SAAQclic: French added “complexity,” according to a former IBM manager

Language was “a major challenge” in the development of the SAAQclic platform, as much of the work was carried out in India, according to a former IBM manager.

Martine Gagné continued her testimony on Wednesday morning before the Gallant Commission, which is investigating the setbacks in the technological transformation of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

Gagné mentioned that the pool of French-speaking employees in the province who could lead the company’s IT project was limited. According to her, due to the significant amount of development work required for the project, there was no “availability on the market in French in Quebec.”

The consortium formed by SAP and LGS, owned by IBM, had no choice but to turn to resources abroad.

“The strike force came mainly from India,” said the IBM retiree.

This situation led to a translation challenge.

“French added a level of complexity. Having to translate specifications from French into English to send them there (to India), then having simultaneous translators, was quite something. We walked around the floor and felt like we were at the United Nations. Everyone was wearing headphones,” said Gagné.

“We had no choice because we didn’t have the necessary French language capabilities. It wasn’t easy for the team members,” she continued.

Commissioner Denis Gallant pointed out that the SAAQ’s tender documents clearly stated that “French was a very important factor.”

“We are bidding on a Quebec government project where (French) is the common language. Perhaps it was a mistake to underestimate it,” said Gallant.

Gagné assured that the consortium had taken the language requirements into account and had estimated the associated costs.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews