Seven-year agreement to revolutionize retail
operations and brand experiences across Canadian Tire
Corporation's group of companies
TORONTO, June 22,
2023 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) and
Microsoft announced a flagship strategic retail partnership to
drive innovation across Canada's
retail industry and contribute to the country's overall advancement
and adoption of new technology. Through this seven-year
partnership, CTC will leverage Microsoft Azure to modernize its
systems and infrastructure and utilize direct access to Microsoft's
trusted cloud products and solutions, expertise, and upskilling
capabilities. CTC will use these new abilities to increase the
speed and efficiency of its business modernization, enhancing
customers' omnichannel journey and brand experiences across its
group of companies.
This strategic partnership with Microsoft marks a major
milestone in Canadian Tire Corporation's modernization journey. The
two companies will partner to advance business capabilities through
three core areas:
- Provide a trusted platform to enable flexibility and
scalability to drive growth: Microsoft will become CTC's
strategic cloud provider, with CTC migrating the majority of its IT
infrastructure onto the Microsoft Azure platform. The migration
will allow CTC to accelerate its data-driven journey, speed to
market, enhancement of customer experience and personalized
offers.
- Enhance digital capabilities: Direct access to
Microsoft's world-class digital technology, expertise, and
upskilling capabilities will help CTC modernize systems and develop
top talent to increase its speed of innovation to better serve
Canadians.
- Co-innovate to drive the future of retail in
Canada: Exploring co-innovation opportunities that
leverage AI and machine learning responsibly to enhance customer
experience, optimize operations, and unlock new opportunities for
Canadian retail.
"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," said Greg Hicks, President and CEO, Canadian Tire
Corporation. "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."
"Today's technology and AI advancements are helping unlock
innovation across the industry—opening the door for retailers to
reimagine the shopping experience for their customers," said
Judson Althoff, executive vice
president and chief commercial officer, Microsoft. "With Microsoft
as its strategic cloud partner, Canadian Tire Corporation will
leverage the power of the Microsoft Cloud and its AI capabilities
to better meet customer demand, and deliver more seamless and
personalized digital experiences for shoppers across Canada."
"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," said Chris
Barry, President of Microsoft Canada. "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."
"Driving innovation has always been a core value of Canadian
Tire Corporation. We are excited to be Microsoft's Canadian retail
flagship partner tapping into their cutting-edge technology and
expertise in cloud transformation and artificial intelligence to
further modernize our operations and drive retail innovation," said
Rex Lee, Chief Information and
Technology Officer at Canadian Tire Corporation. "Through our
partnership with Microsoft and supported by our trusted engineering
partner and digital system integrator, EPAM, we will amplify our
impact and accelerate our digital efforts to enhance our customers'
omnichannel journey and brand experiences no matter where they
choose to shop."
ABOUT CANADIAN TIRE
COPORATION
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX: CTC.A) (TSX: CTC) or
"CTC", is a group of companies that includes a Retail segment, a
Financial Services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led
by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians
with products for life in Canada
across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal &
Gardening divisions. Party City, PartSource and Gas+ are key parts
of the Canadian Tire network. The Retail segment also includes
Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear; Pro Hockey
Life, a hockey specialty store catering to elite players; and
SportChek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts and Atmosphere, which
offer the best active wear brands. The close to 1,700 retail and
gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by
CTC's Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of
people employed across Canada and
around the world by CTC and its local dealers, franchisees and
petroleum retailers. In addition, CTC owns and operates Helly
Hansen, a leading technical outdoor brand based in Oslo, Norway. For more information, visit
Corp.CanadianTire.ca.
ABOUT MICROSOFT CANADA
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian
subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide
leader in software, services and solutions that help people and
businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides
nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services
in both French and English. For more information on Microsoft
Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Canadian Tire Corporation:
416-480-8453
mediainquiries@cantire.com
Microsoft Canada:
Veronica Langvee
647-805-6447
velangve@microsoft.com
SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED