing future growth ambitions. 

Driving a competitive edge with cloud

Australia’s superannuation funds manage $3.4 trillion in assets and are responsible for building sustainable retirement outcomes for more than 16 million people — making it the fifth largest market by funds under management. Australia was also the fastest-growing pension market in 2021 and was named the most successful pensions market globally in 2022 by JP Morgan’s Future of Superannuation Report.

UniSuper has a responsibility to deliver value and efficiency for its members. In meeting this responsibility, the fund will work in collaboration with Google Cloud to modernise and fast-track its journey to cloud. 

Google Cloud VMware Engine (GCVE) will underpin UniSuper’s rapid shift to cloud as the fund, supported by implementation partner Kasna, part of Mantel Group, migrates existing VMware-based workloads from on-premises data centres to Google Cloud’s enterprise-ready, open, and secure cloud infrastructure. The ability to easily migrate VMware environments with GCVE, with minimal effort and disruption, will enable greater scale and agility, driving operational efficiencies. 

A platform for the future

Targeting fit-for-purpose, efficient operations, UniSuper has accelerated its technology, scale, and simplification strategy through the Google Cloud partnership. This will eliminate the challenge of hardware lifecycle management and operation of undifferentiated commodity infrastructure, enabling UniSuper’s employees to focus on higher-value tasks. With Google Cloud, UniSuper will be able to augment enterprise infrastructure in minutes — a substantial advantage in a highly competitive and regulated industry.

On top of generating significant operational efficiency and cost savings, the migration will also enable UniSuper to work with a cloud provider that is committed to sustainability — since 2017 Google Cloud has matched its global energy consumption with 100% renewable energy. This alignment with UniSuper’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in its operations, including in achieving carbon-neutral certification, made the fund’s selection of Google Cloud an appealing strategic choice. 

“Everything we do at UniSuper revolves around one simple goal: helping our members achieve the best possible retirement outcomes,” says Sam Cooper, Head of Architecture at UniSuper. 

“With Google Cloud VMware Engine, migrating to the cloud is streamlined and extremely easy. It’s all about efficiencies that help us deliver highly competitive fees for our members.” 

“UniSuper is accelerating toward unleashing the true potential of a cloud-first strategy,” said Alister Dias, Vice President, Google Cloud, Australia and New Zealand. “This commitment to digital transformation will help UniSuper to not only serve its customers more effectively, but also scale its business more quickly than ever before.”

Investing in growth and innovation

To support UniSuper’s continued digital transformation, Google Cloud is also providing training and enablement to UniSuper employees, helping the fund upskill and attract the best industry talent. 

This will arm employees with knowledge and experience of the latest Google Cloud technologies, ensuring the fund’s workforce is poised to accelerate its future innovation ambitions and support further growth and scale.