Authored by Cyril Belikoff, this detailed post explains how Azure Accelerate brings together expert support, funding, and a unified set of tools to help organizations manage cloud and AI transformation efforts successfully.

Introducing Azure Accelerate: Fueling Transformation with Experts and Investments Across Your Cloud and AI Journey

Authored by Cyril Belikoff

Azure Accelerate is a simplified offering designed to accelerate transformation for organizations by providing expert support and investments throughout their cloud and AI journey.

The Imperative for Transformation

As technology reshapes industries, organizations increasingly rely on cloud, data, and AI solutions to create smarter operations, achieve better business outcomes, and enhance customer experiences. From global companies to startups, over 26,000 customer projects have already utilized Microsoft Azure engines such as Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate to unlock greater value at speed.

Azure Accelerate: A Unified Approach

Azure Accelerate is introduced as a new, unified offering, streamlining access to Microsoft Azure’s array of transformation resources. It combines:

  • Azure Migrate and Modernize
  • Azure Innovate
  • Cloud Accelerate Factory

This consolidation supports customers from initial planning through to implementation. Azure Accelerate delivers:

1. Access to Trusted Experts

  • Leverage Azure’s specialized partner ecosystem for deep technical guidance.
  • Choose to boost your project with the Cloud Accelerate Factory: a new benefit providing Microsoft experts at no extra cost for hands-on deployment support. This service covers deployment of more than 30 Azure services and helps get projects operational quickly, freeing your team to focus on customized and advanced aspects.

2. Unlock Microsoft Investments

  • Reduce engagement costs through Microsoft funding, including partner funding and Azure credits.
  • Microsoft also supports the long-term success of customers by offering upskilling for internal teams through free Microsoft Learn resources and tailored training programs with select partners.
  • Azure Accelerate accommodates projects of all sizes with no investment cap—from small migrations to large-scale initiatives.

3. Comprehensive End-to-End Coverage

  • Navigate the entire cloud and AI journey with robust, continuous support.
  • Begin with assessments using AI-enhanced tools like Azure Migrate for key insights.
  • Iterate through sandboxes and pilot testing (including funded proof-of-value projects).
  • When ready, build a secure and efficient Azure landing zone and migrate workloads at scale using best practices.

For those seeking technical best practices and proven methodologies, Azure Accelerate is supported by Azure Essentials, providing solution-aligned guidance from the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework, Azure Well-Architected Framework, reference architectures, and more.

Realizing Business Value: Customer Stories

Azure Accelerate and related programs have enabled various organizations to achieve tangible transformation:

  • UBS (Finance): Modernized infrastructure on Azure for improved agility and resilience, enabling quicker adaptation to regulatory and market changes while simplifying operations.
  • Médecins Sans Frontières UK (Nonprofit): Centralized their data platform with Azure SQL, Dynamics 365, and Power BI, resulting in optimized reporting, swifter emergency responses, and more engaged donors through timely insights.
  • Bayer Crop Science (Agriculture): Partnered with EY and Microsoft to build a generative AI assistant using Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search, delivering real-time agricultural insights to farmers globally and enhancing food productivity.
  • OneDigital (Consulting): Worked with Microsoft and Data Science Dojo via Azure Innovate to develop custom AI agents using Azure OpenAI and Ejento AI, streamlining research processes, saving significant personnel hours, and enabling consultants to provide more personalized client insights.

Getting Started with Azure Accelerate

Azure Accelerate is tailored to help organizations move quickly, innovate efficiently, and thrive in a cloud- and AI-powered landscape.

  • To learn more or begin your journey, visit Azure Accelerate or contact your Microsoft account team or a specialized Azure partner.

Azure Accelerate simplifies cloud and AI transformation with a focus on expert support, investment, and end-to-end project coverage.

This post appeared first on “The Azure Blog”. Read the entire article here