HCLTech and Microsoft Partner with Cricket Australia to Launch AI-Powered Feature for Enhanced Fan Experience

HCLTech and Microsoft Launch AI-Powered Feature for Cricket Australia Live App

HCLTech Joins Salesforce Agentforce: Enhancing AI-driven customer service solutions for financial institutions. HCLTech and Microsoft have partnered with Cricket Australia (CA) to introduce a new generative AI (GenAI) feature in the Cricket Australia Live app. The AI Insights matchday companion feature provides fans with text-based updates throughout live matches, offering deeper context on key moments, player performances, and milestones beyond traditional scores and commentary. Also Read: HCLTech and Google Cloud Partner for AI-Driven Cybersecurity Solutions The feature debuts during the Day-Night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), part of the CommBank Women's Ashes series between Australia and England. It is now available globally to all app users, HCLTech announced on Friday. Leveraging Microsoft's Azure Open AI Service and HCLTech's expertise in API and front-end development, the collaboration aims to create a more accessible match day AI companion for cricket fans, the official release said. HCLTech has been CA's Official Digital Technology Partner since 2019 and will continue its role through a renewed partnership that extends through 2028. "By harnessing the power of GenAI, we have the ability to reimagine the way fans engage with sport," said Sonia Eland, Executive Vice President and Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand, HCLTech. "We're excited to bring cutting-edge AI technology to cricket fans through our partnership with Cricket Australia and HCLTech," said Sarah Carney, Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand. "This innovation demonstrates how generative AI is transforming the way we interact with the world around us, bringing insight, meaning and personalisation to audiences old and new." Also Read: HCLTech to Open AI, Cloud Native Lab in Singapore to Accelerate AI Innovation HCLTech has been selected as a Salesforce Agentforce Partner, leveraging its expertise in digital modernisation to help clients, especially in financial services, deploy AI-driven agents that significantly improve user experiences. This partnership aims to transform chatbot capabilities into advanced AI solutions for multi-channel interactions. HCLTech and Salesforce are partnering to bring agentic AI to PenFed Credit Union, America's second-largest federal credit union, the companies said in a statement on January 24, 2025. "PenFed is collaborating with HCLTech and Salesforce to bring a next-generation, AI-powered agent experience to our members and employees, enhancing service and support like never before," said Atif Munir, Chief Technology Officer, PenFed Credit Union. Also Read: Salesforce Introduces New Family of Multimodal Action Models Named TACO "At HCLTech, we empower clients with AI-driven agents to enhance operations, improve customer service and drive innovation. Being chosen as a Salesforce Agentforce partner reflects our dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technology and highlights our role in shaping the future of AI," said Sadagopan S, Executive Vice President, Global Head of SaaS and Commercial Applications.

HCLTech and Microsoft partner with Cricket Australia to transform fan experience with GenAI

Leading global technology companies, HCLTech and Microsoft, have partnered with Cricket Australia (CA) to leverage generative AI (GenAI) to enhance the way fans experience live matches via the Cricket Australia Live app. The app's new AI Insights matchday companion feature provides fans with a regular feed of text-based updates as matches progress. The feature uses AI rooted in a deep understanding of cricket to identify key narratives, player performances and notable milestones that go beyond the live scores and commentary, giving new context and insight to what is happening on the field. The AI Insights matchday companion launches today at the Day-Night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the CommBank Women's Ashes series between Australia and England. This innovative feature is now accessible to all users of the Cricket Australia Live App worldwide. "By harnessing the power of GenAI, we have the ability to reimagine the way fans engage with sport," said Sonia Eland, Executive Vice President and Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand, HCLTech. "HCLTech has partnered with Cricket Australia for several years through our long-term role as the sport's Official Digital Technology Partner, but our collaboration with Microsoft will further enhance the digital experience. Ultimately, our goal is to bring cricket fans even closer to the action." Cricket Australia has leveraged Microsoft's Azure Open AI Service as well as HCLTech's front-end and API development support to create a more accessible match day AI companion for cricket fans. "We're excited to bring cutting-edge AI technology to cricket fans through our partnership with Cricket Australia and HCLTech," said Sarah Carney, Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand. "This innovation demonstrates how generative AI is transforming the way we interact with the world around us, bringing insight, meaning and personalisation to audiences old and new." HCLTech and Cricket Australia began working together in 2019 to transform the organization's core API platforms. In 2023, they extended the partnership for another five years, with HCLTech continuing its role as the CA's Official Digital Technology Partner. The multi-year partnership has included initiatives like TechJam, a crowdsourcing effort to develop innovative tech solutions for the sport, as well as HCLTech's role in making Cricket Australia Live the number one sporting app in Australia. "We are very excited to partner with both HCLTech and Microsoft to create brilliant experiences for our fans by enhancing the CA Live app," said Nick Hockley, CEO, Cricket Australia. "Our aspiration is to be a world leader in the way sporting codes bring fans closer to the game through digital technologies and we're thrilled to launch this latest innovation at the CommBank Women's Ashes Day-Night Test." Learn more about the partnership: https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/features/from-grassroots-to-elite-how-cricket-australia-is-scoring-better-digital-experiences-with-ai-and-cloud-technology/ About HCLTech HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 220,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering, cloud and AI, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending December 2024 totaled $13.8 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com. About Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. About Cricket Australia Cricket Australia (CA) is the national governing body for the game of cricket in Australia. Australian Cricket is administered by CA and its members, the six state and two territory associations. Cricket is Australia's one true national sport with a men's and women's team that capture the nation every summer along with two of the biggest domestic competitions in the country - the Weber WBBL and KFC BBL. At an international level, CA was a foundation member of cricket's world governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and is one of 12 ICC full members.