44 integrators delivering complex solutions. These partners extend Microsoft’s capabilities, infuse their own IP and co-sell with us to create tailored, high-impact solutions. As a platform company, we rely on our partners to deliver industry specific solutions and capabilities to our customers, all built on the Microsoft Cloud. When we talk about the power of partnership to drive industry innovation, two great examples come to mind: Blue Yonder and Sitecore. With Blue Yonder, we’ve been partnering together to help customers across manufacturing, retail and logistics transform their supply chains and move toward intelligent, autonomous operations. Together, we’re delivering real-time visibility, predictive disruption management, smarter demand forecasting and optimised fulfilment. This means that when a storm disrupts a shipping route, a retailer can reroute inventory before shelves go empty. It means a manufacturer can anticipate demand shifts and adjust production before waste builds up. It’s about building supply chains that don’t just react – they think, adapt and respond in real time to keep businesses moving and customers satisfied. For example, the Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales and Services Company’s IT organisation, known as Coke One North America Services (CONA), is transforming operations for Coca-Cola’s largest bottlers across North America. By integrating demand, supply and production planning with Blue Yonder and migrating to Azure, CONA is unifying planning processes and pioneering AI-driven forecasting. This enables bottlers to anticipate market shifts, optimise production schedules and ensure timely product delivery. The Sitecore AI Innovation Lab is a joint initiative with Microsoft that empowers marketers to rapidly explore and validate AI-driven solutions for content and experience. The Lab offers a guided, collaborative environment where marketing teams work directly with experts from Sitecore and Microsoft. Together, they prototype solutions tailored to real-world challenges, such as automating content tagging, generating personalised copy at scale or streamlining campaign workflows. These innovations feed directly into Sitecore’s digital experience platform, ensuring that what’s built in the Lab delivers measurable business results: faster execution, more relevant customer experiences, and a clear path to AI adoption. These are just two examples of how we’re working with partners to turn bold ideas into real-world transformation for customers Where do you see this unfolding story taking Microsoft customers? What is the ongoing potential for innovation in the years ahead? KM: We are just scratching the surface of what’s possible with AI. What we’re seeing now is the beginning of a much broader transformation, one where AI becomes deeply embedded in how organisations operate, innovate and grow. The next phase is about building intelligent systems that are integrated across business functions and aligned to strategic goals. For those who haven’t started yet, the gap is widening, but there’s still time. With the right use cases, a strong data foundation and trusted partners, organisations can ramp up quickly and begin seeing results in a matter of weeks. The key is to take that first step. Once momentum builds, progress tends to accelerate. Looking ahead, AI will play a more integrated role in helping industries solve complex, cross-functional challenges. In EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW CONA Services, responsible for Coca-Cola's products across North America, improved production schedules by migrating to Blue Yonder on Azure Photo: iStock/DuxX
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