Mexico’s Digital Revolution Gets a Push with Microsoft’s $1.1 Billion Investment

Global technology enabler and Cloud Computing giant Microsoft announced a strategic investment plan to drive Mexico’s Digital Revolution in 2020.

Microsoft announced the investment plans for Mexico in an official press release. The announcement comes a month after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadela expressed his vision to “power broad economic growth through tech intensity” at Davos WEF 2020. He had said that Microsoft will ensure that this economic growth is inclusive. Mexico is now part of this inclusive global digital revolution.

Mexico’s digital revolution roadmap includes Microsoft’s Cloud Services allocated from the local datacenters. These data centers will contribute to Mexico’s digitization and Cloud-driven development. In addition, Microsoft would also participate in developing a robust education and skilling program in creating thousands of jobs for Mexican youth.

Mexico’s digital transformation depends on projects applying AI, machine learning, automation and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Microsoft also announced an Advisory Board comprising of important CEOs shall participate in Mexico’s digital transformation.

Microsoft’s Technology at the Center of Mexico’s Digitization

Today, Microsoft is creating unique business-focused platforms. For example, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.

What is Microsoft Azure?

Microsoft Azure is an ever-expanding set of cloud services that offers computing, networking, databases, analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) services.

What is Office 365?

Microsoft Office 365 enables cloud-based productivity with email, collaboration, conferencing, enterprise social networking and business intelligence.

Other Microsoft products, such as Dynamics 365 and Power Platform are next-gen BI tools.

These intelligent business applications would enable Mexican organizations to grow, evolve and transform to meet the needs of customers and capture new opportunities.

Read Also: How Companies Legally Harvest Your Data (And How To Stop Them)

Message from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadela 

Satya Nadela addressed the Mexican government via a recorded video link. Satya said,

“In a world where every aspect of our life is being transformed by Computing, we have an unprecedented opportunity to apply digital technology to create opportunities in Mexico. To help make every small business productive, every MNC in Mexico more competitive, creating more jobs– every government institution more efficient and improving education and healthcare outcomes.”

Satya shared how his last year’s trip to Mexico helped to create this investment fund for the country.

He said, “I met so many inspiring Mexican innovators. From local hospitals applying technology to improve patient care, Mexican MNCs leveraging the latest Collaboration tools to foster a completely new culture of work to manufacturing companies harnessing the power of AI to glean new insights and improve their Operations.

And today, I’m very excited that we’re announcing a new $1.1 Billion investment in Mexico over the next 5 years focused on enhancing access to digital technology for people and organizations across the country.”

Roadmap Ahead

New  Cloud Data Center

Microsoft will establish a new cloud data center region in Mexico. This would deliver its intelligent and trusted cloud services to serve Mexico’s public entities, organizations and Mexican society.

The company will provide access to Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. This data center region is an important part of Microsoft’s $1.1 billion investment plan in Mexico over the next five years.

Cloud Computing News: AWS Acquires a Powerful Data Exploration and Visualization to Boost Python & R Integration

Education, Skill Development and CSR

The plan also includes a robust education and skilling program. It will help in the creation of three laboratories and a virtual classroom, in collaboration with public universities to create an education platform for digital skills.

AI will be applied to create societal impact is an investment in the project “Artificial Intelligence to Monitor Pelagic Sharks in the Mexican Pacific Ocean” (Shark ID).

Shark ID will be focused on the conservation of Mako shark species, driven by Mexico Azul, as part of the initiative AI for Earth.

Microsoft is also engaging CEOs of leading industry companies evolving in their digital transformation to be part of an Advisory Board to identify the demand for skilling initiatives, share best practices, track progress, and improve employability.

At the time of this announcement, Oscar Von Hauske, Chief Fixed-line Operations Officer, Director of America Movil said —

“Telmex and Telcel in collaboration with Microsoft work on the digital transformation of their processes and systems, including the use of Artificial Intelligence, with benefits and efficiencies for their end customers. Together they also offer services to support the digital transformation of Mexican companies.”

Making Mexico a Global Superpower

Graciano Guichard, CEO El Puerto de Liverpool, added, “As part of Liverpool’s digital transformation strategy, in 2019 we changed the way to interact digitally with our customers through personalized electronic communication based mostly on Microsoft technology. This personalization initiative enables Liverpool to be closer to our customers, understand their needs and their life cycle so we can offer them what’s best for each one.  With this, Liverpool transforms itself to really become customer-centric and customer first.”

Enrique Perezyera, general manager Microsoft Mexico added, “In a decade where the digital transformation will undoubtedly open new opportunities and horizons, we are convinced that the announcement of this $1.1 billion investment plan represents how we remain true to our commitment to Mexico’s social and economic development. The new datacenter region in our country will provide intelligent services to help companies innovate in their industries. The skilling program not only benefits government institutions, businesses and society at large, it also shows the importance of Mexico as a leader in the adoption of artificial intelligence, cloud and other technologies in Latin America.”

Enrique shared, “Over the next 5 years we will invest in these and other initiatives including events to foster innovation and skilling for developers, startups, organizations in general. There is only one future, and it will be digital. Mexico is well-positioned to harness the power of new technologies, and by jointly working with Microsoft, the country will make this future a reality.”

With these announcements, Microsoft has ensured global technology democracy is something to really look forward to in 2020.