IBM today announced the launch of a new Microsoft Practice within IBM Consulting, reinforcing their multi-year partnership to enhance business outcomes for clients facing AI, cloud, and security challenges. The practice combines IBM's industry knowledge with Microsoft's technology suite, including Azure OpenAI and Copilot, to facilitate digital transformation and competitive advantage.

"IBM Consulting is committed to our clients' successes," said Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting. This new initiative aims to "drive meaningful business outcomes" and maximize client success through collaboration.

The practice features more than 33,000 Microsoft-certified professionals, providing global reach and industry expertise across cloud, AI, and security domains. It offers transformation capabilities from strategy to implementation and enterprise-grade security.

Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer at Microsoft, remarked, "IBM's launch of a Microsoft Practice is a pivotal step in our shared mission," highlighting the collaboration's role in driving innovation and operational excellence.

The practice aims to create new solutions tailored to various sectors, including retail and financial services, building on recent offerings like IBM Copilot Runway. Frank Sweeney, Chief Information Officer at the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety, credited IBM for significant improvements in efficiency through Microsoft generative AI solutions.

IBM projects include over 14,000 Microsoft-related implementations globally, with more than 30 IBM software solutions available on Microsoft Azure.