NEWTOWN, PA — EPAM Systems (NYSE: EPAM) has been named the 2025 Innovate with Azure AI Platform Partner of the Year, earning top recognition from Microsoft for developing advanced enterprise AI solutions built on the Azure ecosystem.
The award highlights partners that push the limits of AI innovation through Azure AI Foundry, demonstrating measurable impact in real-world use cases. EPAM was chosen from a global pool of leading Microsoft partners.
Dmitry Tikhomirov, EPAM’s vice president of technology solutions, said the honor reflects the company’s continued focus on responsible AI development and large-scale enterprise deployment. He noted that EPAM’s engineering teams combine industry expertise with Azure’s AI capabilities, reinforced by an internal development lifecycle powered by GitHub Copilot and automated tooling.
EPAM’s winning submission centered on a project with Albert Heijn, the largest grocery retailer in the Netherlands. Working alongside Microsoft, the company built a scalable GenAI platform and an AI-enabled virtual assistant that provides store employees with instant access to product information, stock data, and operational guidance. The tool streamlines restocking and customer service while supporting onboarding for new employees.
Albert Heijn CIO Wilco Brandt said the project shows how applied AI can create immediate operational value. He credited EPAM and Microsoft engineers for designing a system that modernizes store workflows and enhances customer interactions.
In addition to the top Azure AI award, EPAM was named a finalist in three other categories: Build and Modernize AI Apps, Energy and Resources, and Global SI Growth Champion. The company also won the Enterprise AI Market Maker Partner of the Year award in the Netherlands.
Microsoft Chief Partner Officer Nicole Dezen said the 2025 honorees reflect the momentum behind cloud-enabled AI innovation. She emphasized that EPAM and other winners demonstrated how emerging AI architectures are reshaping operations for global clients across sectors.
EPAM’s recent recognition builds on its role as a Globally Managed Enterprise Systems Integrator and its newly elevated status as a Microsoft Global Systems Integrator — a designation signaling deeper collaboration and expanded responsibilities within Microsoft’s partner ecosystem.
Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Elaina Shekhter said the GSI status enhances EPAM’s ability to guide enterprise transformation efforts, accelerate cloud adoption, and unlock new innovation pathways for clients leveraging Microsoft technologies.
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