EPAM joins OpenAI partner network for enterprise AI

EPAM has joined the OpenAI Partner Network as an OpenAI Advanced Partner, bringing it into closer alignment with OpenAI's work with large business customers.

Under the arrangement, EPAM will help enterprises integrate OpenAI models into existing and new operations, with a focus on security, governance and regulatory requirements. Its engineers will connect models to applications, data and workflows across core business functions.

The partnership comes as companies move beyond early generative AI trials and face pressure to show business results from broader deployments. For many large organisations, that has shifted attention to implementation, controls and the technical work required to fit AI tools into established systems.

EPAM said its OpenAI practice will target Global 2000 companies. It also plans to develop specialised training for forward-deployed engineers and certify more than 5,000 consultants with more than 10,000 credentials in the first year.

That training target reflects the labour demands emerging around enterprise AI projects. Companies adopting large language models have increasingly sought external partners that combine software engineering with cybersecurity, compliance and sector-specific operational knowledge.

In comments accompanying the announcement, EPAM outlined its view of where the market is heading.

"The next era of enterprise AI isn't about deploying models, it's about applying strategic intelligence, and the right talent, to solve real business problems safely and at scale," said Elaina Shekhter, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at EPAM. "Our foundation of secure enterprise deployment, AI-native SDLCs, embedded cybersecurity and forward-deployed engineering expertise is what enables us to turn frontier models into production-ready outcomes. With OpenAI, we're combining the world's leading models with best-in-class engineering to help executive leaders accelerate innovation, strengthen operational resilience and deliver differentiated customer experiences that drive real business growth."

OpenAI has been building a partner ecosystem around enterprise adoption of its models, giving services companies and systems integrators a formal route to work with customers on implementation. EPAM's new status places it among firms seeking to bridge the gap between OpenAI's model development and the practical work of embedding those models into business processes.

Enterprise demand

EPAM said the partnership will support projects across customer service, marketing, sales and business operations, including AI-enabled customer interactions and the secure connection of OpenAI models to enterprise systems.

These are areas where many businesses have started with contained use cases, such as internal assistants, customer support tools and workflow automation, before considering wider deployment. The challenge for service providers is to turn those pilots into systems that can be managed at scale and withstand regulatory scrutiny.

OpenAI also framed the agreement as part of that broader shift from experimentation to operational use.

"We're pleased to welcome EPAM as an OpenAI Advanced Partner. EPAM's deep engineering expertise and enterprise transformation experience can help organizations turn the potential of AI into real-world results," said Colleen Kapase, Vice President, Strategic Global Partners & Ecosystems at OpenAI. "Through the OpenAI Partner Network, EPAM can help more enterprises move from AI pilots to measurable business impact."

Client example

EPAM pointed to existing client work with OpenAI technologies as evidence of demand for such services, citing a project with German telecommunications provider 1&1 focused on customer operations through agentic AI.

According to EPAM, the platform now handles a considerable share of customer calls each week through more than 20 AI agents, and the first production deployment was completed in under three months. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The customer described the project as part of a broader push to apply generative AI in operations.

"EPAM supported us in launching key GenAI initiatives to enhance our customer operations," said Christian Neuroth, Head of GenAI Customer Operations at 1&1. "EPAM's AI/Run.Transform enables orchestration of intelligent agents for omnichannel support via phone or digital assistants, improving customer experience and resolution speed. EPAM combines deep technical expertise with a strong commitment to scalable, future-ready solutions."

EPAM is based in Pennsylvania and provides software engineering, product development and consulting services to large companies and other clients. Its closer alignment with OpenAI adds to growing competition among technology services groups seeking a larger share of enterprise spending on AI integration, oversight and operational redesign.