When two tech titans walk into a digital transformation strategy, this might seem to be a really bad joke, but IBM’s and Microsoft’s serious play comes with 33,000 consultants. At a time when every enterprise hustles to install AI in everything from customer service to coffee machines, IBM’s new Microsoft Practice is no mere initiative in consulting. It’s a full on power play, designed to help organizations to take a leap into an AI-bright future.

In an endeavor that might trigger a better AI and Cloud solution adoption for enterprises, IBM has inaugurated a dedicated Microsoft Practice within IBM Consulting.  The new initiative strengthens the longstanding IBM-Microsoft partnership for a faster, smarter, and securer business outcomes for clients engaged in digital transformation in an AI-first world.

Integrated Method of Digital Transformation

IBM wants to make the journey more manageable for its enterprise clients who are feeling a lot of pressure from the outside to modernize operations and adopt generative AI. The new Microsoft Practice will pair the company’s deep consulting and industry skill sets with such Microsoft technologies as Copilot, Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Fabric, Sentinel, and Azure Cloud.

This is aimed to minimize the complex requirements of business leaders as a one-stop shop for AI integration, cloud migration, and security modernization, which at the same time ensures cost savings and possibility of new growth.

Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting said,

“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. Establishing a dedicated Microsoft Practice is needed to drive meaningful business outcomes for our clients and I look forward to what we will be able to achieve together.”

33,000+ Microsoft Certified Experts

A global pool of more than 33,000 Microsoft certified consultants across markets will be leveraged by IBM, backed by implementation capabilities from every major region. These will be complemented by IBM and Microsoft Experience Zones that will supports immersive solution design and hands-on innovation. Clients can expect:

  • Supercharge innovation through deeper domain knowledge in AI, data, cloud, and security.
  • End-to-end transformation from strategy to execution and continuous optimization.
  • Enterprise-grade compliance fuelled by the combined trust and scale of both technology giants.
  • Integrated delivery through IBM Consulting Advantage, now enhanced with Microsoft Copilot integrations.

This would mean customized solutions and quicker deployments while maintaining strict governance of the enterprise.

Specific AI Use Cases

Specifically, developing industry-specific solutions that cover most industries, including retail, financial services, government, and supply chain, will be the focus for the Microsoft Practice with respect to technology integration. This reinforces recent successes with products such as IBM Copilot Runway and IBM Consulting Azure OpenAI Services, which are enabling enterprises to responsibly scale generative AI. Frank Sweeney, Chief Information Officer of the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety said,

“Our work with IBM Consulting has been integral to our digital transformation strategy. The IBM team helped us implement key Microsoft generative AI solutions that have significantly improved the efficiency of caseworkers, enabling them to focus on what really matters—helping families.”

Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer, at Microsoft said,

“IBM’s launch of a Microsoft Practice is a pivotal step in our shared mission to empower customers through cloud and AI technologies. This collaboration unites experts to deliver tailored solutions that will drive innovation and operational excellence, to help businesses unlock new growth opportunities and accelerate business transformation.”

One such example is that of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, which has utilized Microsoft AI solutions, imported by IBM, to save time for caseworkers and enhance service delivery for vulnerable families.

This new Microsoft Practice is not merely a branding initiative, it is a strategic pivot that could create a fresh standard for enterprise AI implementations. Should IBM live up to its commitment to speed, scale, and security, there might be a rush from other consultancies to imitate this, or to attempt to compete.