Information technology provider IBM (NYSE: IBM) and shoemaker Ecco announced a partnership potentially worth over $12 million as the companies cooperate in infrastructure modernization.

On Tuesday, the companies jointly announced that IBM will help Ecco maintain its existing SAP systems and implement new modules to enable company to continue growing. The contract, which was signed late December, will span across 5 years.

Having a better and more integrated view of the entire business allows ECCO to better predict product demand, understand the financial implications, and respond quickly to meet it, said Jens Hassel a vice president at IBM.

The shoemaker has decided to implement a more flexible and modern version of SAP with several new modules including customer relationship management, supply chain management and supplier relationship management.

IBM Global Business Services consultants will implement and manage the new modules, while also supporting Ecco's current SAP installation.

Shares of IBM were down 75 cents, or 0.74 percent, to $100.07 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Ibm