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Amazon Foes Walmart and Microsoft Deepen Tech Partnership
Walmart and Microsoft Join Forces in Battle Against Amazon
At first glance, Walmart's announcement today that it has signed a five-year agreement with Microsoft seems like it's just a major step towards boosting its lagging online growth. But it's really a battle cry against a mutual foe: Amazon (AMZN).
The agreement gives Walmart (WMT) access to Microsoft's 365 and Azure cloud computing systems across all its lines of business, migrating some of its apps and websites to Azure. The retail giant plans to build out a worldwide Internet of Things platform with Microsoft (MSFT), connecting its stores and shipping systems to streamline its supply chain. But it's also likely to break down sales-data silos to better recommend products.
[...] In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the companies' shared rivalry with Amazon "is absolutely core to this." While Walmart is interested in cashierless checkout systems, it is pursuing its own solutions rather than using Microsoft's technology.
Is this really going to bring down Amazon or will they help bring down Walmart (ask Ford and Nokia, etc, how great it is to partner up with Microsoft).
Submitted by stupid tablet.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by stormreaver on Wednesday July 18 2018, @11:56AM
This may be the best thing to happen to small businesses since Walmart started dominating local retain. With Microsoft participating in Walmart's I.T., small businesses will finally have an opportunity to up their game while Walmart disintegrates from the inside.