Case Study: Microsoft achieves faster, scalable data center construction with SAP Ariba

Scaling up sustainable data center construction to meet world-changing AI growth

Microsoft needed to scale sustainable data center construction quickly to keep up with surging AI demand, but its legacy sourcing and contracting processes were manual, siloed, and too slow for a global footprint. To address this challenge, Microsoft worked with SAP and Accenture, using SAP Ariba solutions to replace spreadsheet-based workflows and improve visibility across its complex supply chain.

SAP implemented an integrated digital source-to-contract engine with automated workflows, centralized contract data, and AI-enabled contract insights. The results included a 25% reduction in procurement cycle time from request for quote to purchase order, a 12-month reduction in data center construction time, and the opening of 180 new data centers in 2024, while also helping Microsoft save time, improve compliance, and redeploy 40 sourcing and contracting employees over three years.

Microsoft

Derell Jackson

Director Global Supply Chain Planning and Analytics, GSC Planning US