Text-to-speech technology helps produce more audiobooks for people who are blind or have low vision
Lina Dong —the first blind person to be certified as a broadcaster in China — is now using her voice to create high-qulity audiobooks with the help of Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services’ new text-to-speech capability.
Read our top Asia Pacific customer and partner stories across key vertical sectors
Manufacturing
Digital technologies are transforming the face of manufacturing across Asia Pacific. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, mixed reality, edge computing, and the Internet of Things are empowering organizations at all levels. This is producing exciting new business outcomes through increased security, productivity, and efficiency.
Toyota
Embracing change for continuous improvement has always been one of Toyota’s key values. With Microsoft HoloLens 2, Toyota could create four mixed reality environments using Azure and Dynamics 365 which can help them improve repair quality, provide innovative training for technicians, and encourage collaboration.
BlueScope
Collaborating with Microsoft’s global team of data and analytics engineers, and specialist data and AI partner, Versor, BlueScope Australia has undertaken a root and branch transformation of its data and analytics services to meet the company’s current and future needs.
Financial Services
Digital economies are evolving at pace. And financial institutions of all sizes and scope are facing challenges including higher customer expectations, drawbacks from legacy systems, dangers of cybercrime, and complexities of new regulatory environments. Technology helps transform customer experiences, optimize operational efficiencies, and tap new revenue streams.
UnionBank
Having moved its operations and services remote, UnionBank, one of Philippines’ largest banks, successfully introduced automation to its Treasury & Investments Channel Management with Microsoft Power Automate.
Aware Super
Managing the retirement savings of more than 1 million Australians, Aware Super’s new platform leveraged Microsoft Azure and an array of data services including Azure Machine Learning to model and compare complex scenarios, and improve governance and security.
Healthcare
Providing affordable and accessible healthcare is a key challenge for Asia Pacific countries. Organizations, professionals, and policymakers are using digital solutions to guide treatment choices, deliver better diagnoses, optimize clinical trials, accelerate drug development, and streamline administration. Technology and the information it provides also empowers patients.
National University Health System
Researchers at Singapore’s National University Health System (NUHS) are now exploring the mixed-reality capabilities of Microsoft HoloLens 2 to give neurosurgeons an augmented 3D view of a patient’s brain during surgery. This view enables the surgeon to “look” through skull and brain tissue.
Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
To avoid increased IT costs of constantly backing up large quantities of critical patient data, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board transitioned to Azure Blob where their improved immunity to disruption and abilities to protect patient data allowed them to deliver better services.
Retail
Consumers are becoming more demanding as the digital economy generates greater choice. They also expect higher levels of personalized service. To meet this need, retailers are turning to technologies to boost their businesses. By leveraging data and deploying new systems, they can better understand what their customers want.
Flight Centre Travel Group
Impacted by border closures during the pandemic, global travel industry leader Flight Centre Travel Group was determined to digitally transform. Since the start of their five-year partnership with Microsoft for Azure and 365 solutions, they have been able to drive operational efficiencies while continuing to invest in future growth drivers.
Myntra
Fashion e-commerce company, Myntra, is using Azure Machine Learning and data to gain insight into consumer demands, leading to a successful End of Reason Sale despite COVID-19’s disruption to the industry. Myntra continues to enable international and domestic fashion brands to cater better to consumer needs with the power of data.
Public Sector
Asia Pacific governments are turning to technology to help raise the well-being of their citizens, influence positive societal change, and bring new efficiencies to administration. Data and digital solutions are promoting efficiency, collaboration, transparency, and sustainability. Governments are also being empowered to better engage and connect with people.
Veritec
To reform waste material management in Australia, the Federal Government is requiring that businesses apply for a license from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE), before exporting waste glass. Working with Microsoft partner Veritec, DAWE rapidly developed a Dynamics 365 based solution to streamline the application process.
Human Resource Development Corporation
To keep up with rampant urbanization, Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation is undertaking one of Asia’s most ambitious transportation projects—a massive rail line extension. With Azure, their 1,500 engineers and construction managers will be able to complete the project seamlessly, on time and within budget.
Education
The world is changing fast. And so are the skills that today’s students will need to be life- and career-ready when they graduate and move into the workforce. Affordable and user-friendly technologies are empowering educators to deliver impactful and personalized learning experiences in the classroom and beyond.
Beijing Hongdandan Visually Impaired Service Center
Lina Dong — the first blind person to be certified as a broadcaster in China — is now using her voice and volunteering at Beijing Hongdandan Visually Impaired Service Center to generate high-quality audiobooks for students. Using samples of her speech, Custom Neural Voice, a new text-to-speech capability in Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services, generated a real-to-life voice that comes close to hers.
Pearson
To help Chinese students overcome challenges of learning English, Pearson is leveraging Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services capabilities to develop new AI-based services and improve the learning experience with its Longman Welcome to English program.
Other Industries
The rise of the digital age is transforming how we learn, work, and play. Breakthroughs in technologies – like artificial intelligence and the intelligent edge – are also changing how we do business. Organizations throughout Asia Pacific stand to reap significant rewards as they embrace new solutions and adopt new business models.
Nomad Go
Nomad Go wanted to use computer vision and AI to reduce carbon emissions of commercial buildings by using predictive intelligence that could optimize energy consumption. With the tools and expertise of Microsoft’s Co-Innovation Labs, Nomad Go’s engineers have successfully deployed its solution in several companies.
Euclideon
Leading 3D data specialist, Euclideon, has chosen Azure as the cloud foundation for its services to offer global ‘best in class’ 3D data storage, at a cost competitive price. Announcing a strategic partnership with Microsoft, they have further revealed plans to build the world’s largest geospatial data platform – featuring more than 100 petabytes of 3D data – all on Azure cloud.
