In our Cloud Culture series, leaders from 12 countries share how they are solving the world’s most complex challenges.
Cloud technology plays a critical role in how organizations around the world modernize and transform. Equally important is the vision that business and technology leaders bring to the process. Our lived experiences, shaped by culture, traditions and values, often form the basis for innovation. Technology helps us realize our vision. In our Cloud Cultures series, leaders from 12 countries around the world share how they combine cultural influence and cutting-edge technology to accelerate growth and solve the world’s most complex challenges. Season 3 shows how Microsoft Azure customers in four countries are leveraging their shared strengths: the power of connectivity and the cloud to create solutions that bring people, ecosystems, and economies together for mutual benefit.
We’re excited to share some highlights from Season 3 that show how Azure customers are connecting 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 a specific episode.
Spain: Connecting communities through infrastructure, inclusion, and sports using Azure
Community connections permeate almost every aspect of Spanish life, and organizations such as Ferrovial, Grupo Social ONCE and LALIGA are using technology to deepen these connections. Ferrovial, a global infrastructure company, uses 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 spraying on railway tracks. Grupo Social ONCE promotes inclusion and social equity through various initiatives, employing 75,000 people, 60% of whom are disabled. For example, ILUNION Hotels uses cloud technology to automate operations and improve accessibility by extending access and use of AI to employees.
But in Spain, as in many other countries around the world, nothing brings people together like football. In particular, LALIGA is one of the world’s largest leagues and home to beloved powerhouse teams. For LALIGA, providing a premium experience to its 25 million fan base is a top priority. In this episode, LALIGA shares how it transformed its digital ecosystem to strengthen fan connections, strengthen the LALIGA brand, and deliver better player insights.
The league captures 3.5 million data points per game from 19 cameras on the field, tracking players and the ball every 25 seconds. Using Microsoft Azure Machine Learning and Microsoft Azure Databricks AI, this data can be quickly analyzed, processed, and transmitted to broadcasters to improve the viewing experience and clubs to improve team performance. Additionally, the Azure-powered digital platform allows fans to track real-time statistics such as “goal probability”, which calculates the exact probability of each player scoring in near real-time, vote for MVP, participate in LALIGA Fantasy games, and enjoy personalized experiences. Provides access to enjoy. Grew LALIGA’s social media community to over 228 million global followers.
South Africa: Preserving languages, promoting youth employment, and protecting wildlife through cloud and AI
South Africa’s welcoming spirit reminds us that change is possible. Organizations across the country are on a mission to bring together a mosaic of perspectives, experiences, and talents to pursue a balance of development and preservation. One example is how Lelapa AI, a startup that provides AI transcription, text analytics, and text-to-speech capabilities for African languages, including 11 languages in South Africa, is expanding access to information and helping preserve local languages . Another example is Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa, where leaders shared how they are using Azure to increase operational efficiencies and expand new learning pathways to 165,000 young people.
Keeping an eye on the future is especially important for conservation efforts. That’s why the Peace Parks Foundation has been investing for more than 25 years in balancing people and nature. In this episode, Peace Parks’ Chief Operating Officer Brad Poole and Information and Communications Technology Manager Wayne Brider take a tour of the game reserve and why it is particularly difficult to conserve wildlife across its vast territory, especially ecosystems that span the globe. It shows when you need to manage it. boundary.
To improve our ability to fight poaching and other wildlife crimes in these transboundary protected areas, Peace Parks is partnering with Cloudlogic to deploy Microsoft AI and Microsoft Azure IoT solutions in the wild. Motion-triggered cameras with AI-based image analysis can detect poaching activity and send real-time alerts to poaching response teams. Using Azure for centralized data storage of images allows custodians to cover larger areas with greater efficiency and transform previously slow and reactive systems into highly responsive, data-driven operations.
Chile: Pioneering AI solutions in energy, space exploration, and water conservation
Chile’s sustainable economic growth is fueled by the country’s vast natural resources and organizations that work hard to build broad international relationships. Renewable energy company Colbún is using Azure AI to create predictive models that help optimize plant maintenance and generate efficient and reliable renewable energy from a variety of sources, such as hydro, solar, and wind. And in the Atacama Desert, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is using AI-based data analytics to help astronomers study millions of stars, detect anomalies and discover new discoveries, such as Earth-like exoplanets. We are at the forefront of astronomy research.
The power of partnerships in Chile is also evident at Finca Casabermeja, a sustainable lemon farm located in one of the driest regions of the country. In this episode, Jairo Trad, founder and CEO of Kilimo, shares how he is transforming agricultural practices through innovative, data-driven irrigation solutions that improve water efficiency and agricultural productivity. Kilimo uses Azure data and AI technology to help farmers optimize their water usage by providing AI-based recommendations that leverage satellite, soil, and weather data.
AI applications use Microsoft machine learning and Azure cloud technologies to transform massive amounts of data into accurate, actionable insights for farmers. With Kilimo’s help, Finca Casabermeja was able to reduce water consumption by 12% without affecting crop yields. This has significantly improved operational efficiency, which not only enhances food security but also increases the economic stability of farming communities.
UAE: Enhancing human ingenuity in agriculture, sustainability, and industry with Azure
In the UAE, our history of ambition and collaboration is fueling innovation and growth. Organizations such as Pure Harvest Smart Farms, G42, and Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) are combining these characteristics with the region’s interconnected 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 is leveraging Microsoft’s robust security capabilities and responsible AI standards through Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty to solve complex challenges, such as improving health outcomes for over one million Emiratis.
At Emirates Global Aluminum, sustainability is a key goal, including leveraging the infinite recyclability of aluminum and pioneering solar aluminum production. In this episode, Carlo Nizam, EGA’s first Chief Digital Officer, discusses digital solutions, including leveraging Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) on Azure Stack HCI for on-premises containerization and unifying public and private clouds with Microsoft Azure local solutions. Share your innovation journey. , Microsoft Azure Arc for consistent management across environments. This setup enables efficient, flexible, and affordable large-scale AI use cases through generative AI that supports enterprise functions and safety initiatives and narrow AI that powers industrial processes. EGA’s AI-based quality monitoring system can now inspect 100% of all anodes in real time, down from just 2%, significantly improving quality control and efficiency.
EGA demonstrates how energy-intensive industries can achieve sustainability through human ingenuity and advanced cloud technologies, and sets the bar for the industry with its commitment to renewable energy.
Achieving success with cloud and AI
A unique cloud culture is born when we leverage our strengths, embrace change, and create new paths to success through technology. I am continually inspired by seeing people around the world bring their ideas to life with the help of Microsoft Azure. As we navigate the next era of digital transformation, we want to see more IT and business leaders helping their communities thrive at the intersection of technology and culture.
