At Microsoft, our customers are the reason we create, innovate and push the boundaries of technology. They are leaders in their field and shape the future with their ingenuity and determination to make a difference. Our customers inspire us every day and their stories are proof that technology can impact the real world. This blog marks
At Microsoft, our customers are the reason we create, innovate and push the boundaries of technology. They are leaders in their field and shape the future with their ingenuity and determination to make a difference. Our customers inspire us every day and their stories are proof that technology can impact the real world.
This blog is the first in a series celebrating the incredible work our customers are doing with Microsoft Azure. These organizations are setting new standards for innovation, from using artificial intelligence to transform healthcare to using data insights to streamline operations. Through their journeys, we hope to inspire others to harness the power of cloud technology in their own transformations.
Supporting innovation in healthcare with artificial intelligence
A leader in global healthcare for nearly a century, Novo Nordisk is committed to improving the lives of patients with chronic diseases. However, developing high-quality medicine is a resource-intensive endeavor that requires collaboration across Novo Nordisk. To expand the range of discovery, development and data science capabilities, Novo Nordisk has leveraged its culture of innovation to deliver the next generation of medicine with the help of Azure AI.
Novo Nordisk uses AI and machine learning to accelerate drug discovery. By applying advanced AI models in the cloud, scientists and computational biologists can analyze large volumes of data from clinical trials and research findings to accelerate the development of new treatments. Novo Nordisk and Microsoft Research have even jointly developed an algorithm that can detect cardiovascular risk in patients better than the best clinical standards.
This innovative approach doesn’t just make a difference for individual patients – it has the potential to reshape the entire healthcare industry. By using artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of life-changing treatments and deliver more personalized care, Novo Nordisk is setting a new standard for what is possible when human curiosity and technology come together.
Building the future of accelerated scientific discovery of consumer goods
As one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, Unilever is known for its quality brands including Dove, TRESemmé, Omo, Degree, Hellmann’s and Ben & Jerry’s. Whether it’s cleaning, beauty or other consumer products, each area requires the latest scientific breakthroughs to improve the products that more than 3.4 billion people use every day. They are now using cloud-based simulations to enhance their lab experiments.
Unilever can discover scientific information using natural language and run thousands of computational simulations in the time it would take to run dozens of laboratory experiments. Unilever scientists can then use the data obtained from these simulations to fine-tune models that project tens of thousands of materials or allow the exploration of complex chemical reactions at considerable speed.
This drive to innovate was part of a larger transformation journey that includes one of the largest cloud migrations in the consumer goods industry. Unilever’s story shows that with the right technology, scientific discovery can be accelerated, helping to bring better products to consumers around the world.
Improving the customer experience through an adaptive cloud approach in retail
In the world of retail, staying ahead means delivering experiences that resonate with customers – something Coles Supermarkets understands well. As one of Australia’s largest retail chains, Coles is constantly looking for ways to better serve its customers while operating more efficiently in a growing technology environment. A key part of their strategy has been to adopt an adaptive cloud approach that allows them to innovate in the cloud while maintaining stability and control over their existing on-premise environment.
This hybrid infrastructure allows Coles to have the best of both worlds. They can continue to use their on-premises systems for mission-critical workloads while gaining the agility and scalability of the cloud for advanced data analytics and innovation. By analyzing shopping patterns through cloud data insights, they can tailor promotions and recommendations to meet individual needs, creating a more personalized shopping experience for their customers.
At the same time, the flexibility of the cloud helps Coles to streamline their supply chain operations and ensure products are available when and where customers need them. This adaptive approach allows them to respond quickly to changes in demand, keeping shelves stocked and customers happy, even during peak times.
Coles’ hybrid strategy highlights the importance of flexibility in modern retail. It shows how retailers can use a combination of cloud and on-premises capabilities to not only improve operational efficiency, but also build lasting relationships with their customers. In a competitive market, this ability to adapt and innovate while maintaining a strong foundation is key to building loyalty and trust.
Optimizing operations and customer satisfaction in travel and transportation
The travel industry has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, making operational efficiency more critical than ever. For Swiss International Airlines (SWISS), one of Europe’s leading airlines, this meant finding ways to adapt quickly while maintaining the highest standards of customer service. In addition to these industry challenges, SWISS was struggling with end-of-life support for their two costly on-premises data centers. A key part of their strategy was to modernize their infrastructure using cloud technology to integrate and streamline their operations.
By moving critical systems to the cloud, SWISS was able to improve the coordination of planning and logistics and create a more unified and agile approach to their operations. This integration allows them to quickly respond to changes, whether it’s adjusting flight schedules or optimizing resources during rush hour. The flexibility provided by their cloud environment ensures that they can provide a seamless passenger experience, even in the event of outages.
In addition to improving operational efficiency, this approach has also enabled SWISS to maintain a strong focus on the customer experience. By integrating data from different touchpoints, they can better understand and anticipate passenger needs and offer more personalized and reliable services. This allows the airline to quickly adapt to changing customer expectations and deliver seamless and addictive experiences that passengers value.
The SWISS journey shows how cloud technology can be a catalyst for resilience and growth, even in a highly dynamic industry. Through the use of digital tools and the use of data insights, they were able to navigate change, improve efficiency and continue to meet the evolving needs of their customers. Their story serves as a powerful example of how innovation in data and technology can help businesses adapt and thrive, even in the face of uncertainty.
Inspiration for the next wave of digital transformation with Azure
Across industries, these stories share a common theme: the power of data and AI to transform every individual, every business process, and every organization.
And their examples are just the beginning. As more organizations embrace the power of AI and data, we look forward to seeing how they continue to transform their industries – and the world around us. At Microsoft, it remains our commitment to provide the tools and support they need to thrive and ensure that technology is always a force for good.
We invite you to explore these customer stories in detail and consider how Azure can power your organization’s digital journey. Stay tuned for more stories celebrating our customers’ successes and the impact they’re making.