Madrid-based global energy company Repsol and Microsoft have signed a strategic alliance that will allow the Spanish company to continue advancing in its digitization process while allowing Microsoft to further develop innovative solutions for the energy industry.
The agreement was signed by Repsol’s Chief Executive Officer, Josu Jon Imaz, and the CEO of Microsoft Spain, Pilar López, who was accompanied by Jean-Philippe Courtois, Executive Vice President and President Global Sales, Marketing and Operations of Microsoft Corporation.
Repsol will implement Microsoft cloud technologies, such as the hybrid cloud platform Azure, which will allow scalability and ubiquity in both data storage and data processes. In the next three years, Repsol expects a significant part of its processing capacity to be located on intelligent cloud platforms, and the company will also adopt Office 365 as communication, collaboration and productivity solution for its employees.
The alliance includes the joint work of both companies in identifying innovative solutions for the energy industry based on cloud computing technologies, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), big data and mixed reality, among others.
Microsoft will provide Repsol with preferential access to a specialized multidisciplinary team with a high level of knowledge of the energy sector, as well as the experience of its R&D unit, Microsoft Research, to work on innovative projects. Microsoft will also provide information on future developments and technologies in beta phase to Repsol’s technical departments for testing and evaluation purposes.
The agreement also includes the creation of a Digital Projects Coordination Team that will manage the alliance between Repsol and Microsoft. This team will promote jointly initiatives of both companies and will identify specific business scenarios.
The application of these technologies, at the forefront in the digital field, will provide a competitive advantage and will make it possible to successfully address future needs. This team will also recommend proofs of concept and prototypes to evaluate the practical feasibility of innovative models in the areas of customer experience, talent management, operations and digital delivery of products and services.