Microsoft pushes cloud services to retailers anxious to avoid Amazon

The retail industry has been one of Microsoft’s most successful as the software maker tries to gain ground in cloud computing against market leader Amazon Web Services and lure more customers to its Internet-based Office products. — AP

Microsoft Corp is unveiling new cloud tools designed for retail customers, seeking to position itself as an alternative to Amazon.com Inc and corporate software companies like Slack Technologies Inc and Salesforce.com Inc.

Microsoft is adding a feature to its Slack rival, the Teams corporate chat program, that lets store workers push a button to turn their mobile phones into walkie-talkies for in-store communications. In a speech on Jan 12 at a retail industry event, Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella plans to discuss how Ikea shifted more than 70,000 workers to Teams, using the service for meetings and chat. The home furnishing giant’s largest store, in Stockholm, also started using a scheduling feature to manage the shifts of 150 restaurant staffers.