Indian-origin cab-hailing application Ola has joined hands with tech giant Microsoft to build a connected vehicle platform. This partnership is to help Ola access their cloud infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence and productivity tools to improve passenger experience and enable predictive maintenance of vehicles.

Ola is also set to use Microsoft’s cloud computing service Azure to power Ola Play.

Ola Play, which is reportedly the world’s first connected car platform for ridesharing, that will leverage Microsoft AI and IoT to enhance driver experiences with telematics and navigation guidance; passenger experiences with cloud-based infotainment and productivity; and provide auto manufacturers with custom digital experiences for their customers.

With the new partnership, Ola Play users would reportedly be able to use productive tools such as Office 365 and Skype for Business, as well as voice-assisted controls built using Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot framework, in-car during their rides.

“Today’s car is quickly becoming the ultimate computing device and together with Ola, we’re focused on providing more intelligent, connected and productive experiences to our customers,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “The combination of Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and our AI platform with Ola Play will deliver new customer experiences and business opportunities across the automotive ecosystem.”

Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of Ola added:

“Globally, the auto industry is experiencing a seismic shift as the definition of automobiles is increasingly changing from gas-powered vehicles to technology-packed, connected devices. With Ola Play, we have already set the tone for connected vehicles in India; together with Microsoft, we can make the new platform available to a larger, global audience and unlock futuristic experiences for customers worldwide.”