IBM and Microsoft Deepen Strategic Partnership
IBM is strengthening its alliance with Microsoft through the establishment of a new Microsoft Practice within IBM Consulting. This move, announced on April 29, aims to help clients more effectively harness AI, cloud, and security innovations to achieve stronger business outcomes across industries navigating rapid digital transformation.
Aligning Strategic Consulting with Microsoft’s Technology Stack
The Microsoft Practice combines IBM’s consulting expertise with Microsoft’s technology portfolio, including Copilot, Azure OpenAI, Azure Cloud, Microsoft Fabric, and Sentinel. This integration provides business leaders with a unified approach to driving growth, reducing operational costs, and building long-term competitive advantage. The practice will mobilize over 33,000 Microsoft-certified professionals across IBM’s global footprint, supporting clients with innovation in cloud, AI, data, and cybersecurity.
“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,” said Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting. The initiative also expands IBM and Microsoft Experience Zones, allowing clients to explore solutions hands-on from strategy to implementation.
Driving Governed AI Adoption
A key innovation is the integration of Microsoft’s technology into IBM Consulting Advantage, IBM’s AI-powered delivery platform. This enables clients to deploy tailored AI solutions while maintaining enterprise governance and security standards. “IBM’s launch of a Microsoft Practice is a pivotal step in our shared mission to empower customers through cloud and AI technologies,” said Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer at Microsoft.
The Microsoft Practice will focus on building sector-specific solutions across industries such as retail, government, and financial services. It builds on joint successes like IBM Copilot Runway and IBM Consulting Azure OpenAI Services, which help clients operationalize generative AI. For instance, the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety used IBM Consulting’s support to deploy Microsoft generative AI solutions, streamlining case management workflows and improving caseworker efficiency.
Implications for Business Leaders
- Unifying AI and cloud expertise accelerates enterprise transformation.
- Industry-specific solutions are key to scalable innovation.
- Enterprise-ready AI integration improves operational efficiency.
IBM has delivered over 14,000 Microsoft projects globally and offers more than 30 IBM Software products on Microsoft Azure, providing clients with integrated automation and AI capabilities. Business leaders should assess how combining IBM’s consulting depth with Microsoft’s AI and cloud capabilities can streamline transformation strategies and reduce time to value.
