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A South African IoT start-up has entered into a global strategic alliance agreement with Microsoft , bringing problem solving solutions to customers .

Ajay Lalu , Co-Founder and Director , CIRT

Transformation in the region , South

African Internet of Things ( IoT ) start-up , Consumption Information Real Time ( CIRT ), has announced that it has entered into a multiyear strategic alliance with Microsoft . As part of this agreement , Microsoft will provide technical guidance , support and access to engineering resources , business development resources and integration of Company Solutions to Microsoft Azure . In addition , once migration has taken place and the solutions are commercial marketplace transactable , the organisation will provide the benefits available through its commercial marketplace and associated programmes for which the Company Solutions qualify .

In return , CIRT will integrate Q-Hop , Fridgeloc Solution , Vaccloc and Temploc Cold Supply Chain Monitor Solution with Azure IoT Central and other relevant Azure and Microsoft Power BI Services , as well as complete onboarding of all solutions to Azure Marketplace .

Ajay Lalu , Co-Founder and Director for CIRT , said : “ We are currently engaging with several global fuel retailers and a mobile network operator to deploy our latest solution for retailers – Q-Hop . Q-Hop is a contactless and cashless retail experience for grocery , personal care and convenience retailers . The Q-Hop solution was developed during a hard lockdown in South Africa , entirely virtually and proudly , using local technology . Our alliance with Microsoft will give us the global platform to accelerate the deployment and continued evolution of our solutions . Microsoft has been an amazing strategic partner from the outset and has supported the development and deployment of our IoT solutions .”

“ At a time when the needs of customers and businesses are constantly changing , the collaboration with CIRT is necessary . Many of our retail clients constantly seek innovative IoT solutions to help them create in-store and online experiences that build customer loyalty . The strategic alliance with CIRT will provide our global clients with access to a stream of innovative IoT solutions ,” said Tony Shakib , IOT Business Acceleration GM at Microsoft .

CIRT deals with large enterprise clients like Anheuser-Busch InBev ’ s ( AB InBev ) South African subsidiary , South African Breweries ( SAB ), where the organisation co-developed and deployed a pilot of its Fridgeloc Connected Cooler solution .

Microsoft Business Development teams have already started to work with CIRT on various go-to-market initiatives . CIRT ’ s latest solution – Vaccloc – monitors the cold supply chain for COVID-19 vaccine distribution . It can link into a block chain platform , giving complete transparency to doctors and patients , thereby ensuring the efficacy of the vaccine prior to administration . Cold supply chain monitoring is a significant issue , especially in developing countries in Africa and South America , due to distances that vaccine vials need to travel to get to patients . •

The strategic alliance with CIRT will provide our global clients with access to a stream of innovative IoT solutions .

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