NTT DATA to acquire WinWire as $3.5-trillion AI race intensifies; adds 1,000 Azure specialists to boost Microsoft cloud play

Mumbai-based IT services major NTT Data has signed a definitive agreement to acquire California-headquartered WinWire, a Microsoft-focused cloud and AI specialist, in a move aimed at scaling its enterprise AI capabilities amid surging global demand for AI-led transformation.

While the companies did not disclose the financial details of the transaction, the acquisition is expected to significantly bolster NTT DATA’s Microsoft cloud and AI business by adding more than 1,000 Azure engineers and AI specialists with expertise across Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI Foundry, agentic AI, and data engineering.

The deal comes at a time when global enterprises are accelerating investments in AI infrastructure and cloud-native platforms. Industry estimates cited by the company project the global AI market to expand from nearly $390 billion currently to about $3.5 trillion over the next decade, underlining the scale of enterprise adoption underway.

Deepening Microsoft AI capabilities

The acquisition builds on NTT DATA’s growing relationship with Microsoft, where the company was recently recognised as Microsoft’s Global System Integrator Growth Champion Partner of the Year. WinWire itself is a six-time Microsoft Partner of the Year award winner and part of Microsoft’s Agentic Partner Alliance Program.

NTT DATA said the integration will strengthen its Global Business Unit for Microsoft Cloud, which currently operates across more than 50 countries and is backed by over 24,000 Microsoft certifications.

“The acquisition of WinWire is a decisive step in advancing our enterprise AI strategy and expanding our leadership in Microsoft Azure and AI-powered cloud transformation,” said Abhijit Dubey, CEO and chief AI officer of NTT DATA Inc.

Dubey added that the combination of WinWire’s cloud-native and agentic AI expertise with NTT DATA’s global scale would help enterprises transition from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment.

Focus shifts from pilots to enterprise-scale AI

The acquisition also reflects a broader shift in enterprise technology spending, where companies are increasingly looking beyond pilot AI projects towards full-scale deployment embedded within core business workflows.

WinWire’s portfolio includes its “Agentic AI @ Scale” framework, designed to deploy autonomous AI systems across enterprise environments. The company has built strong capabilities in healthcare and software platforms, helping clients modernise data estates and develop AI-ready digital infrastructure.

“As enterprises look to unlock the full value of AI on Microsoft Azure, the role of skilled partners has never been more critical,” said Stephen Boyle, corporate vice-president, Enterprise Partner Solutions at Microsoft.

Ashu Goel, CEO of WinWire, said joining NTT DATA would allow the company to scale its AI-led transformation offerings to a much wider global customer base.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.