Mastercard and Microsoft recently announced a partnership with a focus on commercializing and expanding emerging technology to enable financial inclusion. This partnership allows Mastercard to utilize Microsoft’s Azure and Artificial Intelligence to further develop and improve their cloud native research and development activities. Microsoft’s international footprint will allow Mastercard to become more accessible and able to advance digital commerce.
Mastercard is looking to capitalize on Microsoft’s global network and reputation to provide Mastercard’s partners with innovative technology and a new commerce capability enabling digital payments in new ways. Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing service, will present the opportunity for fintech partners to create unique user experiences changing the way customers and businesses exchange value.
One of the main reasons for the partnership is to provide access to digital products to the underserved. Mastercard will continue to expand their ideals of improving and easing financial services to “everyday people” through Microsoft’s Azure. Azure will be the infrastructure for Mastercard Lab’s inclusion efforts along with supporting Mastercard Community Pass, a platform which provides access to education, healthcare and more to the underserved.
Mastercard is also looking to use Microsoft’s AI and Azure to expand on their Start Path program, which provides financial literacy platform for kids and delivering credit to the underserved. This partnership will present the opportunity to help fintech companies provide financial access to new businesses and create cloud-first digital products and services easing all aspects of business.
Ken Moore, the executive vice president and Head of Mastercard Labs, commented on the partnership with Microsoft. “(T)his strategic collaboration will strengthen and extend our cloud services and capabilities for clients and fintech partners, sparking innovation and creativity for the ecosystem. It will enable us to explore opportunities focused on new client segments, technologies and trends as we continue to drive financial inclusion and build the future of commerce.”
Ultimately with this partnership, Microsoft and Mastercard are looking to capitalize on their widespread networks to create more access to the underserved.
