The Coca-Cola Company and Microsoft have announced a five-year strategic partnership to align Coca-Cola’s core technology strategy systemwide, enabling the adoption of leading-edge technology and fostering innovation and productivity.
The partnership will involve the two companies experimenting with new technology like Azure OpenAI Service to develop innovative generative AI use cases across various business functions. This includes testing how Copilot for Microsoft 365 could help improve workplace productivity.
Coca-Cola has migrated all its applications to Microsoft Azure and is currently exploring the use of GenAI-powered digital assistants on Azure OpenAI Service to help employees improve customer experiences, streamline operations, foster innovation, gain a competitive advantage, boost efficiency and uncover new growth opportunities.
As part of the partnership, Coca-Cola has made a $1.1bn commitment to Microsoft Cloud and its GenAI capabilities. The collaboration is a step in the company’s ongoing technology transformation, underpinned by Microsoft Cloud as Coca-Cola’s globally preferred cloud and AI platform.
Coca-Cola’s digital transformation has a focus on providing expanded access to Microsoft’s cloud and AI platforms, as well as solutions such as Microsoft 365, Power BI, Dynamics 365, Defender and Fabric. The company hopes to enhance efficiency and scalability while fostering innovation across the system.
Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Microsoft, said: “Through our long-term partnership, we’ve made significant progress to accelerate systemwide AI transformation across The Coca-Cola Company and its network of independent bottlers worldwide.
“We’re proud to support Coca-Cola as it continues to embrace the era of AI and looks to solutions like Azure OpenAI Service and Copilot to drive innovation across every area of its business.”
John Murphy, president and CFO of The Coca-Cola Company, also commented: “This new agreement builds on the success of Coca-Cola’s partnership strategy with Microsoft, showing our commitment to ongoing digital transformation.
“Our partnership with Microsoft has grown exponentially, from the $250m agreement we initially announced in 2020 to $1.1bn today.”
Neeraj Tolmare, SVP and global CIO for The Coca-Cola Company, said: “Our expanded partnership with Microsoft is an important next chapter in Coca-Cola’s journey toward a digital-first enterprise powered by emerging technologies.
“Microsoft’s capabilities help accelerate our adoption of AI to create incremental enterprise value.”
