From data deluge to data insight: Reaping the data dividend in retail

The retail industry in Asia has enjoyed healthy growth and remains a destination of choice for global retail chains. However, retailers are facing greater competition, higher operational costs and other challenges like slowing regional economies, high inflation and interest rates. 1Retailers need better insights in order to better manage their resources and connect with their customers.

Infographic: IT Leaders in APAC drive digital transformation

Every business needs to go digital to survive, and it goes beyond digitizing processes. IT leaders are taking the lead to transform and successfully operate in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Microsoft conducted an online survey for two weeks in October with 291 IT leaders from medium to large organisations in 10 markets in Asia Pacific to seek their views on their journey and the new future.

Microsoft survey shows 62% of IT leaders in Asia Pacific expect to increase spending on new technologies in 2015

A Microsoft Asia Pacific survey of 291 IT decision makers of medium to large enterprises across 10 markets in Asia Pacific showed that IT leaders in the region are leading the charge to harness disruptive technologies enabling their transformation to a mobile-first and cloud-first world. More than half of CIOs (53%) polled allocated 11% to 30% of their budget towards using new technologies and another 27% of respondents allocated more than 30%.

Building the ‘data dividend’ for citizens

In cities worldwide, a transformation is occurring, driven by the ability to pull insights from data. New research shows that government organizations worldwide stand to gain $206 billion in value over the next four years by connecting data streams, using new analytics tools, and delivering insights to more people.

Microsoft’s approach for the next urban decade

“The Next Urban Decade: Critical Challenges & Opportunities“ plenary discussion at World Cities Summit earlier this month focused on the current and future development of cities. Microsoft Corporate Vice President Worldwide Public Sector, shares her insight in this latest blog post, into how city leaders can overcome these challenge by taking a people-first approach to innovation that empowers citizens, businesses and governments.

Microsoft Open Technologies expands presence to China

Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc. (MS Open Tech), a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. dedicated to bridging Microsoft and non-Microsoft technologies, announced today the opening of a subsidiary in China, Microsoft Open Technologies (Shanghai) Company Limited — (MS Open Tech Shanghai).