Technology

BOX Enhances Its AI Capabilities Through Expanded Microsoft Partnership

Published March 6, 2024

Box, a cloud content management platform, has recently strengthened its alliance with Microsoft by integrating Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service with its own AI features. Through this enhanced partnership, Box users now have access to Azure's advanced language models, which meet the high standards of security, privacy, and compliance both companies uphold.

Organizations within stringently regulated sectors stand to benefit significantly from these advancements in generative AI technology. For example, financial entities can now dig deeper into economic trends for insights, and those in life sciences can more effectively parse clinical trial data. In similar strides, public institutions can sharpen their policymaking with AI-driven evidence, insurance firms can streamline claim report analysis, and legal practices can swiftly navigate intricate legal documents.

It is anticipated that Box's recent initiative will be welcomed by a variety of enterprises, seeking to leverage these new capabilities.

Enhancing Generative AI Through Strategic Partnerships

This move comes as part of Box's strategic efforts to bring generative AI to the forefront of its service offerings by forging and expanding partnerships. Previously, in collaboration with Microsoft, Box released a plugin integrating Box files with Microsoft's AI tool, 365 Copilot. This integration aims to improve how files stored in Box can be utilized within enterprises.

Further integration enhancements with Microsoft's 365 Copilot also allow users to interact with Box files more seamlessly during collaborative engagements with their colleagues and partners.

Moreover, Box has joined hands with Alphabet's Google Cloud to incorporate Google's AI into their enterprise workspace. By implementing Google Cloud's Vertex AI into the Box Content Cloud, data processing and analysis have been significantly advanced. One notable feature, metadata extraction, is a time-saving tool that automatically tags important details in documents, linking those details to corresponding metadata attributes.

Generative AI Market and Box's Prospects

Box's endeavors are synchronizing with the expansive growth of the global generative AI marketplace. Reports by Statista indicate that the generative AI market size is poised to surge from $66.62 billion in 2024 to $207 billion by 2030, signaling a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.8%. Such market traction is expected to bolster Box's financial prospects over time. In fact, fiscal 2025’s revenue forecasts suggest a 4.4% increase from the previous fiscal year.

Despite these positive outlooks, Box faces challenges like macroeconomic uncertainties and the fiercely competitive cloud industry. Over the past year, Box’s performance has seen a slight decline, which contrasts with a notable growth in the broader Computer & Technology sector.

A Comparative Look at the Tech Sector

At present, Box holds a ranking of #3 (Hold) in market assessments. However, looking at the broader tech landscape, companies like CrowdStrike, with a current rank of #1 (Strong Buy), showcase more robust market performance. CrowdStrike’s shares have seen an impressive jump, complemented by a promising projection for long-term earnings growth.

Box, Microsoft, AI