Canadian Tire, Microsoft partner to drive retail innovation in Canada

Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) and Microsoft have announced a flagship strategic retail partnership aimed at revolutionizing the retail industry in Canada and driving the country’s technological advancement.

Over the course of seven years, Canadian Tire Corporation will leverage the power of Microsoft Azure to modernize its systems and infrastructure. By gaining direct access to Microsoft’s trusted cloud products, solutions, expertise, and upskilling capabilities, Canadian Tire Corporation aims to accelerate its business modernization and enhance the omnichannel journey and brand experiences for customers across its group of companies.

Chris Barry — Microsoft Canada President said: “We are pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Canadian Tire Corporation, one of Canada’s most renowned retail brands that shares our mutual commitment to innovation and customer-centricity.

“This collaboration marks an exciting chapter for both companies as we join forces to bring new retail experiences to Canadians with the power of the Microsoft Cloud and AI.”

Canadian Tire Corporation modernizes systems and enhances customer experience with Microsoft Azure. Photo courtesy of Microsoft.

This partnership represents a significant milestone in Canadian Tire Corporation’s journey towards modernization. The collaboration with Microsoft will focus on three key areas to advance Canadian Tire Corporation’s business capabilities.

Firstly, Microsoft will serve as Canadian Tire Corporation’s strategic cloud provider, with a majority of the latter’s IT infrastructure being migrated to the Microsoft Azure platform. This migration will enable Canadian Tire Corporation to accelerate its data-driven initiatives, enhance speed to market, improve customer experiences, and deliver personalized offers.

Secondly, through direct access to Microsoft’s cutting-edge digital technology, expertise, and upskilling resources, Canadian Tire Corporation will modernize its systems and develop top talent to drive innovation and better serve the Canadian market. This access to Microsoft’s world-class digital technology will enhance Canadian Tire Corporation’s digital capabilities and enable the company to stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving retail landscape.

Lastly, the partnership will explore co-innovation opportunities leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning responsibly. These technologies will be harnessed to enhance the customer experience, optimize operations, and unlock new possibilities within the Canadian retail landscape.

By combining Canadian Tire Corporation’s deep industry knowledge with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning expertise, the two companies aim to shape the future of retail in Canada.

The collaboration between Canadian Tire Corporation and Microsoft signifies a shared commitment to transforming the retail industry in Canada.

By leveraging Microsoft’s cloud solutions and digital expertise, Canadian Tire Corporation aims to revolutionize its operations, improve efficiency, and deliver exceptional experiences to its customers.

The partnership also highlights the potential for responsible AI and machine learning applications to shape the future of retail in Canada, paving the way for innovation, operational optimization, and exciting opportunities within the industry.

Greg Hicks — Canadian Tire Corporation President and CEO said: “Canadian Tire Corporation’s partnership with Microsoft will enable us to further modernize our capabilities and systems, rapidly expediting our digital transformation and adaptability, a key component of our growth strategy.

“By combining our unrivalled understanding of Canadians with Microsoft’s cutting-edge technology and expertise –we will achieve greater stability and scale and unleash our collective expertise to drive exciting retail innovation not only at CTC but across Canada.”