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Cloud-first bank: Standard Chartered, Microsoft team up

Standard Chartered’s digital transformation into a cloud-first bank will enable it to offer new banking experiences.

Standard Chartered Bank and Microsoft have announced a three-year strategic partnership to accelerate the bank’s digital transformation through a cloud-first strategy. This will allow it to leverage Microsoft Azure in its bid to become a cloud-first bank.

This partnership marks a significant milestone for Standard Chartered in making its vision for virtual banking, next-generation payments, open banking, and banking-as-a-service a reality. Leveraging Microsoft Azure as a preferred cloud platform, the companies will also co-innovate in open banking and real-time payments to help the bank unlock new banking experiences for clients.

“Cloud is a cornerstone of Standard Chartered’s strategy to meet the present and future banking needs of our clients. Cloud providers have invested massively in the reliability and automation of infrastructure and platforms. Using cloud services improves our ability to be agile and innovative, while increasing our operational efficiency and resilience. As disruption in the financial industry continues, we can focus on client benefits by deploying our solutions quicker and allowing for faster integration of new business models and partners. To realize our digital ambitions, Standard Chartered has chosen Microsoft as a strategic partner and this partnership marks a major milestone for the bank in adopting a cloud-first approach,” said Standard Chartered Group Chief Information Officer Michael Gorriz in a press statement.

EdVision launched to help schools embrace e-learning

To help schools transition to the new normal and embrace e-learning, Lenovo Philippines, in collaboration with Microsoft, has launched the EdVision program.

Even though classes in the Philippines are scheduled to reopen in August, schools will have to maintain learning through virtual platforms. This is to comply with the community quarantine and social distancing protocols. Under the EdVision program, a number of pioneer schools in the Philippines will get free access to online resources to help them through their education transformation journey. They will also enjoy complimentary or subsidized access to the latest solutions in education tech.

How prepared are schools for distance learning, not only in terms of technology but also teacher training? I posed this question to Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager Michael Ngan at this afternoon’s virtual press briefing.

“There are really some schools that actually were prepared, and there are also some schools that are in the midst of preparing for the new normal. This education program is not just about selling the hardware to these schools. What Lenovo and Microsoft would like to really do is bring our expertise to the schools. To empower teachers, to empower the students, to adapt faster to these technologies around flexible learning. And we see a big portion of the education market today lagging behind in terms of adopting technology. And I think it’s not just going to be Lenovo there, it’s not just going to be Microsoft there. There will be other components, like our telco friends, who will have to play a big part in ensuring that flexible learning or distance learning will be carried out smoothly,” Ngan told Digital Life Asia.