OILSANDS: Suncor speeds digital transformation with Microsoft alliance

[caption id="attachment_1003731692" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Suncor and Microsoft are finding new ways to improve operations. (Image: FreeArt.com)[/caption] ALBERTA – Suncor Energy of Calgary has announced a multi-year strategic alliance with Microsoft Canada as the energy company accelerates its digital transformation. Microsoft will be Suncor’s cloud provider, allowing the company to tap into the full range of Microsoft’s solutions to create a connected and collaborative workforce. The two companies will collaborate on innovation products, drawing on expertise and opportunities from both organizations. Suncor will move towards cloud-based computing with Microsoft Azure as a preferred cloud platform. The move to Azure is expected to enable the rapid deployment of new technologies to improve safety and productivity through artificial intelligence, machine learning, enhanced automation, and Industrial IoT (IIoT) and visualization. Suncor president and CEO Mark Little said, “This is an example of how we are driving to improve our business in ways that were not possible before – to make our people safer, increase reliability and productivity, reduce costs and improve sustainability. “Although we are an industry leader in many respects, we still have much to learn in the digital space, which is why we’re working with a number of organizations including Microsoft to challenge us,” he said. “Similar to how we partner with and learn from innovators across our physical value chain, we’re choosing to partner with the experts in digital innovation.” Learn about Suncor’s oilsands operations – as well as its adoption of renewable energy – at www.Suncor.com/about-us/oil-sands.