In the Cloud Cultures series, leaders from 12 different countries share how they are tackling some of the world’s most complex challenges.
Cloud technology plays an important role in how organizations around the world modernize and innovate. Equally important is the vision that business and technology leaders bring to the process. Shaped by culture, traditions and values, it is our lived experience that often forms the basis for innovation. Technology helps bring vision to life. In the Cloud Cultures series, leaders from 12 different countries around the world will share how they are combining cultural influences with cutting-edge technology to accelerate growth and solve some of the world’s most complex challenges. Season 3 shows how Microsoft Azure customers in four unique countries are using the power of commonality—the power of connectivity—and the cloud to create solutions that connect people, ecosystems, and economies for mutual benefit.
I’m excited to share some highlights from Season 3 that show how Azure customers are combining local customs and rich traditions with advanced technologies like AI, adaptive cloud, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to create more connected communities.
Go to explore specific episodes:
Spain: Using Azure to connect communities through infrastructure, inclusion and sport
Community connection permeates almost every aspect of Spanish life, and organizations like Ferrovial, Grupo Social ONCE and LALIGA are using technology to deepen this connection. Ferrovial, a global infrastructure company, is using an adaptive cloud approach and Microsoft Azure AI to build and maintain infrastructure such as highways and airports, including deploying sustainable solutions such as precision pesticide application on railway tracks. Grupo Social ONCE promotes inclusivity and social justice by employing 75,000 people, 60% of whom are disabled, through various initiatives. For example, its ILUNION Hotels uses cloud technology to improve availability by automating operations and extending access to and use of AI to their employees.
But in Spain, as in many countries around the world, nothing brings people together like football (soccer). Especially LALIGA, one of the biggest leagues in the world and home to beloved powerhouse teams. For LALIGA, providing a premium experience to their 25 million fan base is a top priority. In this episode, LALIGA shares how the transformation of its digital ecosystem has enriched fan connections, strengthened the LALIGA brand and provided better player insight.
The league captures 3.5 million data points per game from 19 on-field cameras that track players and the ball every 25 seconds. Using Microsoft Azure Machine Learning and Microsoft Azure Databricks AI, they quickly analyze and process this data and send it to broadcasters to improve the viewing experience and clubs to improve team performance. In addition, Azure-powered digital platforms give fans access to live statistics such as ‘Goal Probability’, which calculates the exact probability of each player scoring in near real-time, voting for MVP, participating in LALIGA Fantasy and enjoying personalized experiences. growing LALIGA social media community to over 228 million global followers.
South Africa: Protecting languages, promoting youth employment and protecting wildlife with the cloud and artificial intelligence
The welcoming spirit in South Africa serves as a reminder that change is possible. Organizations across the country are tasked with bringing together a patchwork of perspectives, experiences and talents in an effort to balance progress and preservation. One example is how Lelapa AI – a startup offering AI transcription, text analysis and text-to-speech capabilities for African languages, including 11 from South Africa – is expanding access to information and helping to preserve local languages. Another is Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa, where executives shared how they are using Azure to achieve operational efficiencies and expand new learning pathways for 165,000 young people.
Looking to the future is particularly important for conservation efforts. That’s why the Peace Parks Foundation has spent more than 25 years promoting the balance between people and nature. In this episode, Brad Poole, Director of Operations, and Wayne Brider, Information and Communications Technology Manager at Peace Parks, tour the field to show why wildlife conservation across large areas is uniquely challenging, especially when it requires managing ecosystems that span the entire the world. limit.
To improve their ability to combat poaching and other wildlife crime in these transboundary protected areas, Peace Parks is working with Cloudlogic to deploy Microsoft AI and Microsoft Azure IoT solutions in the wild. Motion-triggered cameras equipped with AI-powered image analysis can detect poaching activities and send real-time alerts to anti-poaching teams. Using Azure for centralized image data storage, rangers can cover larger areas with greater efficiency, transforming a previously slow and reactive system into a highly responsive, data-driven operation.
Chile: Pioneering AI solutions in energy, space exploration and water conservation
The growth of Chile’s sustainable economy is fueled by its vast natural resources and organizations that work hard to expand international relations. Colbún, a renewable energy company, uses Azure AI to optimize plant maintenance and create predictive models that help generate efficient and reliable renewable energy from a variety of sources, such as hydro, solar and wind. And in the Atacama Desert, astronomical research is spearheaded by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), which uses AI-powered data analysis to help astronomers study millions of stars, detect anomalies and reveal new discoveries such as Earth-like exoplanets.
The strength of the partnership in Chile is also evident at Finca Casabermeja, a sustainable lemon farm in one of the country’s driest regions. In this episode, Jairo Trad, founder and CEO of Kilimo, shares how he is revolutionizing farming practices with innovative data-driven irrigation solutions that improve water efficiency and agricultural productivity. Using Azure data and AI technology, Kilimo provides AI-based recommendations that draw on satellite, soil and weather data to help farmers optimize water use.
Their AI application uses Microsoft machine learning and Azure cloud technology to convert vast amounts of data into accurate and actionable information for farmers. With the help of Kilimo, Finca Casabermeja was able to reduce water consumption by 12% without compromising crop yield – a significant improvement in operational efficiency that not only increases food security, but also increases the economic stability of farming communities.
United Arab Emirates: Advancing human ingenuity in agriculture, sustainability and industry with Azure
In the UAE, a history of ambition and collaboration is driving innovation and growth. Organizations like Pure Harvest Smart Farms, G42 and Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) are combining these qualities with the region’s connected economy to achieve bold technological goals. Pure Harvest Smart Farms uses AI, machine learning and IoT to improve food security by growing high-quality, affordable produce in the desert. And globally, G42 leverages Microsoft’s robust security capabilities and accountable AI standards through Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty to address complex challenges such as improving medical outcomes for more than a million Emiratis.
At Emirates Global Aluminium, sustainability is central, leveraging the infinite recyclability of aluminum and pioneering solar-powered aluminum production. In this episode, Carlo Nizam, EGA’s first Chief Digital Officer, shares his digital transformation journey, which includes integrating public and private clouds through Microsoft Azure Local solutions, leveraging Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) on Azure Stack HCI for on-premises containerization. and Microsoft Azure Arc for consistent management across environments. This setup enables efficient, flexible, and affordable AI use cases at scale, with generative AI supporting business functions and security initiatives, and AI-enhancing narrow industry processes. EGA’s AI-driven quality monitoring system can now inspect 100% of all anodes in real-time from as little as 2%, greatly improving quality control and efficiency.
EGA is an example of how an energy-intensive industry can achieve sustainability through human ingenuity and advanced cloud technologies, setting the benchmark for the industry with its commitment to renewable energy.
Realize success with cloud and AI
Unique cloud cultures emerge as we leverage our strengths, embrace change, and create new paths to success with technology. I am constantly inspired by watching people around the world bring their ideas to life with the help of Microsoft Azure. As we move into the next era of digital transformation, I can’t wait to see more IT and business leaders enabling communities to thrive at the intersection of technology and culture.