Kronos and Microsoft Azure deliver a holistic sporting software experience

One platform for 28 software systems

Kronos services a wide range of national and international sporting events. Being at the center of sports technology, it understands the importance of cloud-based technology. However, for one of its clients, the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Organizing Committee, digital transformation was not an easy feat. 

“The deficiency of the digital product and the processes forced us to challenge the status of this existing technology,” said Turgut Gambarov Program Lead, Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Organizing Committee.  

Kronos had a goal of making its products and offerings available and easily achievable by many sporting and non-sporting organizations. To do that, it had to integrate 28 different sporting software systems into one cloud-based platform. To build a solution that will satisfy international sporting events like the Special Olympics World Games Berlin, Kronos turned to Microsoft, joining Microsoft for Startups and the Founders Hub program. Kronos did this not only for its longstanding partnership with Microsoft, but for the scalability and security of a cloud platform like Microsoft Azure.

“What makes us unique is we like to blend top-notch algorithms along with leading technologies. Especially like our partnership with Azure, which guarantees smart, scalable event solutions,” Bindi Balazs, Senior Project Manager at Kronos, said.

Building for sporting events

Kronos partnered with Azure to create an offering with scalable workflows and connections to various APIs to ensure seamless integration for global use. 

“Eventum's collaboration with Microsoft is instrumental in enhancing our product's capabilities. Together, we are optimizing its cloud infrastructure for scalability and reliability, implementing advanced security measures, and introducing innovative features to streamline user workflows and promote seamless real-time collaboration. This partnership underscores the product's vital role in shaping the future of business operations,” Mehmet Altuntas, Software Solutions Director, said.

Kronos's solution, Eventum, is comprised of fully customizable modules and interfaces that seamlessly integrate with legacy systems and existing applications on a single platform. It meets industry standards and cloud computing. The tailor-made and industrialized cloud-based event management service provides the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 Organizing Committee with ideal solutions, scalable capabilities, and ease of use.  

Eventum has two main modules—Competition and Non-Competition. These are trusted and preferred by multi-disciplinary organizations that deliver highly visible projects. 

The two main modules are broken down into:

Competition

• Competition Management  
• Integration to professional timing and scoring systems 
• Options of utilizing permanent legacy systems 
• Information Diffusion Portal (Schedule & Results) 
• Live and post-live results 
• Event Website / Mobile Application 
• Options for TV Graphics creation or integration  

Non-Competition:

• Event Creation & Configuration 
• Registration 
• Accreditation 
• Accommodation 
• Arrivals & Departures 
• Integration options for 3rd party systems  

While Kronos event systems give a huge advantage in managing events, it also has a unique system for identifying and developing sporting talent and another for developing customized e-learning, which educational bodies and ministries can use.  

 “It was a key element for us to try to raise the bar of the games by using the innovative technologies. Some of the key evaluation factors for us were the company’s technology they are using and to what extent they understand the acceptance criteria set by us. We’re happy having Kronos and its solutions to help deliver the most digital Special Olympics World Games ever,” Gambarov said.  

Cloud-based sporting events

Now, thanks to Azure, Kronos has access to:   

• Strengthened cybersecurity, integrating advanced Azure technologies for robust data protection and compliance with global standards like GDPR 
• Azure’s extensive infrastructure  
  • Kronos significantly expanded its global reach, offering highly available and reliable services across different regions and cultures 
•  Azure's scalable cloud capabilities  
  • Now, Kronos can efficiently manage large-scale operations and data, adapting to the growing needs of businesses globally
    
    

Supporting global sporting events

Kronos plans to continue to work with Microsoft to make its software and solutions easily accessible from all locations in the world through widely known and used platforms, such as promoting through the Microsoft commercial marketplace.

“Today, all over the globe, many entities and organizations are planning and delivering their events; our products and services are there to ease their job. Developing the system and solutions by embracing 28 different timing systems and platforms into one to tell the story of the games could not be possible without the [Azure] team and its products,” Balazs said.