Microsoft Cloud for Retail: 2022 Update

• The Microsoft Cloud for Retail seeks to improve in-store shopping experiences, optimize the retail supply chain, and consolidate shopper data.
• Like other Microsoft industry clouds, the Cloud for Retail builds on existing Microsoft cloud services and adds data models, applications, and analysis capabilities.

Microsoft Cloud for Retail

Microsoft Cloud for Retail, which became generally available in Feb. 2022, provides capabilities aimed at improving in-store shopping, enabling store associates with planning and communication tools, optimizing the retail supply chain, and consolidating and enhancing shopper data.

This report is one of a series focusing on Microsoft’s industry clouds; for an introduction to industry clouds, see “Industry Clouds 2022 Update: Introduction.” Microsoft industry clouds provide cloud applications, services, and data models customized for specific vertical industries. However, they are not finished services and organizations will likely require developer or partner assistance to create production applications and solutions, for example, to integrate with existing enterprise systems and/or databases. Cloud for Retail bundles certain Azure and Dynamics services and leverages other Microsoft cloud services, including Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, and Azure services, which are licensed and priced separately.