Market Leaders Unite to Build Strong, Nimble, 
Data-Driven Businesses

20 June 2017 (Berlin):  A.T. Kearney, a leading global management consulting firm with offices in more than 40 countries, today announced the formation of a “Connected Enterprise” global alliance with Microsoft. The announcement was made at A.T. Kearney’s Digital Business Forum (DBF) in Berlin, an event bringing together executives and digital leaders at the world's most iconic corporations as well as tech pioneers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. The DBF’s assembled experts discuss digital transformation experiences as well as the ways in which they turned their digital aspirations into practical, sustainable, and transformational business solutions. 

The alliance is focused on creating value through building nimble, data-driven companies. A.T. Kearney’s strategy and operations insights, including foresight into new business and operating models, combined with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, will offer a fully-integrated vision and plan for companies to create competitive advantage. 

The Connected Enterprise will gather data (for example, via Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables); generate insights (via artificial intelligence and cloud data); take actions (through augmented reality and robotics) and deliver outcomes (using predictive analytics).

Commenting on the alliance, Arjun Sethi, partner, and Global and Americas lead for the Digital Transformation Practice, said: “We have teamed with Microsoft largely due to their roots as a premier multinational technology company when it comes to helping people and organizations realize their full potential. With our heritage as one of the oldest global consulting firms, we both share exceptional expertise and a desire to assist clients in their growth.” 

Victor Morales, vice president, Enterprise Partners, Microsoft Corp., said “A.T. Kearney’s experience in digital transformation, combined with Microsoft Azure’s broad portfolio of services and market-leading products, will help our mutual customers drive improved insights and outcomes as they digitally transform their enterprises.”

The Connected Enterprise aims to help clients optimize top-line growth and improve the cost and efficiencies of operations, spanning the value chain. Specifically, we will help companies:

• Innovate product and service offerings
• Enhance sales effectiveness and customer engagement 
• Optimize operations – inclusive of supply chain, manufacturing and back office
• Improve employee productivity 

The Global Enterprise is focused on partnering with clients to help them grow their business. The institutional knowledge of A.T. Kearney and Microsoft, along with digital capabilities and global experience, will enable both firms to move large organizations swiftly into the future.