Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Search

BAT Expands ITC Infotech Partnership Across Poland, Romania and India to Advance AI

Aug.13
BAT Expands ITC Infotech Partnership Across Poland, Romania and India to Advance AI
ITC Infotech has expanded its multi-year strategic technology partnership with British American Tobacco (BAT), providing technology services across Poland, Romania and India while continuing to support BAT's newly launched Future Capabilities Centre in India and existing technology hubs in Malaysia and Mexico. The companies said the agreement will focus on AI-enabled innovation, technology capability building and greater operational efficiency. The partnership also aligns with BAT's broader Fit2Win transformation programme, under which the group is expanding the use of external technology and business-services partners to simplify its global operating model.

Key Points

  • ITC Infotech will provide technology services to BAT across Poland, Romania and India.
  • The partnership focuses on AI-enabled innovation, technology capabilities, end-to-end delivery and operating efficiency.
  • ITC Infotech will continue supporting BAT's Future Capabilities Centre in India and technology hubs in Malaysia and Mexico.
  • BAT previously announced the transfer of certain Information, Digital and Technology roles in Poland and Romania to ITC Infotech.
  • The agreement also supports ITC Infotech's European expansion, including stronger onshore delivery capabilities that can be used to support future regional growth.

2Firsts

August 13, 2026

ITC Infotech announced on August 12, 2026, that it has expanded its multi-year strategic technology partnership with British American Tobacco (BAT), under which it will provide technology services across Poland, Romania and India while helping advance AI-enabled innovation, technology capabilities and the transformation of BAT's global technology operations.

Under the agreement, ITC Infotech will also continue working with BAT to scale capabilities at the newly launched BAT Future Capabilities Centre in India and support the company's existing technology hubs in Malaysia and Mexico. The companies did not disclose the value or exact duration of the multi-year agreement.

AI Becomes a Key Focus of Expanded Partnership

ITC Infotech said the expanded partnership is intended to accelerate the transformation of BAT's technology landscape, with a focus on AI-enabled innovation, stronger technology skills and improved operating efficiency.

The companies also plan to streamline end-to-end technology delivery to improve speed, efficiency and service quality. Jean-Pierre Cussac, BAT's Global Head of IDT Services and Tech Delivery, said the partnership would help strengthen resilience, innovation and agility across BAT's technology operations while simplifying its operating model and managed services ahead of the next phase of digital transformation.

For ITC Infotech, the partnership also supports its broader expansion strategy in Europe. The company said it will use the agreement to strengthen its onshore technology delivery capabilities in the region and leverage those resources to support future growth. ITC Infotech Managing Director and CEO Manas Chakraborty said the mandate also marks an important milestone in the company's European growth roadmap and its decades-long relationship with BAT.

Poland and Romania Technology Roles Move to ITC Infotech

The agreement builds on a broader restructuring of BAT's global technology operations disclosed earlier this year.

BAT said on June 29, 2026, that it had expanded its partnership with ITC Infotech and was transferring certain Information, Digital and Technology (IDT) roles in Poland and Romania to the technology provider. The companies are also collaborating on BAT's newly launched Future Capabilities Centre in India and supporting existing technology hubs in Malaysia and Mexico to strengthen digital capabilities, innovation and agility across BAT's technology operations.

The latest agreement further defines ITC Infotech's role in that global delivery network. It will provide services across Poland, Romania and India while participating in a wider technology capability structure spanning centres in India, Malaysia and Mexico.

For BAT, the model reflects a shift in which parts of its technology capabilities are increasingly being delivered through a combination of strategic external partners and regional capability centres rather than solely through traditional internal structures.

Partnership Aligns With BAT's Fit2Win Transformation

The expanded ITC Infotech relationship also aligns with BAT's broader Fit2Win transformation programme.

BAT has said Fit2Win is designed to reduce organisational complexity, increase operating agility and embed digital decision-making while expanding the role of strategic external partners. ITC Infotech is one of BAT's key partners in the Information, Digital and Technology area.

When BAT outlined further Fit2Win changes in June 2026, the company said the programme was expected to generate approximately £600 million in annual cost savings by the end of 2028. That figure relates to the overall Fit2Win transformation and is not a savings target attributed specifically to the ITC Infotech agreement.

BAT also said Fit2Win-related changes are expected to result in a reduction of around 5,500 roles globally by the end of 2026, excluding the U.S., while approximately 3,500 roles are moving to strategic partners.

By expanding its relationship with ITC Infotech, BAT is integrating AI adoption, digital capability building, technology-service simplification and external partnerships into its wider global operating transformation. The multi-year agreement indicates that the relationship is moving beyond conventional IT services toward AI-enabled innovation and a broader redesign of BAT's global technology operating model.

Follow 2Firsts for the latest developments in global nicotine companies, business strategies and market movements.

Cover Image source: investing

References:
[1] ITC Infotech secures multi-year technology deal with BAT
[2] ITC Infotech Strengthens Strategic Tech Partnership With British American Tobacco (BAT) in New Multi-year Mandate

Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
Philip Morris International has published its first report aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, bringing its electronics supply chain and the use and end-of-life stages of smoke-free devices and consumables into its nature-related assessment. PMI said its smoke-free business accounted for about 42% of total net revenues in the second quarter of 2026. The report says non-circular electronic products, particularly single-use items, can increase consumption of limited natural resources and also details an IQOS repair pilot. A 2040 circularity scenario tests assumptions including a 50% reduction in product waste-related costs, 10% raw-material savings and a 25% substitution rate for refurbished products versus new products.
Sep.23
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
KT&G announced on Aug. 13, 2026, that it has opened “lil Archive,” a brand exhibition space in Seoul showcasing the evolution, technology platforms and future direction of its heated tobacco brand lil since its launch in 2017. KT&G said lil now spans three major platforms — lil SOLID, lil HYBRID and lil AIBLE — with more than 30 dedicated consumables, and held a 48% share of South Korea's heated tobacco market in the second quarter of 2026. The opening comes as lil enters its 10th year, with KT&G continuing to position the brand for expansion beyond its domestic market.
Aug.14
Kuwait Tightens Tobacco and Nicotine Rules, Bans Under-21 Sales and Extends Public Smoking Restrictions to Vapes and Heated Tobacco
Kuwait Tightens Tobacco and Nicotine Rules, Bans Under-21 Sales and Extends Public Smoking Restrictions to Vapes and Heated Tobacco
Kuwait has issued a comprehensive new regulatory framework covering tobacco, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and other nicotine products. Ministerial Decision No. 237 of 2026, signed by Health Minister Ahmad Al-Awadhi, will take effect on January 1, 2027. The rules prohibit sales to people under 21 and ban sales through websites, apps, social media and delivery services. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products will also be treated as smoking in public and enclosed places where smoking is prohibited. Nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products not registered as medicines are banned.
Regulations
Aug.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
Philip Morris International's PMI Business Solutions Philippines has expanded its global business services hub in Makati and plans to add more than 80 positions. Established in 2021 primarily to provide finance and IT support to about 20 markets, the center now employs 519 professionals delivering roughly 600 services across 160 markets. Its functions now span finance, human resources, IT, commercial operations, data analytics, supply chain and project management. PMI says the hub's next phase will focus on AI-enabled and higher-value work. The company did not disclose the size or investment cost of the expansion.
Sep.24
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Asia Manufacturing Corp. has invested ₱2.1 billion, or about $37 million, in its manufacturing site in Malvar, Batangas, Philippines, to expand tobacco-processing capabilities. About ₱1.9 billion is allocated to JTI's first Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco, or DIET, facility in Southeast Asia, while more than ₱177 million has been spent on expanding its Controlled Atmosphere treatment facility. The Batangas plant supplies the Philippine market and exports to 22 overseas markets, making it one of JTI's key manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Sep.24
Altria’s USSTC Starts $250 Million Kentucky Expansion, Adding More Than 200 Jobs
Altria’s USSTC Starts $250 Million Kentucky Expansion, Adding More Than 200 Jobs
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, an Altria Group company, has broken ground on an approximately $250 million manufacturing expansion in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The roughly 270,000-square-foot facility is expected to create more than 200 jobs and absorb processing, manufacturing and packaging operations currently split between Hopkinsville and Nashville, Tennessee. USSTC previously said production at its Nashville facility is expected to wind down by early 2028. The project forms part of Altria’s broader effort to modernize and consolidate its U.S. smokeless tobacco manufacturing network.
Sep.10
Related Topics
Company
Related Read
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
Kuwait Tightens Tobacco and Nicotine Rules, Bans Under-21 Sales and Extends Public Smoking Restrictions to Vapes and Heated Tobacco
Kuwait Tightens Tobacco and Nicotine Rules, Bans Under-21 Sales and Extends Public Smoking Restrictions to Vapes and Heated Tobacco
2Firsts Perspectives
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
Altria’s USSTC Starts $250 Million Kentucky Expansion, Adding More Than 200 Jobs
Altria’s USSTC Starts $250 Million Kentucky Expansion, Adding More Than 200 Jobs
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Contact: info@2firsts.com
Stay up to date.
Submit your email to receive weekly newsletter on the most relevant news of the e-cigarette industry.
© 2026 2FIRSTS. All Right Reserved.
2FIRSTS is only accessible to industry practitioners, researchers, media and other professionals. Access by minors is prohibited.
This website provides services to users outside the Chinese mainland.
English
English
中文