The aim of the initiative is to grow sales over the next two years and "aid the rising number of organisations seeking to transform their businesses into social enterprises", said Capgemini.

Through the agreement the partners aim to help customers "unlock the benefits of cloud and strategically transform into social enterprises", using an "integrated step-by-step approach that helps organisations re-envision customer experience, operational processes and business models".

In retail, Capgemini recently launched CustomerConnect Retail, a Capgemini offering built on the Salesforce platform to help retailers better understand their customers.

It works by drawing data from multiple customer touch points to create a single view, and provide a more personalised, customer-centric service in real-time, said Capgemini. The system uses agile techniques and a cloud computing model that is scalable across multiple channels, whether in-store, online or via social media.

Capgemini is to invest in Salesforce training and certifications to build on its current CRM, enterprise architecture and cloud practices, and expand the number of its dedicated Salesforce.com Centres of Excellence. It will also develop sector-specific solutions for segments including telecommunications and financial services around customer engagement, and service and retention.