Shell expands strategic collaboration with Microsoft to drive industry transformation and innovation

- REDMOND, Washington and HOUSTON, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, Royal Dutch Shell plc announced it is broadening its work with Microsoft Corp. to help accelerate industry transformation and innovation. Through this collaboration, Shell will drive efficiencies across the company from drilling and extraction to employee empowerment and collaboration, as well as safety for its retail customers and employees. As part of this deal, Shell announced it has selected C3 IoT with Microsoft Azure as its artificial intelligence (AI) platform to enable and accelerate digital transformation on a global scale. Shell expects to realize substantial economic value by rapidly scaling and replicating AI and machine learning applications across its upstream and downstream businesses and improving operational performance. "Digital technologies are core to our strategy to strengthen our position as a leading energy company," said Yuri Sebregts, executive vice president for technology and CTO of Shell. "Our collaboration with Microsoft gives us a solid digital platform to make our core business more effective and efficient and supports our ambition to provide more and cleaner energy solutions through technology." "Shell is demonstrating AI and IoT leadership in selecting C3 IoT and Azure for the Shell AI Platform," said Thomas M. Siebel, chairman and CEO of C3 IoT. "This will enable Shell to rapidly realize the vision of digital transformation across all lines of business, including upstream, midstream, retail and finance." "As one of the energy sector's largest and most prominent players, Shell's wide-scale adoption of AI, machine learning and IoT technologies sets an example of how digital transformation can help the industry address resource challenges, improve asset performance and promote safety," said Judson Althoff, executive vice president of Microsoft's Worldwide Commercial Business. "We are excited to deepen our relationship with Shell as the company continues to be a digital pacesetter for the industry."   Shell has been driving digital technologies throughout its business for many years, from subsea robotics in the 1970s to helping in the development of RAM in the 1980s to process seismic data. In fact, Shell already leverages Microsoft tools to enhance people productivity and collaboration and is now embarking on broader AI projects to drive industry-leading innovation. These digital advances come by combining in-house development of proprietary technologies with co-innovation alongside leading companies like Microsoft. Together with Microsoft, Shell is creating a secure, reliable foundation upon which to build these digital solutions. About Royal Dutch Shell plc Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com. About Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/24227/microsoft_corp_logo226_9217jpg.jpg