Bari, June 17, 2025 – Hevolus, Italian AI-tech, international leader in Generative AI and Intelligent Reality technologies, reaches an international milestone, becoming one of the first companies in Europe to obtain Microsoft certification in the field of Retail AI.  

Recognition as a Microsoft Solutions Partner with Certified Software for its proprietary XR Copilot solution, within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program (MAICPP), represents a certificate of excellence and innovation.
This certification distinguishes Hevolus for the high quality, reliability, and tangible impact of its AI solutions, confirming its ability to revolutionize the retail experience through immersive and intelligent technologies, in line with the highest Microsoft standards.

A certification awarded after a rigorous technical audit process that attests to full compliance with the highest standards set by Microsoft for the development and adoption of highly innovative cloud software.

Hevolus has also been selected by Microsoft to access a exclusive global program, reserved for a small group of strategic partners with AI solutions already operational, which will offer early access to Azure AI news, advanced sessions with Microsoft product specialists and a direct channel to international development teams.

This milestone comes amid the extraordinary global expansion of artificial intelligence. According to a Fortune Business Insights report, the global AI market will grow from $279,2 billion in 2024 to over $1.800 trillion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35,9%. Europe is also moving in this direction: as highlighted by Market Research Future, the European AI market will grow from $66,4 billion in 2024 to over $370 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 33,2%.

The Italian scenario confirms this positive trend: according to data from the Artificial Intelligence Observatory of the Polytechnic University of Milan, the national market will reach 1,2 billion euros in 2024, marking a growth of 58% compared to 2023, driven primarily by the adoption of AI solutions in marketing, sales, and process automation.

In this context, Hevolus strengthens its positioning as technological enabler for businesses who want to transform the customer experience through Generative AI and eXtended Reality, offering accessible, flexible, and platform- and device-independent phygital solutions.

"Being among the first Microsoft partners in Europe to achieve this certification for Retail AI is not just a milestone: it confirms our role as enablers of change. We accompany companies towards a new customer journey model that is concrete, measurable, and designed to last. Being chosen by Microsoft as a Solutions Partner and included in a global program reserved for strategic companies is an important recognition of the vision that guides every one of our decisions: building an accessible, inclusive, and experience-centered innovation model. This achievement strengthens our position as a European player capable of generating real value for companies and anticipating global market developments," he states. Antonio Squeo, CEO of Hevolus.

"We are proud that an Italian partner like Hevolus has distinguished itself for the value of its retail solutions, obtaining an international certification that recognizes its AI expertise in supporting the competitiveness of the sector. Hevolus has always focused on the digital transformation of retail companies, and this commitment now sees it offer Artificial Intelligence solutions capable of rethinking the customer experience through cutting-edge technologies aligned with the highest Microsoft standards. We are confident that thanks to our consolidated collaboration, more and more Italian companies will be able to embrace the change in an AI-powered retail approach," commented Sara Anselmi, Director of the Global Partner Solutions Division at Microsoft Italy.

With a client portfolio that includes multinationals such as Casillo, Natuzzi, Ferroli, Enel, the University of Naples Federico II, and eCampus, Hevolus is a strategic partner of Microsoft, Meta, and Lenovo. The company has received industry awards such as the SMAU Innovation Award (from 2018 to 2025), the Retail Week Awards in the Game Changer category, and the 2024 Microsoft Italia Partner Award for AI Transformation. Since 2020, it has been supported by CDP Venture Capital SGR for global expansion.