EPAM fast-tracks AI readiness and project outcomes with Microsoft Applied Skills

With more than 60,000 employees in 55+ countries, EPAM Systems is a global leader in digital engineering and AI-powered software engineering services. It helps clients in industries like healthcare, retail, and manufacturing modernize their systems and adapt to AI-powered transformation.

EPAM wants to accelerate how it prepares engineers to contribute from day one of their projects and ensure their skills align with project needs. As client projects grew more complex and AI became central to both internal tools and customer solutions, the company needed a scalable way to build project-ready talent and support customers’ adoption of AI and cloud. “It’s crucial for leaders to stay ahead of fast-moving technologies like AI,” says Beniamin Gyurjyan, Head of EPAM in Armenia.

Bridging training and real-world delivery

EPAM’s advanced skilling management program takes a holistic approach, combining Microsoft resources—including Certifications, Microsoft Applied Skills, and project-ready trainings—with EPAM’s own role-based skilling programs, such as AI Literacy for Managers. This ensures teams are ready to take on client projects.

EPAM chose Applied Skills to validate real-world capabilities and accelerate delivery-focused onboarding. This portfolio of scenario-based credentials helps employees demonstrate job-ready capabilities by completing practical tasks in an interactive assessment.

For EPAM, that translates to faster onboarding, stronger delivery alignment, and a competitive edge with clients. EPAM had long built its own internal training materials to support onboarding and skill development. “We used to have to develop almost everything ourselves—assignments, updates, lab flows,” says Aliaksei Babuk, Systems Engineering Manager and Head of the Azure Education Unit at EPAM. “Now we can take Applied Skills, integrate it, and get a ready training product. It saves time and brings learners closer to the actual work they’ll do.”

By weaving Applied Skills into its internal training, the company has replaced much of the custom content it used to create from scratch. “One of the ways we differentiate ourselves for clients is by making it real,” says Alisa Chernysh, Senior Alliance Director at EPAM. “With Applied Skills, we can move beyond academic knowledge to demonstrate proficiency and client impact. That gives us a competitive advantage.”

Engineers use Applied Skills to build practical experience with tools like GitHub Copilot, especially when working on AI and migration projects. “Most of our employees are using AI tools now, and that number will rise,” says Gyurjyan. “In fact, 30% of code is already written using GitHub Copilot.” He adds, “Task-specific assessments in Applied Skills show us that our engineers are ready to deliver modern solutions. Employees with Applied Skills are better prepared for delivery-focused work and onboard faster into projects.”

This skills-based approach aligns with EPAM’s staffing model. “We define project roles based on skill metrics, and Applied Skills helps us verify them,” says Alexander Lipkin, Director of Technology Solutions. “We rely on Applied Skills credentials and other certifications to validate the skills required for the project or role—tailored to customer requirements—and match it with our talent pool around the world, giving our clients the talent they need to succeed. Whether it’s GitHub Copilot, container apps, Azure networking, or Copilot Studio, we know they’re ready for delivery.” EPAM is also incorporating AI-specific Applied Skills scenarios such as creating AI agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio and implementing real-time intelligence using Microsoft Fabric. These assessments help engineers practice production-grade AI workflows that reflect the projects EPAM teams are already delivering.