Optus has unveiled its deployment of a pioneering unified data platform, marking a significant advancement in its data and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The initiative, a collaborative effort with Microsoft, Tech Mahindra, and Databricks, is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.
The implementation has already yielded demonstrable benefits for Optus. Core operational processing time has decreased by as much as 50%, while data engineering pipeline development time has been reduced by up to 20%. The platform’s architecture is also engineered to support the rapid adoption of next-generation technologies such as generative AI and machine learning.
“Optus is thrilled to enable our people to use our data to make more insightful decisions with our completed migration to a unified data platform,” declared Mark Potter, Chief Information Officer at Optus. “By collaborating with Microsoft, Tech Mahindra and Databricks, not only will our employees benefit from a better user experience and reduced latency, but our teams now can introduce and work across some of the most advanced, cutting-edge technology available.“Our customers will also benefit, as this step towards the cloud will allow us to create a more personalised journey at every touchpoint they have with Optus. This is another great example of Optus empowering Australia’s positive connections.”
The transformation strategy involved the replacement of legacy, on-premises data warehouses with cloud-based solutions hosted in Australia. This resulted in a more consolidated data environment, reduction in latency, enhanced security and governance protocols, and scalable infrastructure designed to accommodate future growth.
Sarah Carney, National Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, commented, “It’s inspiring to see Optus leading the charge in APAC with a unified data platform powered by Microsoft Azure. This partnership showcases how organisations can unlock the full potential of their data and embrace cutting-edge technologies like generative AI to deliver better experiences for customers and employees. By leveraging Azure’s scalable infrastructure, Optus is accelerating innovation and achieving real impact across the region. Microsoft is proud to support this transformation.”
This unified data platform also provides Optus with the foundation to advance the adoption of technologies fueled by generative AI and machine learning. The integration of these technologies and the consolidated customer data enable Optus to deliver more personalized experiences through tailored service recommendations, prompt issue resolution, and targeted offers.
Harshvendra Soin, President – Asia Pacific and Japan Business at Tech Mahindra, highlighted the historical challenges. He noted, “Historically, enterprises had to rely on outdated on-premises technology and applications, which have hindered their growth and efficiency. We provided Optus with crucial cloud data warehousing and artificial intelligence capabilities with quick scalability and flexibility. Our efforts will further enhance innovation, security, disaster recovery and cost efficiency, and provide business continuity opportunities for telecom enterprises.”
From an employee standpoint, the unified platform equips Optus staff with superior tools to enhance their performance and concentrate on strategic tasks, reducing time spent on data gathering. The platform promotes teamwork, innovation, improved problem-solving, and fosters a cohesive work environment.
Adam Beavis, Vice President and Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand at Databricks, added, “Congratulations to the Optus team on its successful migration to the unified data platform, built on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. Now, thousands of business users can access the UDP for better, faster and more secure data to make data-driven decisions. This is a significant milestone in Optus’ data modernisation effort, and we’re pleased to be supporting its data and AI transformation journey. We look forward to partnering with the team on many more exciting data and AI use cases, including uplifting customer engagement with GenAI tools.”
The strategic move to the unified data platform promises to lead to smarter, faster, and more personalized services for Optus customers, while empowering its workforce to operate more efficiently and collaboratively. The company anticipates improvements in both customer satisfaction and employee engagement, bolstering Optus’s competitive edge in an increasingly data-centric landscape.
