Azure as a technological foundation at Pico
Azure is the primary cloud platform that Pico uses to build, operate, and further develop digital solutions for clients with complex business and data needs. The platform serves as a stable and scalable foundation where applications, integrations, and data can be brought together in a coherent architecture.
At Pico, Azure is not seen as an end in itself, but as a means to support the business. The focus is therefore not on cloud technology in isolation, but on how Azure can be used to create robust solutions that connect closely with the client's products, processes, and markets.
Why is Azure relevant for Pico's clients?
Many of Pico's clients operate in highly complex environments. They manage large volumes of product data, many variants, multiple channels and markets, and face strict requirements around documentation, traceability, and compliance. At the same time, there is often a need for ongoing adaptation, integration with existing systems, and the ability to scale over time.
Azure is well suited to this context because the platform supports:
Stable operation of business-critical solutions across geographies and load levels
Flexible handling of data from many sources and systems
A high degree of security and the ability to apply governance across solutions
A modular approach where new functionality can be added without disrupting the existing setup
This makes Azure a natural choice for organisations that view data and digital platforms as long-term assets rather than short-term projects.
How does Pico work with Azure?
Pico's work with Azure always starts with the business and the data – not with the technology alone. The platform is used as a shared layer where PIM solutions, websites, commerce, integrations, and custom-built components can work together.
The work typically begins with a clarification of:
Which business processes and data types are central
How data moves between systems
What requirements exist around security, performance, and documentation
How the solution is expected to evolve over time
Based on this, an Azure architecture is designed to support these needs. This may include cloud-based applications, integration layers, data platforms, and automation of operations and monitoring. Pico places emphasis on transparency and clarity in the architecture, so the solution can be maintained and developed further for many years.
Azure is also used as a framework for collaboration, where development, testing, and operations are considered together. This reduces friction between phases and makes it easier to work in a structured way with quality and change.
Azure in combination with product data and PIM
Product data is a central focus in many of Pico's solutions. Azure is used here as a platform for storing, processing, and distributing data to and from PIM systems and other business systems.
This means that product data can:
Be collected and validated from multiple sources
Be enriched and structured in PIM
Be distributed in a controlled manner to websites, commerce platforms, partners, and internal systems
Be monitored and documented with a focus on quality and compliance
Azure makes it possible to establish this coherence in a way that can be scaled and adapted as the business evolves.
Long-term operations, security, and governance
A significant part of Pico's work with Azure is about ensuring stable operations and clear frameworks for responsibility and governance. The platform supports a systematic approach to security, access management, monitoring, and documentation.
For clients, this means that solutions not only work in the present, but are also able to meet future requirements from the market, regulatory bodies, and internal stakeholders. Azure is used as a tool to create order and predictability in an otherwise complex digital landscape.
Typical connections to other areas at Pico
Azure rarely stands alone. The platform is closely connected to Pico's other areas of work, including PIM and data modelling, integration between systems, websites and commerce solutions, and work with governance and data quality.
Within this whole, Azure serves as the technical link that makes it possible to translate business requirements into stable, coherent, and future-proof solutions.