Microsoft Azure (Microsoft) Case Studies Anheuser-Busch InBev's Transformation into a Tech Company with Microsoft Azure

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	Anheuser-Busch InBev's Transformation into a Tech Company with Microsoft Azure Microsoft Azure (Microsoft)

Anheuser-Busch InBev's Transformation into a Tech Company with Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure (Microsoft)

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Machine Learning Networks & Connectivity - RFID
Applicable Industries	Consumer Goods Packaging
Applicable Functions	Human Resources Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Construction Management Inventory Management
Services	Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services Data Science Services
Challenge	Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), a global beverage company, was facing challenges in managing its technology platforms across more than 50 countries. The company had divided its business into six different zones, each managing its own IT processes, and had 16 corporate datacenters. This resulted in siloed information and operations, duplication of research efforts, and difficulty in embracing innovation company-wide. The company wanted to centralize its IT functions and move away from managing core infrastructure to focus on innovative services. Additionally, AB InBev was looking to develop a global analytics platform to gain valuable insights into the vast amounts of data harvested from each step in its manufacturing process. Read More
About Customer	Anheuser-Busch InBev, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, is a global beverage company operating in more than 50 countries on six continents. The company is known for its popular beer brands such as Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, Beck’s, and Foster’s. AB InBev is not just a beverage company, but also a technology company, using technology to drive commercial and operational growth and increase sustainability. The company has a Beer Garage in Silicon Valley and a Global Analytics Center in Bengaluru, India, where it pushes the innovation envelope. AB InBev is also involved in many better-world initiatives, focusing on sustainability and giving back to the communities. Read More
Solution	AB InBev chose Microsoft Azure as the platform to support its IT transformation. The company began by moving its IT operations to the cloud, breaking down data silos, and building a global analytics platform. It used application modernization and containerization strategies with technologies like Docker and Kubernetes to move applications into Azure. The company also shifted its legacy data warehouses to an Azure platform as a service (PaaS) environment using Azure Synapse Analytics. AB InBev developed a global analytics platform using Synapse Analytics, bringing together data from multiple departments. The company also made extensive use of Hadoop for big data analytics processes, Azure HDInsight service, Azure Data Lake, and Azure Blob storage. AB InBev also started pilot testing an RFID program in its warehouses using Azure Internet of Things (IoT) services including Azure IoT Hub and Azure Stream Analytics. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Machine Learning

Networks & Connectivity - RFID

Applicable Industries

Consumer Goods

Packaging

Applicable Functions

Human Resources

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Construction Management

Inventory Management

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

Data Science Services

Challenge

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), a global beverage company, was facing challenges in managing its technology platforms across more than 50 countries. The company had divided its business into six different zones, each managing its own IT processes, and had 16 corporate datacenters. This resulted in siloed information and operations, duplication of research efforts, and difficulty in embracing innovation company-wide. The company wanted to centralize its IT functions and move away from managing core infrastructure to focus on innovative services. Additionally, AB InBev was looking to develop a global analytics platform to gain valuable insights into the vast amounts of data harvested from each step in its manufacturing process.

About Customer

Anheuser-Busch InBev, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, is a global beverage company operating in more than 50 countries on six continents. The company is known for its popular beer brands such as Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, Beck’s, and Foster’s. AB InBev is not just a beverage company, but also a technology company, using technology to drive commercial and operational growth and increase sustainability. The company has a Beer Garage in Silicon Valley and a Global Analytics Center in Bengaluru, India, where it pushes the innovation envelope. AB InBev is also involved in many better-world initiatives, focusing on sustainability and giving back to the communities.

Solution

AB InBev chose Microsoft Azure as the platform to support its IT transformation. The company began by moving its IT operations to the cloud, breaking down data silos, and building a global analytics platform. It used application modernization and containerization strategies with technologies like Docker and Kubernetes to move applications into Azure. The company also shifted its legacy data warehouses to an Azure platform as a service (PaaS) environment using Azure Synapse Analytics. AB InBev developed a global analytics platform using Synapse Analytics, bringing together data from multiple departments. The company also made extensive use of Hadoop for big data analytics processes, Azure HDInsight service, Azure Data Lake, and Azure Blob storage. AB InBev also started pilot testing an RFID program in its warehouses using Azure Internet of Things (IoT) services including Azure IoT Hub and Azure Stream Analytics.

Impact #1	The move to Azure has made AB InBev more agile and flexible when it comes to application development. The company is now able to quickly come up with blueprints for new applications and get them to market. The cloud has also been a big factor in AB InBev's sustainability initiatives. The company has started creating line-of-business applications built on its newly developed analytics infrastructure. The company is also gaining better insight into connections between location and brand preferences, so it can make products available in different regions and different types of venues. AB InBev is also using Azure IoT services to precisely track the movement of inventory around the world. The company has transformed into a technology company, driving operational changes and efficiencies, and sparking discussions about new and exciting ways to move the company forward.

Impact #1

The move to Azure has made AB InBev more agile and flexible when it comes to application development. The company is now able to quickly come up with blueprints for new applications and get them to market. The cloud has also been a big factor in AB InBev's sustainability initiatives. The company has started creating line-of-business applications built on its newly developed analytics infrastructure. The company is also gaining better insight into connections between location and brand preferences, so it can make products available in different regions and different types of venues. AB InBev is also using Azure IoT services to precisely track the movement of inventory around the world. The company has transformed into a technology company, driving operational changes and efficiencies, and sparking discussions about new and exciting ways to move the company forward.

Benefit #1	AB InBev plans to consolidate its 16 datacenters down to 7 strategically placed facilities by 2020.
Benefit #2	The company is reaping benefits in each of its datacenters and is well on track to meeting its consolidation goal.
Benefit #3	The company is able to build solutions faster and start reaping the value right away.

Benefit #1

AB InBev plans to consolidate its 16 datacenters down to 7 strategically placed facilities by 2020.

Benefit #2

The company is reaping benefits in each of its datacenters and is well on track to meeting its consolidation goal.

Benefit #3

The company is able to build solutions faster and start reaping the value right away.

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Overview

Anheuser-Busch InBev's Transformation into a Tech Company with Microsoft Azure

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit