What challenges did Cognizant face before AI implementation?

Enterprises face difficulties operationalizing generative AI at scale. Employees require AI-driven tools to enhance productivity and streamline workflows across diverse roles. Industries such as healthcare and manufacturing have longstanding practices and limited disruptive innovation. Healthcare organizations face administrative and approval delays and staffing challenges. Clients need industry- and function-specific generative AI solutions tailored to unique requirements.

What was the impact of the AI solution?

Streamlined workflows and improved productivity for employees and clients across 11 industries. AI-powered automation reduced approval processing times in healthcare from days to minutes. Enhanced maintenance diagnostics and customer experiences in manufacturing and communications with generative AI. Accelerated AI adoption projected for a million enterprise users globally. Improved employee experience and operational efficiency through Copilot and advanced AI.

Source

MicrosoftExpanded

Cognizant Accelerates Enterprise Transformation Across Multiple Sectors

Use case typeAI platformUpdated Jun 13, 2026

Cognizant, a leading digital transformation services provider, expanded its partnership with Microsoft to operationalize generative AI for its organization and global clients. With a strategic purchase of 25,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot seats and active deployments for clients across 11 industries, Cognizant integrates advanced Microsoft AI solutions into a wide variety of business processes. The initiative includes industry-specific innovations such as generative AI-powered diagnostics for manufacturing, personalized education content creation, and automation of healthcare administrative workflows. Additionally, Cognizant has upskilled over 35,000 developers on GitHub Copilot, with plans for further AI capacity expansion. Through the partnership, both companies aim to accelerate AI adoption, boost productivity, and address sectoral challenges with scalable solutions. The initiative also addresses responsible AI adoption with dedicated governance and ethics programs, aiming for both business growth and positive societal impact through responsible innovation. Joint labs and AI studios are established to further co-innovate solutions based on Copilot Studio and Azure OpenAI, impacting a projected million enterprise users.

Organization: Cognizant
Industry: Professional Services
Location: United States
Published: April 2024

Reported outcomes

Strategic outcomes

New product / capabilityDeveloped industry-specific generative AI solutionsSpeed & agilityStreamlined healthcare approval workflowsCustomer experience & trustEnhanced customer experiences in key sectorsEcosystem & partnershipsEstablished co-innovation studios for AI use cases

Primary read

Use case focus

Showing 3 of 5

1AI-Assisted Remote Diagnostics for Manufacturing Equipment
2Personalized Learning Content Generation for Education
3Automated Approval and Administrative Processing in Healthcare

Enterprises face difficulties operationalizing generative AI at scale.
Employees require AI-driven tools to enhance productivity and streamline workflows across diverse roles.
Industries such as healthcare and manufacturing have longstanding practices and limited disruptive innovation.
Healthcare organizations face administrative and approval delays and staffing challenges.
Clients need industry- and function-specific generative AI solutions tailored to unique requirements.

Cognizant adopted 25,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot seats and additional Sales/Services Copilot seats organization-wide.
Deployment of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and Azure OpenAI technology in client projects.
Development of industry-specific Copilots using Copilot Studio for functions in manufacturing, education, media, and healthcare.
Upskilling via Synapse program for 35,000+ Cognizant developers on GitHub Copilot.
Launch of Cognizant Microsoft AI Innovation Studios to co-innovate and demonstrate generative AI use cases.

Technologies

Microsoft 365 Copilot Copilot Studio Azure OpenAI Copilot GitHub Copilot

Streamlined workflows and improved productivity for employees and clients across 11 industries.
AI-powered automation reduced approval processing times in healthcare from days to minutes.
Enhanced maintenance diagnostics and customer experiences in manufacturing and communications with generative AI.
Accelerated AI adoption projected for a million enterprise users globally.
Improved employee experience and operational efficiency through Copilot and advanced AI.

Architecture

Cognizant deployed Microsoft 365 Copilot across its workforce and integrated Copilot Studio to allow clients to build customized copilots connected to enterprise data. The company leverages Azure OpenAI to provide generative AI capabilities behind Copilot solutions and uses GitHub Copilot for developer productivity. AI-powered solutions are deployed across core business processes, with platform integrations to specific industry requirements via Copilot Studio. AI solutions are delivered through Cognizant’s global AI studios and upskilled workforce, supporting both internal and client transformation.

Sources & evidence1

ExpandedExpanded

The same organization appears in newer AI deployment evidence.