IBM is deepening its strategic alliance with Microsoft with the creation of a new Microsoft Practice within IBM Consulting. Designed to help clients more effectively harness AI, cloud, and security innovations, the move, which was announced on April 29, signals IBM’s ambition to deliver stronger, measurable business outcomes across industries navigating rapid digital transformation.
Aligning Strategic Consulting with Microsoft’s Technology Stack
The Microsoft Practice will combine IBM’s deep consulting expertise with Microsoft’s technology portfolio, including Copilot, Azure OpenAI, Azure Cloud, Microsoft Fabric, and Sentinel. The goal: provide business leaders with a unified approach to driving growth, reducing operational costs, and building long-term competitive advantage.
“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. “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.”
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The practice will mobilize more than 33,000 Microsoft-certified professionals across IBM’s global footprint. This extensive network will support clients with supercharged innovation spanning cloud, AI, data, and cybersecurity, coupled with enterprise-grade security controls. It also marks the expansion of IBM and Microsoft Experience Zones, where clients can explore solutions hands-on, from initial strategy through to full-scale implementation and optimization.
Driving Governed AI Adoption Through IBM Consulting Advantage
A key innovation is the integration of Microsoft’s technology ecosystem into IBM Consulting Advantage, IBM’s proprietary AI-powered delivery platform. Through advanced Copilot integrations, clients can now deploy tailored AI solutions for diverse business needs while maintaining critical 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. “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.”
The Microsoft Practice will also focus on building sector-specific solutions across industries such as retail, consumer packaged goods, government, financial services, and supply chain. It builds on joint successes like IBM Copilot Runway and IBM Consulting Azure OpenAI Services, which are already helping clients operationalize generative AI to unlock new business value and enhance operational efficiency.
For example, the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety cited IBM Consulting’s support in deploying Microsoft generative AI solutions to streamline case management workflows. “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,” said Frank Sweeney, Chief Information Officer of the department.
To date, IBM has delivered over 14,000 Microsoft projects globally and offers more than 30 IBM Software products running natively on Microsoft Azure—giving clients seamless access to integrated automation and AI capabilities tailored to their specific needs.
What this means for ERP Insiders
Unifying AI and cloud expertise accelerates enterprise transformation. The creation of IBM’s Microsoft Practice reflects a growing demand for integrated AI and cloud services. According to IDC, global spending on AI-centric systems is expected to surpass $300 billion by 2026, while Gartner forecasts that 75% of enterprises will have adopted a digital transformation model built on cloud by 2027. Business leaders should assess how combining IBM’s consulting depth with Microsoft’s AI and cloud capabilities can help streamline transformation strategies and reduce time to value.
Industry-specific solutions are key to scalable innovation. The new practice will deliver tailored offerings across sectors like government, retail, and financial services—industries where legacy systems and regulatory pressures often slow progress. Research from Accenture shows that 91% of executives believe industry-specific AI solutions will create competitive advantage in the next two years. Decision-makers should prioritize consulting partners who understand both the technological landscape and the nuances of their sector.
Enterprise-ready AI integration improves operational efficiency. By embedding Microsoft Copilot and Azure OpenAI tools into IBM’s AI-powered delivery platform, the practice offers secure, governed AI deployments at scale. McKinsey estimates that generative AI could add up to $4.4 trillion in global productivity gains annually. Leaders should take advantage of pre-integrated, enterprise-grade platforms like IBM Consulting Advantage to safely accelerate AI adoption and drive efficiency gains across core business operations.
