April 3, 2023
(press release)
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Accenture, Microsoft and Unilever have completed one of the largest and most complex cloud migrations in the consumer goods industry. The migration has helped Unilever – whose 400+ brands are used by 3.4 billion people daily – become a cloud-only enterprise. Accenture and Microsoft, together with their joint venture, Avanade, worked closely with Unilever to deliver the transformation in just 18 months with minimal disruption to business operations. It has not only helped ensure resilient, secure and optimised operations for Unilever but also provides a platform to drive innovation and growth. With Azure as its primary cloud platform, Unilever will be able to accelerate product launches, enhance customer service and improve operational efficiency. Additionally, the move to Azure aligns with Unilever’s sustainability commitment by helping the company to build on the progress it’s making towards curbing carbon emissions. The creation of an agile, high-performing digital core that delivers greater efficiency will provide Unilever with increased computing power to explore new ways of working. Unilever’s adoption of a cloud-only approach will significantly improve business resilience, strengthening security and enhancing control of the IT landscape. Accenture, Microsoft and Unilever have set a new benchmark for cloud transformation in the consumer goods industry including: Steve McCrystal, Chief Enterprise & Technology Officer, Unilever said: “Unilever is a truly data-powered organisation. We're using advanced analytics to make better-informed decisions quicker than ever before. Working with Accenture and Microsoft on this global transformation project, we can respond to ever-changing consumer needs faster, allocate our resources more effectively to focus on what drives growth, and bring services and products to the market faster.” Nicole van Det, Senior Managing Director and Global Account Executive, Accenture said: “The path to business resilience now and in the future is through total enterprise reinvention – which involves the transformation of every part of the business – with cloud at the core. With access to the full continuum of cloud capabilities, including generative AI, Unilever has the elasticity to drive innovation faster, accelerate growth and continue to set the pace as a digital powerhouse and leader in its industry.” “Together with Accenture, we’re proud to expand our longstanding partnership with Unilever,” said Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Microsoft. “With Microsoft Azure as its cloud foundation, Unilever’s end-to-end digitisation will enable rapid innovation across its entire business. From embracing the industrial metaverse across its factories to reimagining how its lines of business can do more with tools like Azure OpenAI Service, Unilever’s digital-first approach will empower it to grow resiliently and exceed the industry’s pace of innovation.” Media Contacts About Accenture About Microsoft
Unilever
Press-Office.London@unilever.com
Accenture
Tara Burns
+44 7850 435 158
tara.burns@accenture.com
Microsoft
+1 (425) 638 7777
rapidresponse@we-worldwide.com
Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organisations build their digital core, optimise their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services – creating tangible value at speed and scale. Visit www.accenture.com.
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
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