Accenture ties up with AWS to extend emerging technologies to enterprises

IT services and consulting firm Accenture has partnered with Jeff Bezos-led Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide digital transformation services to enterprises.

Under the terms of the partnership, Accenture AWS Business Group (AABG), which was launched in 2015, will help enterprises accelerate their pace of innovation by using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), analytics and cloud.

The innovation services include a new applied intelligence Studio for AWS in Seattle, development of LaunchPad, additional tools and Blockchain Express.

“Our strong business momentum means we can invest more resources to focus on a comprehensive transformation for our clients who are asking for legacy transformation, quick-hitting digital innovation, and industry-focused solutions,” said Chris Wegmann, global managing director of AABG and Accenture’s AWS practice.

“Our experience has shown that bringing our best talent forward with cross-team collaboration helps enable a path to success. It’s about combining the power of Accenture and AWS to help clients accelerate innovation at a time of epic disruption across all industries,” Wegmann added.

As part of the Studio, clients can access AI specialists from AWS and Accenture to use AWS ML services such as Amazon SageMaker and integrate leading practices more rapidly for burgeoning innovation projects, the company said in a statement. It added that the AABG team will identify industry- and domain-specific use cases where leading technologies can be applied to help solve key business challenges.

The LaunchPad platform, which is an agile network of Accenture and AWS specialists skilled in strategic AWS services, will facilitate digital transformation beyond traditional cost reductions.

"Steeped with industry knowledge, these specialists are embedded in Accenture Liquid Studios and innovation centres around the world. For example, at the new Liquid Studio in San Francisco, specialists from Accenture and AWS take clients through design-thinking workshops, helping them create project prototypes and incubate industry-specific solutions that can be scaled rapidly on AWS,” the company said.

The additional tools will help clients be nimbler and scale services more easily, Accenture said.

Additionally, the Blockchain Express is a five- to six-week cross-industry offering that will provide AWS’ clients access to Accenture’s specialists and range of services from which they can drive value from the distributed ledger technology within the enterprise.

It will also include the rapid development of an operational DLT network that will enable companies to accelerate their blockchain adoption journey, the statement said.

*The writer is in Las Vegas, US at the invitation of Amazon Web Services.