Walmart and Microsoft form a partnership for the use of cloud technology.
Walmart said the five-year agreement will leverage the full range of Microsoft cloud solutions, including Azure and Microsoft 365, to make the shopping experience faster and easier for customers.
(Reuters)- Retail giant Walmart announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Microsoft for the broader use of artificial intelligence and cloud computing technology, in a sign that Amazon.com's main rivals are joining forces.
Walmart said the five-year agreement will leverage the full range of Microsoft cloud solutions, including Azure and Microsoft 365, to make the shopping experience faster and easier for customers.
As part of the partnership, engineers from the retailer and Microsoft will collaborate to migrate a significant portion of walmart.com and samsclub.com to Azure, Walmart added.
While Walmart is doubling down on its e-commerce presence to better compete with Amazon, Microsoft has been working on technology to eliminate cashiers and checkout lines in stores, Reuters reported last month.
Microsoft's technology aims to help retailers keep pace with Amazon Go, the highly automated store format from the US giant.
Through the partnership, Walmart plans to defend itself against Amazon's ambitions in retail and its expertise in data, enhancing its online presence.
By Rishika Chatterjee in Bengaluru