The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) has hired leading consultants Capgemini to deliver the critical technical framework needed to bring the dashboards to life as they enter a crucial “develop and test” phase.

The government-backed pensions dashboard programme is designed to deliver online pension hubs to millions of UK pension savers, giving them a single digital location to view all their pension savings.

Capgemini has been tasked with providing the pensions finder service, consent and authorisation service and governance register.

Capgemini will work with industry fintech Origo to build the central digital architecture for the system. 

The PDP says Capgemini was a successful bidder for the contract, “due to its quality and value for money, plus the credibility and expertise of both parties to deliver the contract.”

The awarding of the contract marks end of the first phase of the Pensions Dashboards Programme.

The PDP says the new contract is a major step towards, “bringing pensions dashboards to life.”

The programme now moves into its develop and test phase. Next steps will include building the software that will make pensions dashboards work and testing the ecosystem, with volunteer organisations that have signed up to be part of the testing phases.

Richard James, programme director of the Pensions Dashboards Programme at MAPS (the government-run Money and Pensions Service), said: “Today’s announcement of a digital technology supplier marks the moment when dashboards move off the drawing board, and become real. 

“I’m delighted to partner with Capgemini and Origo, who really impressed us with the quality of their bid; and whose deep pensions industry expertise coupled with extensive experience of delivering major programmes makes them superb partners for the programme. PDP now formally moves into its delivery phase, and I am looking forward to working with our new supplier, and across the industry, to make a success of pensions dashboards, and enable individuals to take control of their retirement planning.”

Paul Margetts, managing director of Capgemini in the UK, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the digital technology partner to build the core architecture and support the significant milestone of bringing pensions dashboards to life. “

Anthony Rafferty, CEO of Origo, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Capgemini to build the core architecture of pensions dashboards and working with PDP to help deliver the service for the benefit of UK pensions holders.”

Pensions minister Guy Opperman said: “This is a crucial milestone for the dashboards programme, taking things to the next phase, where the concept starts to become a reality. We’ve already put in place the primary legislation needed to pave the way for pensions dashboards. Now the programme, in partnership with Capgemini and Origo, can start to implement the technical elements, bringing the delivery of the first functioning dashboards even closer.

“I have previously urged pension schemes to get their data ready for dashboards. My message remains – schemes should be improving their data quality as part of their preparations for participating. The clock is ticking and this achievement is yet another reminder that schemes must be getting ready to connect.”