Microsoft announced January 10 that it was joining forces with other members of the technology industry to launch the Retail Cloud Alliance, a new initiative aimed at helping retailers effectively use cloud technology.

The program will focus on educating retailers on how to properly use cloud technology to improve their business.

Microsoft and its partners will work together to develop resources that cover various cloud-related topics, including supply chain optimization, personalized customer experiences, enhanced security and compliance, operations scaling and future-proofing retail.

“Our team is incredibly excited to participate in this alliance alongside other Microsoft partners and support educational content that’s shaping the future of retail,” said Leslie Brown, the product marketing lead for retail and consumer goods at the contract management software company Icertis.

According to Gartner, worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services was expected to grow by 20.7% from $490.3 billion in 2022 to $591.8 billion in 2023.