Microsoft, OYO partner to develop travel products and tech

Microsoft and OYO have entered into a multi-year strategic alliance that will see the two brands work together to create “next-gen travel and hospitality products and technologies.”

In announcing the partnership, Microsoft also acknowledges it has made a strategic equity investment in OYO. Although it does not specify the amount, regulatory filings in India indicate it was $5 million, according to sources.

As part of this agreement, OYO will develop smart room solutions built on the Microsoft Azure cloud service, such as self-check in, IoT-managed smart locks and virtual assistants, as well as artificial intelligence-based products for pricing prediction, all targeted to operators of small and medium hotels and homes.

The companies say the pandemic has accelerated the needs of operators for technologies that serve consumers' new preferences, such as the need for social distancing, local travel, flexibility and faster booking.

“This alliance with Microsoft will accelerate the deployment of our products in the hands of small businesses we work with, allowing us to create even more impact through an integrated technology ecosystem available on the cloud for businesses in the remotest corners of the world. For our guests, this alliance will mean more personalization, better choices, differentiated experiences and an improved guest experience in the future,” says Abhinav Sinha, global COO and chief product officer for OYO Hotels & Homes.

OYO says it already offers more than 40 products and solutions to operators of hotels and homes across India, Europe, Southeast Asia and more than 35 other countries.

“Combining the power of Azure with the tech and product stack developed by OYO, we are looking forward to accelerating innovation in travel and hospitality,” says Anant Maheshwari, president of Microsoft India.

“It is inspiring to see how the Microsoft cloud is empowering digital natives like OYO to accelerate industry transformation and innovations, turning the challenges of a post-pandemic era into opportunities for the future.”

Last week OYO launched a new self-service onboarding tool that it says cuts the time to enroll new hotels from 15 days to 30 minutes.