Banco Santander has partnered with Microsoft Corp. as a preferred strategic cloud provider to enable the bank’s digital transformation. Both companies announced today a multi-year global partnership that will help the bank drive its digital innovation and increase operational efficiency using a wide range of cloud solutions, including Microsoft Azure, Data, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Services.
Santander is transitioning its IT infrastructure towards a multi-cloud environment, with global platforms supported by agile methodologies, helping to accelerate the Group’s technological transformation.
Dirk Marzluf, head of Technology & Operations at Banco Santander, said: “We firmly believe that through successful, customer focused innovation we can earn greater loyalty by improving and personalising customers experiences, while also becoming more agile and efficient. Technology is a key enabler to the success of our business and Microsoft is a strong partner who will help us achieve our vision.”
Tom Keane, corporate vice president of Azure Global at Microsoft, said: “Our partnership with Santander comes at a transformative time for financial services, which is pivoting to digital quickly in response to industry-wide changes. We are looking forward to deepening our cloud engagement with Santander as the company continues to drive digital innovation across its global operations.”
Cloud as the lever to accelerate innovation
As part of the partnership, Microsoft will work with Santander to extend the bank’s cloud capabilities across its markets, driving the creation of cloud native applications and developing new and innovative banking solutions, while extending current applications with new intelligent capabilities. In addition, Microsoft will support the delivery of Azure training and certification programs to employees.
Microsoft Azure provides Santander with the agility, scale and intelligent technology required to bring new products to market quicker and address customer needs with higher flexibility through distribution channels and optimized internal operations.
Santander can leverage Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to security, compliance, privacy and transparency. Further, Microsoft’s Financial Services Compliance program – which allows banking firms and regulators to examine Microsoft cloud systems, services and processes – provides reassurance of Microsoft’s cloud operations compliance with regulatory requirements to enable Santander to gain the required flexibility to compete while preserving its customers’ privacy and trust.
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