Microsoft Corp. and Boeing announced a collaboration on Monday to bring innovative operational efficiency solutions to global aviation customers, according to Microsoft’s blog.

Boeing and Microsoft will join forces to transition Boeing’s extensive portfolio of digital solutions to the Microsoft Azure cloud. This will enable airlines to solve business challenges by becoming more adaptive, innovative and intelligence-driven.

According to a Boeing release, the companies have agreed to build a cloud-based platform for Boeing’s industry-leading portfolio of commercial aviation analytics tools.

Boeing’s applications provide airlines, airplane leasing companies and maintenance suppliers with real-time information to enhance every phase of their operations – including purchasing and leasing airplanes and engines, training and scheduling crews, route planning, managing inventory and maintaining fleets.

“Boeing’s expertise and extensive aviation data resources coupled with Microsoft’s cloud technology will accelerate innovation in areas such as predictive maintenance and flight optimization, allowing airlines to drive down costs and improve operational efficiency,” said Kevin Crowley, Boeing vice president of Digital Aviation. “Together, two companies that changed their industries are teaming up to accelerate the digital transformation of aviation through the use of analytics-based applications, cloud technologies and large-scale integration.”

“At Microsoft, we are focused on empowering organizations across industries to advance their digital transformation,” said Judson Althoff, executive vice president, Worldwide Commercial Business, Microsoft. “Working with Boeing, we can help businesses across aviation to become more adaptive, innovative and intelligence-driven, including airlines, operators, suppliers, support and service providers.”