WSP and Microsoft want to drive digital transformation in the built environment after agreeing a seven-year global strategic partnership. The agreement represents a potential combined financial commitment and investment of $1bn-plus.
Under the terms of the partnership, WSP becomes Microsoft’s preferred consultant for engineering and science, while Microsoft becomes WSP’s preferred digital and AI transformation partner. The latter includes the roll out of Microsoft 365 Copilot to WSP staff globally.
The two will work together to bring new digital products to market, which could include:
- AI-powered virtual experts that contribute to the advancement and modernisation of the engineering and science-based industry;
- unlocking clients’ knowledge assets to drive informed investment and risk mitigation strategies; and
- creating new design paradigms that drive at-scale acceleration of time-to-deliver in the asset lifecycle.
Furthermore, the partnership will “increase the speed and scale at which Microsoft can deliver mission-critical facilities, such as data centres”, the pair stated.
“We are immensely proud of this partnership with Microsoft as it sets an innovation milestone for WSP and our entire industry,” said Alexandre L’Heureux, president and chief executive of WSP. “This collaboration will allow us to push the boundaries of what’s possible, ensuring we stay at the forefront of technological advancements and consistently provide exceptional value to our people and clients.
“By combining our deep engineering and scientific expertise with Microsoft’s best-in-class digital and AI technologies, we can drive value-focused innovation and achieve exceptional results for our clients, our communities, and our business worldwide.”
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