Microsoft is closing all of its stores, including those in Canada, the company announced today in a news release.

The tech giant said it will be closing its physical stores and making a "strategic change in its retail operations" that will include online sales, training and support.

All of Microsoft's 82 stores (seven stores in Canada) have been closed since the pandemic shutdown in March, and now the company is looking to reinvest its real estate funds into its digital storefront.

"Since the Microsoft Store locations closed in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the retail team has helped small businesses and education customers digitally transform," the statement reads.

"[It's] virtually trained hundreds of thousands of enterprise and education customers on remote work and learning software; and helped customers with support calls."

"The retail team members will serve consumers, small-business, education, and enterprise customers, while building a pipeline of talent with transferable skills."

The statement notes that the closure of its physical storefronts will save it approximately $450 million, or $0.05 per share.