AWS partners with BP, Novartis to drive transformation

British oil and gas major BP has decided to close its European mega data centres and migrate all data and 900 key applications currently hosted there to Amazon Web Services platform, the cloud service giant announced at its re:Invent 2019 event.

The move comes as part of a company-wide programme to accelerate the digitisation of its infrastructure and operations. Currently, the two European mega data centres by BP host data from across all its businesses.

“AWS is helping BP to transform our operations, and together we are using the cloud and renewable energy resources to drive energy efficiencies. Exiting our European data centers and migrating to AWS supports our digital transformation agenda, and we’re excited about the possibilities for increased flexibility, operational efficiencies, and opportunities to innovate while helping to advance the energy transition,” Steve Fortune, CIO at BP said in a statement. 

Moving to AWS will help BP use machine learning, analytics, storage, security, databases, and compute to gain insights and automate processes, the company said in a statement. 

The companies did not disclose the financial details of the deal. In a separate announcement, BP said it has won a deal to provide over 170 megawatts of wind and solar projects in Sweden and Spain.

AWS also announced partnerships with pharmaceutical giant Novartis and technology firm Slalom at its re:Invent 2019 event. 

AWS re:Invent 2019 is an annual conference hosted by Seattle-based cloud service giant Amazon Web Services for the global cloud computing community.

Technology firm Slalom, also headquartered in Seattle, has partnered with AWS to build Slalom launch centres. It expects the centres will help its customers to accelerate their IT modernisation and migration strategies to achieve fully optimised, cloud based operating models.

“Our expanded relationship with AWS is a differentiated approach to building and operating solutions on the cloud, helping our customers experience the value of modern technology first-hand while accelerating business outcomes,” Mike Cowden, President of Slalom Build said.

As part of the deal, the company will initially open three launch centres in Seattle, Chicago and Atlanta.

AWS has also entered a multi-year strategic collaboration with Basel, Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Novartis to accelerate digital transformation of its business operations.  

Using AWS, Novartis can collect inventory, quality, and production data across its network and apply AWS Internet of Things (IoT), analytics, and machine learning (ML) services to gain greater visibility and help drive efficiencies.

“Using data science and digital technologies to reimagine the way we manufacture medicines is not only at the heart of our transformation, but also core to our ambition to bring innovative medicines to patients faster.” Bertrand Bodson, Chief Digital Officer at Novartis said.