Boeing and Microsoft Strike A Deal to Advance Commercial Aviation Analytics Solutions in the Cloud

Boeing Co.

and Microsoft

revealed that they struck an agreement to create a cloud-based platform for aero plane's industry-leading portfolio of commercial aviation analytics tools. The two firms indicated that they would work together to transition several of Boeing's commercial aviation apps into the software firm's Azure cloud. Boeing said that its customers use its applications everyday to cut crew scheduling costs by 7 percent. As a result, the company expects to save hundreds of pounds of fuel on every flight. Its applications deliver digital navigational information close to 13,000 aircraft daily. The company stated that advanced airplane health solutions enable customers to use real-time data to maximize operational performance, fuel use, maintenance, and supply chain performance. Microsoft's EVP for global commercial business, Judson Althoff, said, "At Microsoft, we are focused on empowering organizations across industries to advance their digital transformation. Working with Boeing, we can help businesses across aviation to become more adaptive, innovative and intelligence-driven, including airlines, operators, suppliers, support, and service providers." Boeing VP of Digital Aviation, Kevin Crowley, said, "Boeing's expertise and extensive aviation data resources coupled with Microsoft's cloud technology will accelerate innovation in areas such as predictive maintenance and flight optimization, allowing airlines to drive down costs and improve operational efficiency." He continued to add, "Together, two companies that changed their industries are teaming up to accelerate the digital transformation of aviation through the use of analytics-based applications, cloud technologies and large-scale integration." While BA shares traded 0.85 percent higher, MSFT shares traded up by 0.96 percent on Monday.