Microsoft to sell GE’s Industrial cloud platform on Azure

Microsoft and GE are looking to speed up digital transformation for industrial customers as part of a strategic collaboration between the two companies.

A new partnership between the two firms will see GE’s Predix platform for the Industrial Internet available on the Microsoft Azure cloud for industrial businesses.

The move allows customers to have access to natural language technology, artificial intelligence, advanced data visualisation and enterprise application integration.

It will also enable customers to capture intelligence from their industrial assets and take advantage of Microsoft’s enterprise cloud applications.

Azure will offer Predix customers access to the largest cloud footprint currently available, in addition to data sovereignty, hybrid capabilities, and advanced developer and data services.

The companies aim to integrate Predix with Azure IoT Suite and Cortana Intelligence Suite along with Microsoft business apps in a bid to connect industrial data with business processes and analytics.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said: “Every industry and every company around the world is being transformed by digital technology.

“Working with companies like GE, we can reach a new set of customers to help them accelerate their transformation across every line of business — from the factory floor to smart buildings.”

GE CEO Jeff Immelt said: “Connecting industrial machines to the internet through the cloud is a huge step toward simplifying business processes and reimagining how work gets done.

“GE is helping its customers extract value from the vast quantities of data coming out of those machines and is building an ecosystem of industry-leading partners like Microsoft that will allow the Industrial Internet to thrive on a global scale.”

Earlier this year, GE partnered with Oracle on a new platform which aims to help companies digitally connect industrial assets globally.

Last month, GE chose Paris to set out its industrial IOT vision as it targets $15bn in digital industrial revenue within five years.