INDUSTRY WATCH
AI CAPABILITIES , POWERED BY THE MICROSOFT CLOUD , ALLOWED US TO UNIFY OUR SALES AND CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT STRATEGY .
Microsoft customers recently shared their Digital Transformation success stories as the company celebrated the third anniversary of the launch of its UAE data centres . Microsoft chose the UAE as its first destination to create hyper scale data centres in the region , and three years since their launch , Microsoft ’ s Azure locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have accelerated Digital Transformation across industries and proven themselves to be potent catalysts of economic growth .
“ AI capabilities , powered by the Microsoft Cloud , allowed us to unify our sales and customer relationship management strategy ,” said Mohammed Absar , VP Enterprise Systems , DP World , one of many stakeholders to tell tales of their organisation ’ s renewed ability to engage , empower , optimise , and transform .
A study by IDC predicts that the UAE Microsoft Cloud ecosystem , including partners and cloud-using customers , will generate new revenues of some US $ 27 billion over the next four years . And through the cloud , Microsoft for Start-ups MEA has invigorated entrepreneurship as never before . Its efforts include a partnership with Abu Dhabi Investment Office to initiate the GrowthX Accelerator programme that seeks to bridge the gap between corporates and tech start-ups , and the Highway to 100 Unicorns virtual-conference series that exposes business founders to the tech industry ’ s savviest experts to help new businesses build and scale . through the increased availability and performance of cloud services delivered from the UAE . During the pandemic , as part of a global skilling initiative , Microsoft empowered more than a quarter million people in the UAE to acquire digital skills .
The IDC study also highlighted the impact of the UAE Microsoft Cloud on job creation . Some 69,000 are expected to be generated in the UAE by 2024 , including 16,000 for skilled IT professionals .
Throughout their three years of operations , the Abu Dhabi and Dubai facilities have been at the centre of Digital Transformation programmes , supporting a variety of organisations , including Dubai Airports , DP World , Mashreq Bank , Emaar , Abu Dhabi ’ s Department of Culture and Tourism , dnata Travel Group , GEMS Education , e & and many more .
Etihad Aviation Group transformed its finance operations using Microsoft AI , including modernisation of its payment-inspection process using cognitive services . Frank Meyer , Chief Digital Officer , Etihad Aviation Group , said : “ We continue to benefit from the Microsoft Cloud as we make operational efficiencies and increase cost optimisation .”
Microsoft has also leveraged the cloud to skill the region ’ s youth , as well as upskill and reskill its professionals . The Microsoft Cloud Society has trained more than 300,000 IT professionals across MEA , and the programme continues to benefit companies
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