IBM has announced the creation of a new Microsoft Practice within its consulting division. The initiative aims to deliver improved business outcomes for clients engaged in AI, cloud, and security transformations. This development is part of a multi-year collaboration between the two companies.
IBM's new practice seeks to meet the needs of businesses on their digital transformation journeys by integrating IBM's expertise with Microsoft's technology, including Copilot, Azure OpenAI, and Azure Cloud. The goal is to simplify processes for business leaders as they aim to grow, cut costs, and maintain a competitive advantage.
Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting, stated, "IBM Consulting is committed to our clients' successes and we're proud to offer them the opportunity of working with an ecosystem of global industry leaders with proven track records of innovation and delivery excellence." He emphasized the need for a dedicated Microsoft Practice to achieve meaningful business outcomes.
The practice will be supported by a team of over 33,000 Microsoft-certified professionals globally. Clients will benefit from cloud, AI, data, and security innovation with extensive implementation capabilities and comprehensive transformation services. Security and compliance are also a focus, drawing on the combined expertise of IBM and Microsoft.
IBM Consulting will integrate Microsoft's technology into its AI-powered delivery platform, IBM Consulting Advantage. This will enable clients to deploy AI solutions specific to their needs while maintaining governance and security. Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer at Microsoft, commented on the collaboration, describing it as "a pivotal step in our shared mission to empower customers through cloud and AI technologies."
The practice will develop innovative offerings and solutions tailored to sectors such as retail, government, and financial services. This builds on existing initiatives like IBM Copilot Runway, which helps clients use generative AI for growth and efficiency.
Frank Sweeney, Chief Information Officer of the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety, praised the collaboration with IBM Consulting, noting improved caseworker efficiency through Microsoft generative AI solutions.
IBM has completed over 14,000 Microsoft projects globally, including several with the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety. Over 30 IBM Software products on Microsoft Azure offer clients solutions tailored to their business needs.