- Vodafone and Microsoft to rework the shopper expertise utilizing Microsoft’s generative AI
- Vodafone to scale its new standalone IoT enterprise with Microsoft
- Partnership will increase M-Pesa to enhance monetary inclusion throughout Africa
- Vodafone to develop enterprise enterprise with new Microsoft providers for small and medium-sized companies (SMEs)
- Vodafone to speed up digital transformation and operational efficiencies in digital knowledge middle migration to Microsoft Azure
LONDON and REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 15, 2024 — Vodafone and Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday introduced a brand new, far-reaching 10-year strategic partnership that leverages their respective strengths in providing scaled digital platforms to greater than 300 million companies, public sector organizations, and customers throughout Europe and Africa.
By means of the partnership, the businesses will collaborate to rework Vodafone’s buyer expertise utilizing Microsoft’s generative AI; hyperscale Vodafone’s main managed IoT connectivity platform; develop new digital and monetary providers for companies, notably SMEs throughout Europe and Africa; and overhaul its international knowledge middle cloud technique.
Vodafone will make investments $1.5 billion over the following 10 years in cloud and customer-focused AI providers developed together with Microsoft. Moreover, Microsoft will use Vodafone’s mounted and cell connectivity providers.
Microsoft additionally intends to put money into Vodafone’s managed IoT connectivity platform, which can develop into a separate, standalone enterprise by April 2024. The brand new firm will appeal to new companions and clients, driving progress in functions and increasing the platform to attach extra gadgets, automobiles and machines.
The digital providers generated by the brand new partnership will use the newest generative AI know-how to supply a extremely personalised and differentiated buyer expertise throughout a number of channels. They are going to be constructed on unbiased and moral privateness and safety insurance policies below Vodafone’s established framework for accountable AI.
Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group chief govt, stated: “Right this moment, Vodafone has made a daring dedication to the digital way forward for Europe and Africa. This distinctive strategic partnership with Microsoft will speed up the digital transformation of our enterprise clients, notably small and medium-sized firms, and step up the standard of buyer expertise for customers.”
“This new era of AI will unlock huge new alternatives for each group and each business all over the world,” stated Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “We’re delighted that along with Vodafone we are going to apply the newest cloud and AI know-how to reinforce the shopper expertise of tons of of thousands and thousands of individuals and companies throughout Africa and Europe, construct new services, and speed up the corporate’s transition to the cloud.”
The businesses have recognized 5 key areas of collaboration:
- Generative AI: To extend buyer satisfaction, the businesses will apply the ability of Microsoft Azure OpenAI to ship frictionless, real-time, proactive and hyperpersonalized experiences throughout all Vodafone buyer touchpoints, together with its digital assistant TOBi (obtainable in 13 international locations). Vodafone staff can even have the ability to leverage the AI capabilities of Microsoft Copilot to rework working practices, enhance productiveness and enhance digital effectivity.
- Scaling IoT: Microsoft intends to put money into Vodafone’s new, standalone international Web of Issues (IoT)-managed connectivity platform, which connects 175 million gadgets and platforms worldwide. Vodafone additionally plans to develop into a part of the Azure ecosystem making the IoT platform obtainable to an enormous developer and third-party group utilizing open APIs.
- Africa digital acceleration: Microsoft intends to assist additional scale M-Pesa, already the most important monetary know-how platform in Africa, by housing it on Azure and enabling the launch of latest cloud-native functions. The businesses are additionally launching a purpose-led program that seeks to complement the lives of 100 million customers and 1 million SMEs throughout the African continent. The aim is to reinforce digital literacy, skilling and youth outreach applications, in addition to provide digital providers to the underserved SME market. The partnership goals to spice up monetary providers innovation, constructing a group of licensed builders.
- Enterprise progress: Vodafone will prolong its dedication to distributing Microsoft providers, together with Microsoft Azure, safety options and trendy work choices equivalent to Microsoft Groups Telephone Cellular, as a part of its technique to develop into Europe’s main platform for enterprise. This allows enterprise clients to deploy Microsoft’s cloud-based providers at tempo with low adoption and working prices, in addition to assist the estimated 24 million SMEs throughout Europe by way of the availability of a managed platform that grows with their enterprise.
- Cloud transformation: Vodafone will speed up its cloud transformation by modernizing its knowledge facilities on Microsoft Azure. It will enhance its responsiveness to clients, whereas simplifying and lowering the operational prices of its IT property. In consequence, Vodafone will have the ability to substitute a number of bodily knowledge facilities with digital ones throughout Europe, simplifying and lowering the operational prices of its IT property, in addition to lowering vitality necessities and serving to ship in opposition to its sustainable enterprise technique.
About Vodafone
For extra info, please go to www.vodafone.com, observe us on Twitter at @VodafoneGroup or join with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/firm/vodafone.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) permits digital transformation for the period of an clever cloud and an clever edge. Its mission is to empower each particular person and each group on the planet to attain extra.
For extra info, press solely:
Microsoft Media Relations, WE Communications for Microsoft, (425) 638-7777, [email protected]
Vodafone Group Media Relations, [email protected]
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