Podcasts about microsoft business applications

Wie funktioniert PreSales bei einem Tech-Giganten wie Microsoft? Michael Glaab gibt Einblicke in den PreSales-Setup für Business Applications, die Zusammenarbeit mit Partnern, Teamstrukturen und die Skills, die heute wirklich zählen. Es geht um Cross-Selling statt New Logos, Team-Quoten statt Einzelziele und die Frage, warum technologischer Tiefgang alleine heute nicht mehr reicht. Ein weiterer Punkt: Warum Automatisierung und Outcome-Denken zur neuen Baseline werden und was PreSales mit einem Growth Mindset wirklich erreichen kann. Michael bei Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelglaab/ ----------

This episode is sponsored by Resco and their Resco Next 2025 event. Resco's annual event focused on advanced mobility, Resco Next, will be in Valencia on May 20 and 21 this year. The team has a variety of experiences planned, including a live podcast episode of Ambush on Air, the popular marketing-focused podcast series hosted by marketing consultant and NetStock partner marketing lead Sam Bush, our guest on this episode. Sam has established herself in the Microsoft channel as voice for thoughtful marketing and demand generation, with a  focus on impactful, people-to-people campaigns and strategies. She also tells us about her focus on bringing B2B marketing to younger generations and the challenges and opportunities of that effort. And since MSDW is a media partner for the event, this episode offered a good opportunity to talk about some of the broader event themes we will be covering including advanced mobility software and services in the context of Microsoft Business Applications.

Jukka Niiranen is a former Microsoft MVP and a current Power Platform expert, offering his services through his own firm and sharing his views regularly on social media and in his newsletter. On this episode, Jukka joins us to talk about how his career has evolved, his current work, his technology outlook, and a few hints at his upcoming licensing session at DynamicsMinds 2025 (where MSDW is a media partner).  Jukka's career has evolved in the last decade from a consulting role with a Microsoft partner to founding a services firm to now opening his own consultancy. He also recently made the decision to end his 11-year streak as a Microsoft MVP and we discuss that experience. And Jukka shares some context on how the evolution of Microsoft Business Applications has shaped his advice to clients regarding AI, Power Platform, D365 apps, and more.  Show Notes: 1:00 - Jukka's professional history,  including his newest venture and the transition from CRM to Power Platform and low code advisory Clients in the low-code world are not exactly the same as CRM decision makers 4:30 - The emergence of Microsoft's low-code vision with the components that became Power Platform 7:30 - The ongoing separation in the Power Apps community between CRM-based and dev-based 15:15 - What Jukka has learned from looking at Microsoft's Ideas sites 17:15 - Experience after retiring his MVP status 26:30 - How Jukka's views in writing and advisory work overlap 28:00 - Jukka's presentation on Power Platform licensing at DynamicsMinds 2025 34:30 - What kind of AI conversations is Jukka having with customers today 43:45 - Security and governance issues as it relates to AI in enterprise software 49:00 - About Jukka's newsletter, Perspectives Plus Where to find Jukka: Newsletter: https://perspectives.plus/ Company: https://niiranenadvisory.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jukkaniiranen/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jukkan.bsky.social Mastodon: https://mstdn.social/@jukkan

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTEShttps://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/644In this episode, we dive into the exhilarating leap from MVP status to freelancing, as Angelo Gulisano unveils the freedom and creativity that self-employment affords. We offer listeners a roadmap for successfully marketing oneself as a freelancer, emphasizing the power of community engagement through conferences, blogging, and leveraging tools like the Creator Kit and Figma for Power Apps. Whether you're an aspiring freelancer or a seasoned tech professional, Angelo's insights promise a blend of inspiration and practical strategies to thrive in the ever-evolving tech landscape.  • Introduction to Angelo and his life in Italy • Journey in the IT field leading to MVP status • Transitioning from corporate life to freelancing • Overcoming fears associated with leaving job security  • Strategies for finding clients and self-promotion • Discussion on the Creator Kit and its benefits • Insights into public speaking and its impact on professional growth • Preparation techniques for effective presentations • The Power Platform community in Italy is supportive and collaborative • Angelo emphasizes the importance of soft skills in marketing oneself • Angelo uses the Creator Kit for application development • Networking through conferences helps in finding clients • Angelo's journey reflects a blend of personal passion and professional expertise.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/643  This episode explores the evolving landscape of recruitment within the Microsoft ecosystem, focusing on the growing trend of in-house talent acquisition over traditional partnerships. Bilal (Bill) Khan shares his personal journey, insights on the importance of AI skills, and the vital role of personal branding in securing opportunities in the tech industry.• Discussion on the shift from Microsoft partners to in-house recruitment teams • Importance of empathy and the human element in recruitment • Emerging need for AI skills in the job market • Insights on personal branding and its impact on careers • Reflections on family, food, and fun as integral to work-life balance• How can career development be self-initiated in partner organizations? • Why is building in-house teams becoming a more cost-effective strategy for businesses? • How can agencies adapt their approach to client relationships to stay competitive? • How is AI expected to revolutionize recruitment by 2025? • Why are empathy and effective communication essential in recruitment?In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/642 This episode showcases Kristoffer Ruyeras, a new MVP, as he shares insights into his journey navigating the tech landscape, the importance of community engagement, and the blend of personal heritage with professional passion. His experiences highlight how storytelling and connection shape the road to becoming an MVP and the value of knowledge-sharing platforms like blogs and podcasts. • Exploration of Kristoffer's background and cultural heritage • Insights into the Mantolio blog and its mission • Overview of the Dynamics Corner podcast and its organic style • Discussion about community engagement and networking experiences• Becoming an MVP is a journey of learning, sharing, and community involvement.• Kristoffer's journey highlights the value of mentorship • Reflections on the journey to becoming an MVP and the significance of sharing knowledge• Learn the importance of education and continuous learning in his career.• Kristoffer believes in the power of community to help individuals grow in their careers.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/641  PowerShell and SharePoint Premium are powerful tools that often go underappreciated in the Microsoft ecosystem. In the episode, we explore their potential to streamline operations, automate tasks, and enhance document management through community-driven practices and AI integrations.• Overview of Kasper Larsen's background and expertise • Importance of PowerShell for automation and efficiency • Description of Patterns and Practices (PMP) as a community initiative • Insights into SharePoint Premium's enhanced features and AI capabilities • The role of AI in document management and automatic translation • Discussion on the future of PowerShell within the Microsoft 365 ecosystemIn 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/640 Asif Rehmani's journey as a Microsoft MVP showcases the vital intersection of user support and technology adoption. Through his work with Visual SP, he reveals how contextual assistance can effectively bridge knowledge gaps and empower employees at every stage of their careers. • Discussion of the MVP journey and experiences • Insights into the evolution of Visual SP • Importance of contextual support for users • Personal anecdotes linking life experiences to professional growth • Reflections on the changes within the MVP program over the years • Exploration of effective educational tools and their impact on user training • Emphasis on community and networking among MVPsOTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/639  Discover the transformative journey of Douglas Daley from Sydney as he shifts from a tech-focused career at IBM to a more business-centric role at PwC. Gain insights into how this evolution is not just a career pivot but a holistic change that enhances both professional and personal life. Doug's tale is as much about embracing business perspectives to boost organizational performance as it is about balancing these insights with passions outside work, like his love for pre-industrial furniture making. This episode unpacks how traditional crafts can offer a much-needed antidote to burnout culture, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.Explore how AI is revolutionizing technology consulting, with a focus on creating a diverse personal knowledge base. This episode sheds light on the tools that are shaping the field, from ChatGPT to Midjourney, and emphasizes the significance of adopting AI-enhanced methods for capturing and organizing information. We also discuss the pressing need for creativity and caution against becoming overly reliant on AI-generated content. With Doug's valuable reflections, listeners will understand the impact and potential of AI tools like Notion AI in streamlining business processes and how they are reclaiming time for more profound, creative endeavors.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/638 Experience the inspiring journey of C R Bhargavi, a senior software engineer at Ford Motor Company, who blends her technological expertise with her rich cultural heritage. Sparked by her father's legacy as a software project manager, Bhargavi walks us through her path into the tech world, focusing her talents on the Power Platform to revolutionize business processes. As she shares her story, listeners are invited to explore how her early exposure to technology set the foundation for her career and how her Indian roots and artistic passions in fashion design and Bharatanatyam dance shape her personal and professional life.Join us in this episode as we explore the intricacies of balancing a career with personal passions through Bhargavi's experiences. Discover her role at Ford, where she applies her Power Apps skills to tackle business challenges, reflecting the company's commitment to Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Hear firsthand how community networking and familial guidance molded her journey, and find inspiration in her story of integrating technology with the arts. This conversation sheds light on the multifaceted nature of a career in tech, celebrating the fusion of cultural influences and professional accomplishments.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/637  Discover the inspiring journey of Cat Schneider, a senior software engineer at Hitachi Solutions America, as she shares her remarkable career transformation from working in the public sector to becoming a passionate advocate for Power Platform tools. Through her engaging story, you'll learn how a mentoring relationship at the Florida Department of Transportation ignited her interest in Power BI, leading to the creation of a community with over 300 active users. Cat's enthusiasm for integrating these tools not only revolutionized her organization but also positioned her as a sought-after speaker at conferences and opened doors to multiple job offers, including one from Microsoft. This episode is filled with insights into how passion and community can drive innovation and success in both personal and professional realms.We also tackle the significant topic of accessibility, particularly in the public sector, with a focus on making digital content and laws available to all. Cat sheds light on the challenges posed by Florida's sunshine laws and shares her experience forming a user group dedicated to UX, UI, and accessibility. Highlighting the fun yet exhausting world of conferences, she brings a sense of humor with tales of dressing up as a dinosaur, while also sharing her pet projects involving Power Apps and electronics with Arduino and Raspberry Pi. This episode promises to leave you inspired and motivated to explore the transformative potential of technology in creating inclusive and innovative solutions.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/636 Meet Villem Heinsalu, a seasoned Dynamics 365 Business Central developer from Estonia, who shares his journey from a traditional partner role to becoming a freelance MVP developer. With a newborn son and a passion for simple yet well-made food and paddle tennis, Villem offers a rich tapestry of personal insights intertwined with professional wisdom. This episode promises to unpack the nuances of freelancing, the art of self-promotion, and the delicate balance of managing freelance projects alongside a full-time job. Villem's transition into entrepreneurship, spurred by opportunities on LinkedIn, provides an authentic narrative to anyone considering a similar path.We also dive into the dynamics of customer relationships in the ERP sphere and explore long-term service models that extend beyond initial implementations. Villem candidly discusses pricing strategies, the challenges of overdue payments, and the immense value of community contributions on his journey to becoming a Microsoft MVP. Discover how achieving MVP status can enhance professional visibility, and get practical advice for aspiring MVPs who aim to impact the community with originality and generosity. Whether you're curious about freelancing or aiming for MVP recognition, Villem's story provides both inspiration and actionable guidance for navigating the evolving landscape of the tech industry.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/635  Unlock the secrets to navigating the dynamic world of software ecosystems with us as we reflect on an extraordinary year of innovation and transformation. Our journey has been nothing short of remarkable, highlighted by the launch of Cloud Lighthouse in January 2024 and the burgeoning influence of Dynamics Minds, an event like no other, merging the sophistication of Davos with the creativity of Burning Man for Microsoft's community. We explore Microsoft's evolution from a stalwart software company into a trailblazing AI-driven organization, reshaping the very nature of business applications and redefining tech events. Our experiences in building BizApps and Azure practices reveal the vital importance of adaptability in an ever-changing tech landscape. Challenge the status quo with us as we advocate for a shift from traditional, siloed business practices to a comprehensive, global approach in cloud technology. The limitations of maintaining isolated, product-focused practices are laid bare as we champion a holistic cloud strategy that fosters cross-functional collaboration and integration. Drawing from a powerful example in Australia, we discuss how centralizing practices across regions can unlock significant growth potential and enhance customer service. As remote work continues to revolutionize the workforce, we highlight its societal benefits and caution against reverting to outdated office-centric models.Gaze into the future as we anticipate the evolution of AI, predicting a transition from "co-pilots" to "agents" by 2025. Our discussion delves into how AI can become more intuitive and seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, enhancing productivity by adapting to individual user preferences. We celebrate these achievements in the software ecosystem with engaging and insightful discussions that have sparked laughter and growth. As we wrap up, we thank our audience for their invaluable feedback and encourage everyone to stay connected for more innovative strategies to push boundaries and create value in the ever-evolving world of technology. In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/634  Join us for an enlightening conversation with Jay Wellings, the head of development at Volato, who brings a wealth of experience from the greater Portsmouth area. As an aficionado of great steak dinners, Jay shares not just his culinary preferences but also his career journey from studying computer science in 2003 to becoming a powerhouse in the Microsoft ecosystem by 2016. This episode offers a rich narrative of Jay's passion for front-end development and how web technologies have dynamically evolved, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the Microsoft Power Platform's enterprise capabilities.Do you think the Microsoft Power Platform is only for small-scale projects? Think again. We dismantle this misconception by showcasing its robust features and the significant impact it can have on enterprise-level operations. Jay shares his firsthand experience with a major financial institution where he orchestrated a comprehensive digital transformation strategy, proving skeptics wrong about the platform's scalability and effectiveness. Built on Microsoft's secure Azure cloud infrastructure, the Power Platform is far from a "beginner's tool" and is ready to tackle mission-critical workloads with an ironclad approach to security and compliance, especially in sectors like finance.The conversation takes an exciting turn as we discuss the potent combination of data centralization and AI. Jay provides insights into transitioning from siloed data management to a streamlined, centralized data schema using Microsoft Dataverse, a critical step towards harnessing the power of AI. Hear how clean data paves the way for innovative AI applications in industries like retail and banking, turning mundane tasks into automated marvels and revolutionizing customer service. As AI cements its role in the technological toolbox, this episode underscores the importance of thoughtful integration, maintained by robust data practices, to unlock untapped possibilities within the Microsoft ecosystem.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/633  Imagine a world where technology and martial arts intertwine to create a tapestry of personal and professional success. That's the landscape we're exploring with Charlie Phipps-Bennett, a remarkable tech industry talent from Weymouth, England. Discover how a chance encounter nearly turned perilous and became a pivotal moment in his life, thanks to his training in boxing and Muay Thai. Charlie's story isn't just about physical defense; it's a powerful testament to the life skills martial arts instill, shaping discipline and strengthening character. In an era where self-defense is crucial, Charlie's journey offers valuable lessons and inspiring insights for both adults and children.But the journey doesn't end there. Celebrating Charlie's remarkable achievement of winning the UK Tech Star of the Year award in 2023, we pivot to his groundbreaking community efforts. Despite living miles away in Weymouth, he's at the heart of building the Scottish Power Platform User Group, fostering collaboration and growth for Power Platform professionals in Scotland. Get the inside scoop on camaraderie at the awards, including fun-filled moments with peers like Chris Huntingford. With support from Mark Christie and the Scottish Summit team, Charlie's story is a beacon for aspiring MVPs, showcasing how dedication to community and technology can create ripple effects that transcend borders.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereIn 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/631   Discover how the Microsoft Power Platform is revolutionizing the tech landscape with insights from Andrew Butenko, a seasoned Solution Technical Architect and Microsoft MVP, who joins us to share his journey and current innovative projects at Excellent Solutions. You'll learn how Andrew's personal efforts to support Ukraine during the ongoing conflict highlight the country's technological advancements, such as the use of FPV drones in modern warfare. Reflecting on the exceptional skills of Ukrainian professionals, we'll explore the Power Platform's significant implications for both citizen and pro developers, emphasizing its untapped potential.Our conversation unpacks the evolution of Power Platform development, spotlighting key components like PCF controls, plugins, and custom connectors. Reminisce with us about the early days of Telerik controls and our anticipation of a similar market for PCF controls that has yet to materialize. We'll discuss the emerging capabilities of PowerFX plugins and examine the critical responsibilities of pro developers in creating flexible custom connectors and ensuring robust UI validation. We'll also address the challenges of aligning real business needs with system implementations, sharing insights into effective data capture practices to enhance user experience and prevent system errors.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/630  Ever wondered how technology can revolutionize both education and business? Join us as we explore this transformative journey with Rafsan Huseynov, a senior IT program manager and enterprise architect from Washington DC, who has just earned his first MVP award in 2024. Rafsan, a passionate advocate for community empowerment, shares his inspiring story—from his beginnings at the United Nations to his academic pursuits in Italy. We dive into his love for culinary adventures across Europe and discuss how these experiences shape his approach to continuous learning and professional growth.Rafsan guides us through the fascinating world of the Power Platform and its pivotal role in modernizing educational curriculums worldwide. Discover how tools like Power BI and Power Apps are not just streamlining processes but also empowering students from all walks of life, including fields like nursing, to innovate and prepare for the evolving job market. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from traditional ERP systems to agile solutions and get Rafsan's insights on balancing technical skills with business acumen. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or an industry professional, this episode offers valuable takeaways on mastering solution architecture and harnessing the potential of AI within the Power Platform.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/629Ever wondered how traditional software management can be transformed by innovative AI solutions? Join us as we navigate the exhilarating Ignite 2024 through the eyes of our field reporter, Chris Huntingford. With over 200 AI sessions and an emphasis on Contact Center advancements, Chris vividly captures the conference's electrifying atmosphere. Meanwhile, back at our studio, we reflect on the sheer joy of merging hands-on collaboration with cutting-edge AI capabilities, highlighting a rewarding return to the essentials like data modelling.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we dive into the complexities of on-demand licensing for Copilot studio, illuminating the challenges organizations face in financial forecasting. We also take you on a cultural journey through London's vibrant networking scene, where we share anecdotes from our 2017 move to the UK, shedding light on the distinct business drinking culture and the unique expressions that bring a touch of humor to serious business meetings. Our experiences paint a picture of a collaborative environment where professionals from the UK and the US come together to bridge cultural gaps and foster innovation.Finally, we shed light on the rising phenomenon of "shadow AI" in the workplace and the pressing need for robust governance frameworks. Discover the latest developments in Microsoft's GitHub Copilot and the seamless integration between AI Foundry and AI Studio, promising a tailored and advanced experience for developers. As we bring this episode to a close, we reflect on the myriad of technological advancements and cultural insights, encouraging you to engage with the ongoing dialogue and explore the future of software innovation.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/628  Join us as we sit down with Georgia Tsoraklidou, the dynamic HR Digital Cell Lead at SLB, who has successfully championed the integration of Microsoft's Power Platform. From her multicultural roots in Greece to her adventurous life in Houston, Georgia's stories are both inspiring and relatable. She shares candid insights into her journey—how an unexpected interview question led her to embrace the Power Platform, despite having no prior knowledge. This episode not only highlights her professional achievements but also delves into her passions for language, travel, and savouring the world's diverse cuisines.Our conversation takes you inside SLB's innovative approach to digital transformation, fueled by a network of 'agents' spreading Power Platform expertise company-wide. Discover how the pandemic accelerated SLB's digital efforts and learn about the creative solutions these agents devised—from emergency response apps to automating routine processes. Georgia's experiences underline the importance of curiosity and the willingness to embrace change, ensuring you leave with fresh insights on balancing technical prowess with a lifelong love for learning. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a curious listener, Georgia's journey offers a unique perspective on thriving in a rapidly evolving world. In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. 90 Day Mentoring ChallengeMicrosoft Business Applications Career Mentor for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/627 Discover the incredible journey of Manonmani VS, a Microsoft MVP who has risen to prominence within the Microsoft Dynamics community. From her beginnings in Coimbatore, India, to her current role as a community leader in Sydney, Manonmani shares her transformative story of breaking into the tech industry despite initial challenges. Her passion for Microsoft Dynamics CRM not only propelled her career but also turned her into a serial community leader, avid event organizer, and influential speaker. Manonmani's reflections on embracing diverse cultures and savouring cuisines add a personal touch to her professional narrative, offering inspiration for aspiring MVPs and tech enthusiasts.Join us as we explore Manonmani's impactful work in aligning CRM systems across multiple regions, showcasing her resilience and strategic acumen. She reveals her commitment to building inclusive tech communities, empowering women in tech, and nurturing IT career transitions through initiatives like IT Transfer Launch. Her transition from an introvert to a key leader in the Asian Microsoft Business Applications User Group demonstrates the power of personal growth and community engagement. This episode is a testament to the strength of active, inclusive tech communities and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the constantly evolving tech landscape.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90 Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/626  Discover how a mathematician from Hyderabad became a leading voice in the tech community. Join us for an episode that chronicles Vibhuti Dadhich's fascinating journey from numbers to code, illuminating her passion for low-code development on the Microsoft Power Platform. With a focus on creating "mega apps" that transform business operations, Vibhuti shares her insights into leveraging these robust solutions for long-term enterprise success. Her personal narrative intertwines with the dynamic growth she has witnessed in Hyderabad, providing a compelling backdrop to her endeavors in technology.In our second segment, we unravel the powerful impact of AI in intelligent document processing, revealing how it's reshaping industries worldwide. Listen as we discuss the surge in demand for AI-driven automation, tackling everything from sales order generation to advanced integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams and SAP databases. As organizations navigate adopting AI, we delve into the complexities of choosing between standard ERP connectors and crafting custom integrations for optimized efficiency. This episode is brimming with actionable insights for anyone looking to harness the potential of AI and the Power Platform in today's digital landscape.In 2024, we celebrated seven years of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast. Now, we step into 2025 with a fresh new name. Welcome to the Microsoft Innovation podcast! Our new name reflects a broader vision, exploring the intersection of people, business, technology, and AI. Justin WelshJustin Welsh's LinkedIn Operating System—the guide to finding your voice on LinkedIn.Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Off to a slower start than many sectors with Cloud transformation, due to regulation lag, Financial Services is now picking up pace.  With challenger banks moving into the sector and regulations have caught up, so its now not just about moving to Cloud, its about Cloud enabled business growth. This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to Pranati Dave, Practice Director @ Everest Group, about the state of Cloud in FS, highlights from recent Everest research into Enterprise Maturity Models for Microsoft Business Applications and how these models can help accelerate digital change in your organization.TLDR00:00 Chase glitch confusion06:25 Cloud conversation with Pranati Dave36:20 4 dimensions of Maturity41:20  Family time!Resources'Enterprise Maturity Model for Microsoft Business Applications in Financial Services'https://www2.everestgrp.com/reportaction/EGR-2024-31-V-6490/Marketinghttps://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/enterprise-maturity-model-for-microsoft-business-applications-in-fs/ GuestPranati Goswami Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranati-dave/ Hosts Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/ Esmee van de Giessen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esmeevandegiessen/ Rob Kernahan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kernahan/Production Marcel van der Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-vd-burg/ Dave Chapman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chapmandr/  Sound Ben Corbett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-corbett-3b6a11135/ Louis Corbett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corbett-087250264/'Cloud Realities' is an original podcast from Capgemini

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/595  Imagine transforming your perceived weaknesses into your greatest strengths. This special takeover episode of the Microsoft Business Applications podcast features an insightful interview with Mark Smith, hosted by Meg Smith to celebrate our seven-year anniversary. Mark shares his deep affection for family, food, and fun, and how his commitment to a sustainable lifestyle has shaped his journey. From gardening and reading to his occasional love for gaming, Mark delves into how his personal interests have interwoven with his professional life at Microsoft.Mark's story is nothing short of inspirational. He recounts his journey from struggling learner to an accomplished computer training instructor, revealing how he navigated and overcame the limitations of traditional education systems. Battling through dyslexia, Mark discovered that what was seen as a disability was his superpower, enabling him to develop extraordinary spatial thinking and problem-solving skills. He even managed to convert a barn into a livable home, exemplifying his creative prowess. This chapter of Mark's life challenges conventional definitions of intelligence and learning, showcasing the potential that lies in embracing one's unique abilities. Becoming a Microsoft MVP was a turning point for Mark, both personally and professionally. He shares the initial spark that led him to become an MVP and how it has opened doors to global opportunities and significant career advancements. The discussion also touches on the broader influence of audacity, especially for women, in seeking personal growth. Mark reflects on the importance of challenging societal norms to live an authentic life, emphasizing how embracing boldness can lead to profound personal and professional transformation. Join us for this heartfelt and empowering episode that highlights Mark's journey and his dedication to uplifting others through initiatives like the 90-Day Mentoring Challenge.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP 90 Day Mentoring Challenge 10% off code use MBAP at checkout https://ako.nz365guy.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

Julie Yack joins Dynamics Hotdish this week to chat about a new training program she's championing for skilling up Ukrainians on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Julie is an expert in training on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform so we also discuss some training tips and tricks in this episode, along with several resources to help you level up your training. You'll also find out some fun facts about Julie, like how she's been to over 80 countries!     This episode was recorded on-site at DynamicsCon LIVE. If you're interested in attending next year, keep an eye on their website: https://live.dynamicscon.com/. There's also a FREE virtual event this fall (https://dynamicscon.com/), and tons of local user groups you can join.   Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieyack  Need help with implementation of a Microsoft product or training? Reach out to Julie's company Colorado Technology Consultants: https://www.coloradotc.com/  Learn more about Julie's company focused on training on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform: https://365.training/  Training can be end-user focused or to help train consultants  Tips on Training:  Know your user personas and teach them how to use the software in the way that's best for them  When delivering initial system training, don't teach several ways to do something – pick the best way for that job role and train on that method  Identify the influencers who will be impactful to others on the project and work to alleviate their concerns or promote the positives  Identify the person who will be your champion and find something that will make them happy  Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Training for Ukrainians:  Julie and other passionate Microsoft MVP's have started a program to skill-up Ukrainians on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform in a 6-week program  This programs helps Ukrainians learn a new skill that can transfer to technology implementation and is particularly helpful for people who can no longer do their traditional jobs due to displacement  A new program starts every 2 months and each has about 250 participants  Learn more about Microsoft's AI Builder tool: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ai-builder/overview  As discussed in this episode, one thing you can use this for is translating documents  If you're looking to learn more about how to work in the Microsoft Business Applications space, or what it would be like to be a consultant, check out the Microsoft Business Applications Skilling program: aka.ms/bapskilling   For even more information about getting a career in Dynamics 365 or the Power Platform, look at the Microsoft Power Up Program: https://powerup.microsoft.com/   The Pivot Program was started to help others transition into a career in technology. Looking to switch? Check it out! https://www.thepivotprogram.org/   If you're in Europe or want to travel to Europe for a fantastic, newer Dynamics 365 conference, check out Dynamics Minds! https://www.dynamicsminds.com/      What's Julie's favorite hotdish?  She doesn't have one because she LOVES food!  That's our kinda of lady!    If you want to travel the world virtually, check out Airbnb's Online Experiences: https://www.airbnb.com/s/experiences  

This episode is sponsored by Evenica.   Public sector organizations use Microsoft Business Applications for a broad range of solution needs, and the latest advances in Dynamics 365 Commerce have empowered municipalities and other government entities to transact and interact online in a compelling new ways.   In a recent panel discussion, Kelly Mazur of Microsoft partner Evenica led a discussion about what's possible for municipalities today when they leverage the full capabilities of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, including commerce.   Topics include: Evenica's outlook on Commerce in public sector How well Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations apps (including Commerce) fit in public sector organizations Unique commerce-related challenges of public sector and local governments Commerce in portals scenarios Easing the pain of RFPs   A message from Evenica: Over the past 20 years Evenica has defined Commerce as a category and become one of the leading implementers of Dynamics 365 Commerce. They work with Microsoft customers across each major industry to create synergy between transactions and interactions. You can learn more about them at Evenica.com

Microsoft MVP and MCT EY Kalman joins us in the Biz Apps Classroom to discuss Microsoft's Applied Skills and Applied Labs, his view on the employment landscape, and some tips on making yourself a more attractive candidate.   Topics of the discussion include: Microsoft certifications and their value for landing a new job. Other ways EY's team evaluates candidates based on technology, roles, and other considerations. Why EY believes the PL-200 is a good starter exam for candidates, even if they are new to Microsoft Business Applications.  Whether college matters when hiring for Business Applications consulting roles. How to interpret the completion of Applied Skills by a candidate. Why Applied Skills can be a headache for more experienced Microsoft professionals EY's recent experiences finding skilled candidates to fill his firm's open roles Tips for building your skill set without an employer   Resources: https://thecrm.ninja See all Biz Apps Classrooms episodes here. Support the podcast and get a discount on an annual plan for 365.training by visiting  https://365l.ink/MSDW. Keep up with community content at  https://mydigest.365.training/

How do you decide what's next in your learning journey in the Microsoft Business Applications space? The answer can depend on factors like your career plans, your employer's priorities, or your interests and skills.   Co-host Julie Yack has fielded this question many times and she shares some of the questions and concerns that she often hears from learners. We discuss some of the different options people have, from Microsoft's own training materials to conferences to working with trainers, and how to choose the right path forward. And we discuss some of the most interesting opportunities for people in the Dynamics and Power Platform ecosystem who are looking for a change.   Resources: See all Biz Apps Classrooms episodes here. Support the podcast and get a discount on an annual plan for 365.training by visiting https://365l.ink/MSDW. Keep up with community content at https://mydigest.365.training/

The Biz Apps Classroom welcomes its first guest on this episode, Microsoft MVP and partner executive Vlad Sarov joins us to talk about the work he, podcast co-host Julie Yack, and others have been doing on a project to bring Microsoft Business Applications skills to adults in Ukraine through an ongoing series of training cohorts. The program follows Microsoft's prescribed Business Application professional skilling collection, but the team have taken the extra effort to translate the learning materials, adapt the guidance to allow for online interaction, and develop automated translation capabilities to allow trainers who don't speak Ukrainian to still help educate the students.   Vlad and Julie share the program's history, the team effort that was required to launch it and keep it running, the outcomes for graduates, and how they hope to expand the training to more cohorts in Ukraine and perhaps in other parts of the world.   Show Notes: 1:30 - Vlad's impressions of last year's MVP Summit 3:45 - Hatching a plan to create learning cohorts in Ukraine 6:45 - Translation technology that enables a multi-language program 9:30 - Why a program from Microsoft offered a good starting point for translation and adapting to a Ukrainian cohort 12:30 - Stories of some of the students 14:30 - The typical student experience each week 18:15 - Signups available for spring and summery 2024 cohorts - how to get accepted, what is expected of students, and how the trainers adapt to student needs like difficult circumstances 23:00 - Hiring people who complete these training cohorts - what Microsoft partners can do to help 26:30 - Industries that the students are coming from, and why industry knowledge helps 28:00 - How students are learning about the program and gaining the trust to join it 31:00 - What's next for this training approach - reaching more translations and languages   Links & Resources: Ukraine training signup:  https://365l.ink/UkraineSignUp Feedback and testimonials of students:  https://www.bap-ua.sarov.plus/ Contact Vlad: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/vladsarov For more information about learning course, contact Dima Kudin Telegram: @DmytroKudin Mail: dima.kudin@dynamicalabs.com  Linkedin:  https://ua.linkedin.com/in/dmytro-kudin-0abb88239 Support the podcast and get a discount on an annual plan for 365.training by visiting https://365l.ink/MSDW.  

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/514 Ever wondered about the transformative journey from a software developer to a Microsoft business applications whizz? Our guest, Microsoft MVP Cristhian Fernandez, founder of Creativity Spark, shares his thrilling adventure of shifting gears and advancing in the dynamic tech arena. From the heart of Paraguay to the vibrant city of Tarragona in Spain, Chris bares it all. Exposing his passion for technology, the process of creating a platform community, his insights into his personal life and the decision to relocate with four kids, this episode is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.Dive deeper as we flip the coin and explore the magnificent world of the Power Platform. Unveiling the potential it holds in creating complex, enterprise-grade solutions, Cris and I ponder over the industry's magnetism towards low-code solutions and the plethora of opportunities that it unveils. Intertwining personal narratives with professional insights, this episode promises an exhilarating journey into the realm of technology, its evolving dynamics and the revolutionary Power Platform. If you are passionate about technology and its transformative power, we've got quite a ride in store for you!AgileXRM AgileXRm - The integrated BPM for Microsoft Power Platform 90 Day Mentoring Challenge 2024 https://ako.nz365guy.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/502 What happens when a tech enthusiast from Ecuador finds his calling in the vibrant city of Amsterdam? Join us as we chat with Wilmer Alcivar, an MVP from the Netherlands who is passionate about everything CRM, social media integration and adding value to CRM projects. From his early days in Ecuador to his current involvement in the Dynamics sales model and his shift towards the Power Platform, Wilmer's journey is not only intriguing but also inspiring.  Picture this – a laid-back conversation about tech, culture, and personal anecdotes, all while navigating through the maze of Microsoft Business Applications. Learn from Wilmer as he regales us with his experience with model-driven apps, canvas apps, and custom pages using the Greater Kit. He also takes us through his pioneering work with Power Pages, Power Automate Desktop, and the challenges he sees in the Power Platform. From his initial rejection to finally becoming an MVP, Wilmer's candid recount of his journey offers valuable insights. This episode promises a unique blend of personal wisdom and professional insight, all delivered with a dash of Wilmer's signature charm. OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ Power 365 Academy - https://www.power365academy.com/ GitHub - https://github.com/walcivarAgileXRM AgileXRm - The integrated BPM for Microsoft Power PlatformSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

This episode is sponsored by Wisefish.   Seafood companies face a unique mix of operational and production challenges related to sustainability, traceability, supply chain management, and cloud adoption. Our guests on this episode, Sigrun Dora and Ari Hróbjartsson of Wisefish, tell us about the ways that their company's seafood industry solutions, built on Dynamics 365 Business Central, address the needs of these companies.   Our guests discuss the history of Wisefish in the seafood market, the importance of sustainability and traceability in the industry today, the company's work in the Microsoft Business Applications channel, and how the company is positioning itself for the future through its partner program, roadmap, and go-to-market plans.   For the first time ever, Wisefish will be a silver sponsor at Directions EMEA from November 1-3, 2023.  Please visit their booth #S8 and discover how their solutions can help build a sustainable future in Seafood, and help Business Central partners gain business in the fishing industry.    They will also have a speaking session entitled “Follow That Fish: Traceability through the Wisefish Value Chain”, on November 1st at 16:16  in the Amphitheatre.     Please contact them at partner@Wisefish.com for more information   

#148. Get ready for another captivating episode of Amazing Apps! In this episode, Neil Benson engages Shawn Tabor, Director of Consulting Services at Hitachi Solutions, in an insightful conversation about the dynamic realm of Microsoft Business Applications and its role in the manufacturing and service industries. Explore Hitachi's product landscape, investment strategies, and the art of identifying patterns to create accelerators for efficient project estimations. Discover Shawn's podcasting journey, collection hobbies, and upcoming conference plans. Timestamps05:40 Improving customer experience for manufacturers07:36 The power of strategic planning09:56 The challenge of implementing Microsoft ecosystem10:59 Microsoft investment strategies14:06 Simplifying field service applications15:07 Streamlining field service20:59 Significant implementations across manufacturing, services, and healthcare21:37 Integration challenges in the field service business23:34 Power Platform innovations24:55 Agile methodology RESOURCESShawn Tabor on LinkedInHitachi Solutions websiteCommunity Summit NA: 15-20 October in Charlotte, NCSupport the showCONNECT

This episode is sponsored by Avanade.   Enterprise-scale call centers face the challenge of dispersed information across systems run by fragmented technology. As customers expect better digital-first support, customer service teams need to elevate their capabilities to deliver an expected level of performance across channels. On this episode, our guests, Abi Sridhar and Barry Givens of Avanade and Shriram Viswanathan of Accenture, dive deeper into some of the points raised in Avanade's recent webcast examining key challenges faced by executives and technology teams, and customer service leaders in providing exceptional contact center service experience to end customers while optimizing operational costs for their organizations. They share recent real-world experiences, including examples of how customers are bringing together Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Azure services, and Nuance offerings to enhance customer experience. Show Notes: 3:00 -  How are business leaders evaluating call center technology investments today? 6:45 - Approaching change management concerns that accompany digital transformation 10:30 - Where are customer care organizations finding quick wins with technology investment? 15:00 - How to approach end user security and privacy in today's projects across industries 17:45 - Understanding the basics of Nuance Gatekeeper and its expansion out of highly regulated and secure industries 20:30 - Typical risks that enterprises face during implementation projects today 25:45 - Sharing a client story that required an industry-first approach 28:00 - Perspective on Microsoft's customer care roadmap: composability, AI tools, and beyond   Find out more from Avanade about transforming service with Microsoft Digital Contact Center Platform: https://www.avanade.com/en-ca/blogs/avanade-insights/cx/transforming-contact-center-platform

M&A activity presents opportunities but can equally bring on plenty of business migraines – particularly operational struggles through the transition. How can companies make progress more quickly, efficiently, and most importantly effectively? Susannah Streeter welcomes Alex Corps, partner focused on Microsoft Business Applications innovation at Ernst & Young, LLC, United Kingdom, Bimal Pall, Strategy and Transactions partner at EY-Parthenon, and Amer Dalain, Global Solutions Strategy Leader for Dynamics 365 Finance at Microsoft, to discuss why businesses simply can't afford for transformations to fail. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. The views of third parties set out in this publication are not necessarily the views of the global EY organization or its member firms. Moreover, they should be seen in the context of the time they were made.

In 2016, a Federal Reserve payments study showed a decline in check usage. In fact, from 2000-2018, there's been a steady decline in checks at a rate of about 2 billion checks per year. Although check usage is down, spending is up. As you may have guessed, there's an upward trend in using cards, apps, and electronic payments today. But are the FSI companies well-equipped with the technological infrastructure to keep up with society's payment shift? Are they able to meet their customers in the digital world and provide them with exceptional customer service? In today's episode, we interview Landy Wingard with Hitachi Solutions to learn more about the digital transformation challenges facing the FSI companies and how the Dynamics365 platform can help. Episode Topics: What are the top digital transformation obstacles customers are facing in the FSI Industry? How are customers using D365 in the FSI Industry? Where are customers finding the most success with D365 within the FSI Industry? Useful Resources: Hitachi Solutions Hitachi Solutions + Microsoft Dynamics 365 Dynamics 365 for Financial Services Landy Wingard serves as Industry Vice President of Financial Services at Hitachi Solutions, a global business application consultancy specialized in Microsoft Business Applications and Microsoft Azure Cloud Services. With over 20+ years of experience, his focus is helping clients and partners improve performance via the Microsoft Platform and supporting technologies. His career at Hitachi Solutions includes partnership and support for hundreds of deployments in North America and international markets across a range of verticals within financial services, including banks, credit unions, private equity, asset/investment management, and professional advisory. He currently leads go-to-market strategies for financial services solutions and innovation centered around customer engagement, data management, intelligence, application modernization, and change management. Landy joined Hitachi Solutions in 2005 (formerly Customer Effective) and became Vice President of Financial Services in 2014. Hitachi Solutions is a global cloud services, and systems integrator. We are a 100% Microsoft platform-focused organization, where our people and our customers are always top priority. Our mission — “To contribute to society through the development of superior, original technology and products” — works in tandem with that of Microsoft's — “To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.” xOur team of 3,500+ world-class professionals across the globe work together to innovate and build sustainable business modernization solutions that empower our customers. Connect with Landy Wingard here – Landy Wingard | LinkedIn Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, suggestions, or feedback! We'd love to hear from you. Send your hosts an email at digestibledynamics@microsoft.com Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Going to the doctor's office or a hospital can be quite an emotionally-provoking experience. As patients, we oftentimes do not think about the back-end processes or the pre and post-appointment processes that contribute to the overall patient experience. Then there are the insurance companies and the complexities around their business. Lastly, we cannot forget the manufacturing companies that engineer and build the instruments and machines that are used to diagnose and heal us as patients. All of these different businesses, processes, and experience make up the Healthcare and Life Sciences industry within Microsoft, and today, we've brought on a D365 expert, Sarah Champ, with tons of HLS experience. Episode Topics: What are the top digital transformation obstacles customers are facing in the HLS Industry? How are customers using D365 in the HLS Industry? Where are customers finding the most success with D365 within the HLS Industry? Please share a customer success story from the HLS Industry. Useful Resources: Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare What's New in Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare Patient engagement Security of Customer Data About Sarah Champ Sarah Champ has over 14 years of experience & impact within Microsoft Business Applications at Microsoft and in the partner channel. She joined Microsoft in 2012 and has held roles in engineering, technical sales, technical sales leadership, specialist sales and most recently as the leader of the strategic business applications team in health payor and provider. Connect with Sarah Champ here – Sarah Champ | LinkedIn We'd love to hear from you: Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, suggestions or feedback! We'd love to hear from you. Send your hosts an email at digestibledynamics@microsoft.com Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/404 A brief introduction about Alexander Ermakov's family background, favourite food and interests. How did Alexander get into technology and his journey? Alexander's story about becoming a Microsoft MVP Alexander's involvement in the community Alexander shares his thoughts about using Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Finance together Alexander's recommendations to people wanting to become a Microsoft MVP. What changes in the Microsoft Business Applications is Alexander most excited about OTHER RESOURCES Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP 90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ AgileXRM AgileXRm - The integrated BPM for Microsoft Power PlatformSupport the show

  I had a chance to sneak up on Vahe Torossian, a Microsoft Corporate Vice President and the man in charge of Sales for Microsoft Business Applications. While Vahe has been with Microsoft for 30 years, many of you may not know him, so I wanted to fix that. Vahe is no ordinary Seller; he's the “Top” guy who sets the sales strategy and motions for the entire global team. Vahe is also the guy who runs the really big enterprise customer meetings, and he's super-friendly, as you would expect for the Chief Rainmaker. We covered a lot of ground in this one, so enjoy! Transcript Below: Vahe: Hey, Vahe Torossian speaking. Steve: Vahe, Steve Mordue, how are you? Vahe: Hey Steve. In fairness let's say Charles mentioned that somehow you were going to call me. I didn't know when, but it's great to talk to you. Steve: After I interviewed him, I asked him who would be a good person to talk to? And he dropped your name. So it doesn't surprise me that he gave you a little heads up. Have you got a few minutes to chat? Vahe: Yeah, of course. Thanks Steve. Steve: Oh, perfect, perfect. So before we get into it, maybe we can tell the listeners a little bit about what your role is. I know you've been at Microsoft forever, I think like 30 years or something like that, and you've held a lot of different positions. But now you're in the business application space and that's been fairly recent. So there's probably a lot of folks that might not be familiar with you, who should be. Vahe: Oh yeah, thanks Steve. You're right. I've been celebrating my 30 years anniversary at Microsoft in April in 2022. I actually took the helm of the Biz Apps sales organization globally in late 2020. So basically I took my one way ticket to Redmond in December 2020. And the plane was almost empty, it was during the pandemic. And it was kind of a strange feeling for someone who has been traveling so much in the past. And of course, let's say I came with the lens of the business application, of course. Having led let's say Western Europe in my past role, having all the businesses of Microsoft. And I think Western Europe was quite successful on Biz Apps, our trajectory growth. And I guess that was also in fact the good match to some degree to try to take it at the global level. Steve: So is it a little easier to think about a smaller segment of the product mix, now really being able to focus like a business application? So I think before you were looking over all sorts of different things, weren't you? Vahe: Yeah, actually it's a great question. Because I think it's very different way of looking at the business. When you are, let's say almost you are the CEO of Microsoft in the countries that you are, let's say leading. You have all the levers to engage customers, partners, government, in different circumstances. And you try to leverage as much as you can the portfolio that you have to maximize the value. In the context of let's say the business application. I think it was, the interesting bet to some degree Steve, was to say, Hey, this has been a portfolio at Microsoft, whether you call it Dynamics 365 or Dynamics only as a brand in the past. And if you go back 20 years, let's say almost, with the Navision and Axapta, and Solomon Software and Great Plains. All these stories, all these product came together. And 20 years later, I think it has been part of a portfolio somewhere. Vahe: And you had almost what I will call the strong, let's say, portfolio of Microsoft, the platform, the modern workplace and environment. And I felt the work that James Phillips in the past, and with Alyssa, and Charles, and Amy here now on the marketing side. Have been a strong inflection point to bring together both the technology in the cloud environment. But at the same time, a market environment that requires very different, let's say tools to make the most of this transformation. And I felt that there's one piece at Microsoft that requires a huge catalyst leveraging the innovation. But responding as much as we can to what the customer need or even don't know yet what they need. And I think that's what I think to me was almost a bet. It's almost like all of a sudden you move to the little dog, if I may say. But with a huge potential of transforming something with great asset for Microsoft, and the customers and partners. Steve: Well I have to say, having been involved with Microsoft for a while, we have a phrase over here called redheaded stepchild, which is kind of what Dynamics was for many, many years. It was off campus, it was just this thing out there and under Satya, when Satya came in, he's the first one that I think came into the position that recognized this should be another leg on the stool, not some remote thing out there. And I think that's made a huge. Difference because I was involved in the years before Satya with business applications and they were not just something over here on the back shelf, and now they're right front and center. I think that between Dynamics and what's happened with the power platform, cloud in general. Microsoft's ability to get into and help customers is massively different than it used to be. And in your role now, you're dealing with a lot different type of customer. You're talking about Office 365 or Azure, you're dealing with IT. And now you're mostly dealing with business users. It's a completely different audience you're having to work with today, isn't it? Vahe: Absolutely. I think also you're right since Satya took the helm of the company, to some degree you of course we have seen how we tackle the cloud computing hyper-scale environment. But at the same time, in fact what happened with the Covid in the last two years, have seen an acceleration of what we call in the past, the productivity tools to become more and more collaboration environment. And from almost an application or a set of application, it became more and more a platform on its own. And so it's almost like when you think about where we are today and we were talking about the Covid, I don't think the Covid is yet over fully everywhere. But now everybody's talking about recession, right? And there's no one headline that you look, you say, oh my goodness, what's going to happen? Which just means in terms of planning for 22, 23. Vahe: So I think the assets that is now quite unique to some degree, or differentiated as you said, between the Dynamics 365 platform components and the Power Platform, it's almost bringing together. But I think, I don't remember Steve, in a few years back, I think Satya was talking about the mobility of the experience. And that was more from a device perspective initially. But actually what you see now is that with Teams as a platform, the system of productivity almost connect with the system of record more and more. And it's re-transforming the way you are thinking. It's almost like, you think about, you don't have to go to a CRM environment or ERP environment to get access to the data. It's almost like wherever you work, if you use an Excel or if you use Teams or whatever, you get access naturally, almost intuitively to your data set. And the data set are that's almost fulfilled naturally. And so we have no additional task. Vahe: And so I think that's the transformation world in which we are. Which connects cheaper well. We almost do more with less, right? And that's going to be almost the conversation we're going to have in the coming month. And it started already with many customers and partners. How we can optimize the assets that they have, how they can let's say increase the deep provisioning of some assets that they have. They are paying too much to concentrate a bit more, to get more agility. And I think this is where also, from a partner perspective, Steve, I see a lot of potential. You are referring to Power Platform, it's fascinating to see what it was in the very beginning, this notion of citizens developer, what does it mean? Vahe: People didn't know exactly what it is, we're quite afraid to touch it. But now when you see the shortage of developers in the market in general. And how you can make the most of some absolutely topnotch people who are not developer, touching the last mile execution challenges. Have been facing crazy environment and situation that they say, I can't believe how my IT guide doesn't solve these things. I've been telling them the customer pain point for so many years. And now with some, let's say [inaudible 00:08:45] place, let's say available for them, along with some let's say technical assets, you can really make the magic in the very, very, very time. Steve: Charles came up with a term on the fly, ambient CRM. Kind of where we're heading here when you talk about things like Viva Sales and some of these pieces that are really wiring all these components together. Covid was a terrible thing, but it certainly was a perfect storm for pushing the technology forward into a place that it's been fighting to get to, it's really been fighting to get to that point. And Teams was a great product. But certainly Covid created the perfect environment where Teams made insane sense for companies that were maybe just thinking about it or dabbling with it, and suddenly they're all diving into it. And you guys of course poured the investment on top of that. And I think that the silver lining of Covid, for technology, is how far it really allowed it to advance in that period of time. Maybe we just need a pandemic every five years to push a technology forward. I don't know. Vahe: No, but I have to say that even in my previous role when I was running Western Europe. Even the most skeptical people in regard to the cloud or the transition to a cloud environment. Having the one that rushed in the first, almost to a cloud environment, once the pandemic has been a bit of a real situation to face, and to drive the economy or the public services let's say on. So I think you're right, so you don't want to wish for another pandemic or whatever, but it has been absolutely a forcing function in many domains. And that's true. Steve: I think the challenge we have is particularly in the business application space. You guys have launched so many things in such a short period of time. And as you mentioned before, Power Apps, people picking it with a stick, they don't even know what it is. And there's also this first mover fear, I think. Microsoft has been, in my mind, kind of famous for coming to the game late and then just taking over the game. We were very late to the cloud, but once we got there we just took over the cloud, and it seems to be a pattern. But when you look back at the early days of cloud before you guys stepped into it, it was wild west. And all sorts of challenges with cloud. And I think that that gave a lot of people fear about, I remember I moved into cloud early and we got destroyed. Steve: And so I think there's a lot of folks out there, just from a technology standpoint, that have gotten their hands burnt by moving too quickly. And we're at that point with the platform and dynamics, where these are not new anymore. Relatively in history, they're new. But they're not new products and they're not built by some garage shop somewhere with a couple of developers. This is what 15,000 people building this stuff back there. This is professionally built, well built stuff, that is ready for prime time. So the first movers have already come through and they all survived. So I really feel like we're at that point where it should just take off now, it should just absolutely take off. And I'm sure you guys are seeing this. Vahe: Yeah. And Steve, I think one thing also is that you're right, there's a usual thing about let's say the first mover advantage. At the same time from a customer perspective, you don't want to be the Guinea pig, right? On any situation, especially from the technology standpoint. I think that increasingly what I see in the conversation is that there's almost now, because of the quality of the native integration of the several different applications. Whether you are in the customer experience environment, on the service side, on the supply chain, on the finance or the local no code or app. All these components are absolutely connected to each other. And basically whether you have Teams as a platform in your company, or Azure in environment, all these component are connected very, very easily to each other. Vahe: And so I would say that the beauty of it now is that you have all almost the notion of marginal cost. If you really want to leverage many of the assets that we can bring, and you don't have to take all of them at once, of course it has to be matching what you need now. But the right is that, let's say there's an almost fully integrated benefit all the connectors with the rest of the world outside of Microsoft environment, which is a great value for the partners, ISV and [inaudible 00:13:58], and at the same time to the customers. Who think now, hey I should do more with less. How should I think about my investments for the next, let's say five years? Most of the customers now are really thinking about the longer term relationship. And defining what's the value SLA almost that you're expecting both from the partner of the vendor and the vendor itself. Vahe: And so it's almost like, you remember when we transition from a world of build revenue and licensing, to now more consumption and usage. It's almost the user and consumption discussion is a forcing function about the customer success, how we align on the same definition of the customer success. And what's the time to value that you committed? What are the key milestones, in full transparency, that you need to bring in? And I think that's where we are now. And because Microsoft, I think overall as a company, have been increasing tremendously the level of trust. From the security standpoint, the compliance components, and so on, and the scalability. Vahe: I think that's the great leverage for us now in terms of the conversation and making sure that the customers are getting the value that we have been selling to them. How we show how much skin in the game we have to make them successful. And then it's a flying wheel. It's almost like the innovation will help you to bring new things, respond, anticipate, take the feedback of the customer to the engineering, develop new stuff quickly to the market. So I think it's what we are heading to now, Steve. And I think from a partner perspective you might even see and feel it, right, more and more. Steve: Oh yeah, I mean I think the sales motion has changed completely. Only a few years ago we go into a customer and try and convince them to replace Salesforce with Dynamics. And they'd say no, and we were done. We'd say okay, well we'll come back in a couple years and ask again. We had nothing else to sell them. And now today, I mean if they have Salesforce, fine that's great, keep Salesforce, let's add some things around it. Salesforce will work with Viva Sales, Salesforce will work with Power Platform. Steve: There's so many doors now, I think, for a seller to be able to get into a customer and solve problems for that customer without having to do the one big yank and replace. Which is very difficult to do, it's difficult to do on opposite as well. I mean once a customer gets a big solution like Salesforce or Dynamics 365 installed, those are very difficult to uproot, it takes a very long time. And you guys have created now, this product mix, where we don't have to uproot something to sell that customer and to get engaged with that customer. We can go all over that business without having to uproot something. And I think that's huge. Vahe: I agree Steve. And I think that it's almost this notion of rip and replace type of strategy, right? In some cases it works because this is what the customer wants. They are fed up about let's say competitive environment that didn't deliver on the expectation. And we should be ready to cope with that and respond, and we have a lot of this. But at the same time as you said, what we call the strategy of having a hub and spoke, let's say, almost environment, gives us for every line of business. That we decided as a company to go and have a significant acceleration of growth and market share, is very much to give that option to say, Hey, you know what, Mr. Customer, Mrs. Customer, you decide to be on that type of environment, who we are to ask you to change? Vahe: If you are happy that's fine. But what we can bring you is almost to enhance what you have with some component that absolutely will be transparently integrated to what you're using. And it's a great circuit, an additional circuit for the partner, it's a great value for the customer. We don't feel harassed to change something because we know the cost of transitioning from one to another one. And then it's up to us to demonstrate the value we can bring and eventually we can take from there to the next level in the future. Steve: It's got to put some pressure on the competitors also. I if think of, I might just use Salesforce because they've always been the big competitor. I'm sure that they were confident sitting there at their large customer when all we had was trying to replace their instance that was going to be difficult to do and then we'd go away and they didn't have to worry about us. Now we're coming in and we're circling around, and we're solving problems in this department, and we're building apps in this department, and we're literally bolting into Salesforce. And one potential outcome is that the customer decides over time that wow, all of this Microsoft stuff that we've brought in works really, really well. Steve: That's gotta put some pressure on the incumbent big application in there that hey, you're surrounded by a bunch of stuff the customer is very happy with, you better make sure they're happy with your stuff and they don't reach that point. Cause like you say, oftentimes when you see those rip and replace, it's because the product, or the company, or something hasn't met the expectation. And to be fair, that could actually happen with any of us, right? It has a lot to do with implementation, design, how thing was put together. Less to do with the application itself, that could happen to any vendor. But certainly raises the bar to some of these competitors when they're surrounded by well performing Microsoft products that are satisfying customers. Would you think? Vahe: Yes. Absolutely. And that's why there's a continuity between what we sell, how we sell, to who we sell, and how we drive the implementation. It's an ongoing wheel that is a very different mindset that we all learn in the transition to the cloud, let's say, environment. But absolutely. I think it's a good forcing function to raise the bar to some degree, raise the bar for the benefit of the customer. You mentioned the competitiveness of what this type of hub and spoke strategy can create. You're right. But in the end, the biggest, let's say winner, will be the customer, right? Which I think is always and should always be the north star for us and our partners. Vahe: And I would say the relevance of the innovation should be in fact the pressure that we put to each other to make sure that say we listen carefully to what the customer is facing as a challenge, but potentially to translate their current challenge into the future challenge, to push them also to think differently. Because I think the notion of rip and replace [inaudible 00:21:06] One of the thing was, I don't know if you remember that the initial issue and worry was that people were saying Oh, we are moving to the cloud, therefore we are transforming. Well it was not that tried and true. People were just keeping the same processes in the cloud and the one that they had on premise. Which was not benefiting at all of the scalability and the agility of the cloud environment. Yeah, you remember that right? Yeah. Steve: They just changed the way they were paying for it. Vahe: Absolutely. Absolutely. So I think that's what we have seen on this application modernization, on some of the enterprise wide innovation also opportunities that we had discussed, is how much you can really say, in this new world of competitiveness, of un-expected challenges. How you can, let's say, keep your applications fitting always in fact proactively the challenges that you're going to have too. As opposed to keep going with a quite heavy code to maintain, with people who leave that cost you a fortune to maintain. So I think this agility that the power apps, [inaudible 00:22:22] to made, have been bringing I think is the reason why we have seen this huge acceleration of growth, which is today is six, seven times faster than the market growth of local no code. Vahe: So I think it's a great, let's say indication, of what people start to realize. And I think in the conversation that you had with Charles when he was referring to, hey some of the AI capability have been slower to be picked up by the vast majority of customers. And it's true because there's a level of, let's say, can I trust this thing? Am I going to lose completely ground and control of what I'm doing? All these natural thing. I think as we bring more and more, let's say tools, are manageable. The Power Platform environment, or let's say the device sales capability on top of the teams or Salesforce environment. That people will start to test this. Vahe: And I think we're going to be more and more advocate about Hey, what are the benefits of the organization that are using this technology and how we can trust them lean forward. And I think Charles was referring to our digital sellers. Their daily life is very much, let's say, using all these AI lead capabilities in terms of reporting, in terms of let's say incident management, in terms of even coaching for themselves to do a better call next time, is just fascinating to see. Maybe we should even do a kind of, let's say talk on this, once we have a bit more, let's say after the GA, maybe a few months after, we should have, let's say what the key learnings and [inaudible 00:24:00] from a customer standpoint. Steve: Yeah, it always makes a customer confident when they know that the vendor is using the product that they're trying to sell them. It's interesting, everything moving to a subscription has changed kind of the mindset, not just of you guys obviously, where there's no big sale. There's a sale of a big subscription, the revenue of which will come over a long period of time. But the customer has this option every month to say, you know what, I'm not happy, you're not solving my problem. In the old days they were kind of stuck, they bought all this stuff and they had to make it work. Now they don't have to make it work, we have to make it work, we have to keep them happy enough. Steve: We recently launched a professional services on a subscription, which is an interesting model, that I lay awake at night thinking about that same thing. That before a customer would pay you a bunch of money to a bunch of stuff and now they're paying you a little bit of money every month for as long as you keep them happy. And this bar of, I mean we've always wanted to keep customers happy. But it's never had the impact or importance that it does when you're on a subscription with that customer who can just any time say, “I'm not happy, goodbye.” It raises the bar I think for you guys to have to continuously innovate, what do you done for me lately? You got to continuously innovate and bring new things. And you've got more motivation probably than the company's ever had in history because of the subscription model. Do you feel that internally? Vahe: Yes, yes. As I said, it has been a great enabler to raise the bar. And it's almost like you know can have a beautiful slide deck and saying the right things, but the execution doesn't match what you are saying somehow, that you don't walk the talk. I think you could have been in that situation in a kind of on-premise environment. I think the cloud has been a forcing function to say, hey you know what, you can claim you are customer success, or you are customer first, or you are customer obsessed. But the reality is that if you don't deliver the service properly, if you are not as responsive timely, if you're not proactive, customer will say enough is enough, I can stop my subscription. Steve: I have options. Vahe: I have options. So I think it's a good hygiene, how it makes you having an embracing habits, that I would say are the natural thing when you engage with customer. But I think it's almost, let's say, for the one who might have forgotten that basics, it has been a great, let's say, opportunity to bring back the roots of what is it to satisfy a customer, right? And I think that's what the cloud licensing model helped put together. And I think there are still always room for improvement. Vahe: And similarly I would say, what you have seen on the collaborative applications, what we have seen on the low-code, no-code, you are going to see it now, also I would say on the supply chain environment, which is shipper, shipper at stress because of what we have seen on the Covid, but also in fact on the geopolitical aspect and some of the recession discussion. And also, on the overall, what I would say the contact center in our environment at large. How this world is going to change is going to be led a lot by the capability that technology can bring, and the ability to listen carefully to the strategies and the challenges of the corporation that are involved in. So it's quite exciting actually. Steve: I don't get involved a lot with the call center operations. But I picture the old call center is this massive building full of cubicles and people with headphones. And I picture that now that most of those people are probably working remote. A call center now could operate at my desk, just about, and have thousands of people all working from their home. So, that whole industry feels like it's changed significantly. And yes, I'm sure they're starving for the technology that fits the model that they're being pushed to adopt. Vahe: Yeah, yeah absolutely. I mean it's interesting, if you summarize some of the business challenges or the things that are coming from multiple conversation. We had the nuanced [inaudible 00:29:04] a few months back. And so it's almost the first fiscal year where we're going to be able to strategize, operate together as one organization. And it's great because somehow you take their own experience in terms of conversational AI and what they have been leading in for many years. And at the same time you hear both, let's say, the customer feedback when it comes to, as you said, the traditional contact center or call center evolution. How to translate this into a modern service experience, right? Vahe: And how AI can contribute to that on the seamless integrated way. How to think about customer retention in this world where people are a bit more struggling with their bottom line. How to protect the customer privacy as well. Because you talk about voice capability and recording, but how you cope with the privacy and the security during this service journey. So all these are absolutely great opportunities for us to combine what we're hearing, the technology and the acquisition that we did a few months back, to put that into a great component. And I would say the data analytics that the power Platform Power BI gives us on the back end, is going to be a great platform for us again to differentiate from the rest of the world. Steve: Well and it'll also help kind offset the fact that these people are all remote now, right? They used all be sitting in this big room. And people were standing up there looking over a rail at them making sure they were doing what they were doing and available. And you can't lose any of the customer service quality just because you've moved everybody out of the building and nobody can physically see them anymore. AI is the only way to plug that hole really of being able to know what's going on in this organization with all those people remote. In your day-to-day activities, I'm assuming that since you're head of sales that you get engaged with all of the big opportunities that come to Microsoft. And you're in there leading the charge to get them to make a decision for the services. What are the areas that you're seeing among those larger customers that they're really excited about? Is it the low-code stuff, is that very exciting to them? Or are they still wrapping their arms around that? Vahe: No, no. I would say that the notion of, let's say, application modernization, which doesn't mean I do the same thing I was doing before in the cloud. Really thinking about, what do I want to fix? And how much I can include some perspective about what could happen in some, let's say options or scenario? That capability that Power Apps has been giving them. And now we see that the corporations who are the most successful are the one who are almost creating a center of excellence within their own organization, that let's say help the IT to monitor someone, in fact the usage rate. But also to amplify the user experience and to spread it across the organization. And the ability to almost measure the positive impact. Vahe: The second thing I've seen is on the low-code, no-code, is the time to value. It's almost like you can almost now, and when I say “we,” it's almost we with the partners. We can almost say for this type of let's say expectation, or application, or challenge, it will take three month to be ready, not three years, two years. Or we have a heavy development environment. And so this center of excellence, let's say mindset or framework, is a very powerful one. Because it helps to almost create a concentration of hey, what are the most critical things to fix and how long it's going to take? Vahe: And people are almost, let's say very impressed, about how quickly you can have great quality because you bring both the expertise of, as I said, almost the person who is facing the challenge every single day. Being non-technical guy, we have in fact the support of IT. And I think that's the business decision makers along with the IT. I think to me, that's why we have been on this six, seven times faster than the market rate. We have huge ambition there. And be aware that we have also 20 million of users of Power Apps today that came from the city campaigns. So people are actively using it, not yet paying it. So that means that it's great, it's the future almost by, for us to go after. Because people are starting to use in fact at least the basic functions to get adjusted customers to and so on. Vahe: The second thing I would say is that people have realized how easy it is, and recognizing that Teams became a platform close to 300 million users. It started at 25 or 30 million almost pre-pandemic. And so that became, almost as you said, you are at home, or you are wherever you are and that's the interaction that you have with your customers, partners, ecosystem and employees. And so now it's a marginal component to say hey, can I have one tab that is going to do that type of task? My forecasting, my thing. So this is again the connection between what you use every single day at scale, and the marginal cost of bringing a component of Dynamics 365, a component of the application that you create quickly for Power Apps or Power Automate from the process, implementation, and automation. So I think that's what I see the two biggest part of the customer reaction, and I would say feedback for us. And encouragement to be fair, to keep going in that direction. Steve: We've got lots of examples that you guys have got out on the case studies of large companies that have really got in head first. And just thousands of apps in the organization solving thousands of problems. And just excellent, I mean you just have to almost grin when you look and hear about these things. But for every one of those there's still a bunch of them out there where, I don't know, IT maybe is still an obstacle. I mean IT has been, it's interesting because IT's been a friend of Microsoft for a long time because a lot of the products that they have engaged with were Microsoft products, servers, et cetera. They've had to make this transition to cloud, which was scary for them. But they ultimately did it for the most part, not all of them, did it. And now here comes low-code, no-code that's got to scare the bejesus out of a lot of IT folks. And how are you at that company size? Because frankly, we struggle with the same thing in the mid-market. How, at that big company size, do you deal with that occasional obstinance from it? Vahe: Yeah, it's a great point. You're right. I think Microsoft in general, I don't want to generalize, but in general have been for the last four years, very, very close to the IT decision makers. And rightfully so, because there were so many and still so many things to achieve in partnership with the IT and CIO environment. At the same time, when it comes to business applications or business process, I would say that you need to find the balance between the business decision makers, who are the ultimate decision makers when it comes to what is going to affect their business, or the way they work from a Salesforce perspective, or the way the marketing leaders wants to automate some of the processes that they believe is important. Vahe: And so that we probably are in a unique business case at Microsoft, where you have to talk to both. And the learning is that in the very beginning where you were only talking to IT, for example in the low-code, no-code, you could have signed a deal with IT, but then you know almost had to start to sell it again internally. Because you had to knock to all the doors of the business decision makers to say, Hey, do you know that you have this thing in your corporation, and anyway this is the thing that you can do, do you mind starting over there? Vahe: And so that was basically almost a waste of cycle. And so we said we have to do these two things together. We need to be able to articulate what is the value of low-code, no-code, maybe in FSI, financial service, or manufacturing, or in retail. And of course there's a strong common denominator. But there are some specifics that may resonate more for some industries more than others, and therefore the decision makers. And we have seen that when we do these things well together in parallel, when you sign the contract, or the deal, or the agreement, the time to move to usage or the business case implementation is much faster. Basically you bring more value both to IT and the business, and for Microsoft. And so I think that's the piece where I think it evolved on low-code, no-code, from being afraid in the beginning or skeptical, to a place where they are increasingly embracing this center of excellence environment. Where they own it as [inaudible 00:38:55]. It is connected to the business decision makers, therefore it brings value. Vahe: And so IT brings value to the business decisions or the business unit and the line of business. And then what was missing so far was, how can we give them the monitoring environment, almost the control board to manage the budget, to manage let's say, or having warning to say, hey, business A, you know are over consuming. Should we lower the investment or should we accelerate because of what you are doing? So I think that the kind of tools that we are bringing now to the IT, so that they are absolutely part of the success of the company and they are connected to the business decision makers. I think that's the best way for us to demonstrate value and keep it completely aligned with the business directions. Steve: And the opposite would be true also if you're going in trying to sell the line of business owner without talking to IT. And you convince the, now you got to go sell IT. So it's two cycles. Vahe: Absolutely. Steve: You have to somehow get them both in the same room and do it at once. So we've got so many products coming, we've got so many products here. And if you imagine a generic customer of a large size that you're going to be going to talk to next week about all the Microsoft has to offer. What are a couple of the key products that you're going to want to make sure you land in their head, that you feel across all companies are extremely high value or differentiators? The thing you don't want to walk out of that room without mentioning? Vahe: Yeah, I would say, and somehow you touch on it Steve, earlier on. As part of the transition that we are driving, one of the thing is also to simplify. To simplify the portfolio, to simplify the go-to market, to simplify the strategy. We discussed the hub and spoke, let's say strategy. And so I would say at the very beginning, what we said is that instead of saying, hey, there's a proliferation of products. And every year we add more and more and more. And at some point you confuse your own sellers, you confuse the customer, you confuse the product, it's super tough to digest everything, and even understanding what's the hierarchy across all these things? Steve: For licensing Vahe: And licensing on top all this complexity, right? I mean we have gone through it, and it's still not perfect. But at the same time I think what we said is that there are the categories, or the line of business, that we want to go in. We want to have a fair shot to take a leadership position in the next let's say years. And what it takes to get to that point, from an innovation perspective, from a go-to market perspective, from a part program perspective, from a sales and seller investment capacity perspective. And so on. And so I would say that's more the starting point Steve, where we say we define five categories, a fine line of business, where we believe we have a shot to become a leader. And these categories we need to be able to be clear on where the value that we bring. Vahe: For example, if you take the customer experience, let's say OLAP, which is more the connected sales and marketing, if I may summarize at the high level. It's going to be all the conversation about the collaborative apps, the customer experience transformation. You have already Teams for the vast batch of you, hey that's what you want to achieve. The Dynamic 65 sales is going to give you that capability, or the LinkedIn Sales Navigator on top of it is going to give you that type of insight. You know are not touching about AI, you think about almost sales automation, Salesforce automation. Let's show you how the AI infused capability within Dynamics 365 sales and marketing, give you that asset absolutely naturally integrated on your team's environment. Vahe: And same thing on Viva Sales, the sales productivity, we can measure it the way you want, and you're on control of that. And by the way, if it works on the environment that you are working, could be Microsoft, could not be as we discussed, that's more the conversation that we want to have. And of course on the back end you are going to have Dynamics 365 sales, and marketing, and Viva sales, most of the time for that line of business. If you think about let's say low-code no-code, I would say you will have probably three type of conversations. You know will have a conversation about hey, you're a large enterprise, multi-deals coverage. And basically the benefit of having an enterprise wide, let's say engagement, what does it mean? What's the framework for you to make the most of it? And how we commit with our partners to deliver you the value. Vahe: And so you can commit on five years maybe with Microsoft and how much value we can bring already to you. Or it's purely an application modernization. You move to a hyper-scale environment, but you have all these old fashioned applications. So basically, you are a platform that is modern but all your application are still old fashioned. How low-code, no-code is going to help you to accelerate that transition. And let's start with one company, one app. Pick one and let's do it right, and then replicate from there. And then potentially, in fact, the last one which I think is going to be the biggest one potentially, is the business process automation. Think about the forecasting process. I have to say that when I was running my business in Western Europe, we have been doing this traditional forecasting process, which in every company when we talk with business leaders or CFOs, that's the same thing. You ask the forecast at the lowest level of the organization, then the manager of that organization, do a judgment. That judgment moves to the next level of management. The management do another judgment. Vahe: So all the way up to the top level, who does a judgment anyway on top of it. Or they find, depending on who is doing the forecast, almost let's say a coefficient of let's say correction based on who is doing the forecast. When you start to do that thing into AI and you say what, we know the behavior of people [inaudible 00:45:26] potentially, you come after 18 months or one year to a trend of forecast that is so close to in fact what you were getting before. That you say how many hours, thousands and thousands of hours of productivity saving I'm going to have just because of this AI forecasting capability? That's the kind of example of it, for say an application for low-code, no-code, that is just checking in fact the behavior or the intelligence so far to help you to drive your business. Vahe: And so we have been running that internally as well and it's quite impressive. And so that's the kind of conversation that you want to have both with the IT, but you see this perfect example of hey, having that conversation with the CFO, or the sales leader, is a great one. Because it's a marginal cost again, to what you are using already. And the same thing happened on finance, and supply chain, and service when it comes to, all right so where you, what are you using? Are you still on-prem? The vast majority of ERP, the vast majority of contact center and call center are still on-prem. So you can think about hey, what does it take to move to a cloud and more agile environment? What are the best that you want to do? Which is the strategic partner or vendor, who are going to take this? Because you're not going to change this environment every two years. It's a 5 year, 10 year bets, right? Steve: The marriage. Vahe: It's a marriage. Yeah, absolutely. So I mean does it help Steve? Steve: Yeah. And I think interesting, one of the things I think about AI in forecasting, is it doesn't have any personal bias. And obviously in larger companies I'm sure there's a lot of checking and cross checking. In the middle market it's a bunch of optimistic sales people coming up with optimistic projections that have no basis in history or anything else that's going on, of what's going on. And I've been in meetings where we've been displaying some AI facts, or figures, or forecasts, or projections. And listen to senior people just adamantly disagree. That number is absolutely not correct. And I've had them tell me I've been doing this for 30 years, I know, I know. And then here comes next month and guess what was right? The AI model was right and the guy who's been doing it for 30 years is making up some excuses. Steve: So I think that the world right now is fraught with bad projections on everything. Cost projections, sales projections, there's too much personal bias involved in the process of creating those things. And as leadership of a company, you're relying on these things. They're going to drive you right over a cliff potentially, if you're not careful, if you don't have good information, if you can't get the bias out of it. And I think that's one of the big things that AI brings that I've found resonates with leadership sometimes, is kind of remove all the bias. I mean it's just removing all the bias. You don't want to hear smoke, you know want to hear reality so you can act accordingly. You're surrounded by a bunch of people who want to make you feel good, but AI doesn't care how you feel. It's going to tell you the truth, doesn't care if you get mad. Vahe: Steve also, it's interesting because sometime, you point to this that sometime when you are too early on the innovation, some people might be again scared or skeptical as we said. But I remember we were looking at let's say some numbers when it comes to, are we operating consistency, for example, in the world? Or there are some that say practices that are bringing more growth or more relevant than other places. And so, one thing was interesting was in the services line of business or category, you think of case management. And it's one of the opportunities. And you might say well case management is not super innovative. Well, it's something that is quite well known. But case management was one of the fastest growth in majors. And that was because it was responding to the fact that vast majority of the case management processes are still on-prem today. Vahe: And the one we're moving to the cloud, especially in public sector, to make sure that the queuing system is working, you have a full up, let's say email to tell you and tracing where you are on the request that you put in place. All these things we believe is generic everywhere, but it's not, it's by far not. And across mid-market, and large corporation, and private sector, and public sector. So it's not always innovation that drives in fact the next generation of work. It's also in fact the basics that are not fulfilled today and that create a bad customer experience. And that's interesting, in a way, to keep very humble about let's say what we still have on our plate. Steve: I can remember not that long ago, when you talk about customer service, the goal of many companies was to provide as bad as service as possible so they didn't have to do it. I mean it was a cost center for them. They hadn't come to the realization yet, this is decades, but hadn't come to realization yet that customer service is what drives future revenue. They just looked at as a cost center and figured the worst it is, the less people will use it and it'll cost us less, so that mindset has changed. You talk about fears that people have of technology. And so a lot of this is people self preservation fears. They see something coming, we saw it even in the partner channel, uh-oh here comes low-code, no-code, customers are going to be doing all the work themselves, they're not going to need us partners anymore. And it's like this first reaction that people have about anything new, is how's that going to affect me? And generally they're going to assume negatively. Steve: Our business is busier than we've ever been as a result of low-code. So it's actually been the opposite. But partners, and just like people, you know need to be prepared to pivot into that wind. If you're just going to stand there with your arms crossed and not move, yeah low-code's going to hurt you. You know need to lean into that. And the same thing with individuals that are looking at new technology. It's coming and you can either stand there with your arms crossed and let it knock you down, which is a foregone conclusion. Or you can bend with it. And to be honest, the younger folks are more flexible than us older folks. So they're not having any trouble with this technology at all. We recently signed a new customer, it's all young people and man they just get it. I mean there's no explaining anything. They understand every single thing you're talking about, why and what. And I mean they're born with a cell phone in their hand. None of this is foreign, but we still got to get rid of all of us old guys. Vahe: I agree, I agree. And time flies. And it's almost like, often, let's say, you need read to embrace that. Always a zero regret strategy in this type of, let's say, evolving environment. Anything that you postpone, to some degree, is almost let say a loss. And that has been proven in the technology run. And when I look at, we always have to be humble. It's a highly competitive market, and people are smart, and that's great. Cause as we discussed, it's all good for the customer. But I think that when I look back to the commitment of the company, the investment that we put in place last year with the support of Satya, Amy Hood, [inaudible 00:53:27]. With more than 1000 sellers injected in the marketplace, we keep going on the investment on the local no-code, even more so to drive the acceleration of the growth in addition to the Dynamic 365. Vahe: When I look at every category that we are in now, and I think it's a good confidence level that we on the path here. That first of all, we are between two times and three times the growth of the market for each of these category, that's a good indication. And I think that also raise the confidence level of the product sellers at Microsoft. To bring these different components together and add more value to the customer. So look, it's a journey Steve, and it's quite exciting to be on this. And people like yourself because we have been there also for a long time, and you know what it takes to transition. And you never fail, you learn always. And everything that you learn and that works, it's almost to think how we can scale and bring that to the mass as quick as we can so that people can benefit from it. Steve: Well success breeds success. And you know guys have got it going right now. I've taken up enough of your time. Anything that you want to get out there that I didn't ask or we didn't talk about? Vahe: No, I think, Steve, you did a good overview of let's say where we are, how we think. Again, I think that the simplification, the portfolio, the much more focused approach, the category, and more consistent execution on the go-to market is really the next level for us. And the hub and spoke strategy across all these categories gives much more room to increase the business opportunity for us and the partners. Steve: Yep, I think so, I think so. All right, listen, it was great talking to you, I'm glad you made the time. And I definitely hope to able to talk to you again in the future, get something new to talk about. Any time you want to reach out, and jump on, and talk about some stuff, let me know. We're happy to get you on. Vahe: We are all, let's say reading all these, let's say headlines on the recession. In a few months from now, between now and then of calendar year, we're to see a bit more clarity on how the planning is happening for the mid-market, large corporation, how the public sector is evolving in this dimension. And also, we'll have a few, let's say product launched that we talked about, Viva Sales, any learning from that, let's say maybe the first two, three months, would be interesting to see how people react. And maybe that could be a great opportunity for us to chat. Also what's going on the [inaudible 00:56:17] Steve: Yeah, yeah. Vahe: Plenty of things to talk, I guess. Steve: Sounds good. All right, well hey, thanks again for your time. Vahe: Thank you. Take care Steve, have a great day.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/392 Venkata Subbarao Polisetty's life background, interests and what he does when not working. With Venkata's choices of careers, how did he end up in Information Technology? Venkata's first project that got him into Dynamics CRM. The key part of being part of the Microsoft Business Applications. Venkata's focus or areas where he is working on Microsoft Business Applications MVP journey of Venkata and the nomination process. Blogging and community involvement of Venkata Venkata's experience as a speaker in an event. If given a chance, what feature Venkata will add to Power Automate? What did Venkata discover about the MVP program that he didn't know before becoming one? Benefits of becoming a Microsoft MVP. Recommendations to people considering becoming a Microsoft MVP OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ AgileXRM AgileXRm - The integrated BPM for Microsoft Power PlatformSupport the show

Here's a business pro-tip for you… If you want to create long-term, loyal customers, provide them with an exceptional, memorable and impactful customer experience during their buying journey. In a recent Gartner survey, 65% of respondents said they would become long-term customers of a company if they had a positive customer experience during their buying journey. Imagine if a majority of your prospects turned into loyal, long-term customers. How would that impact your business? One aspect of your customer experience is your customer service. With the elevated expectations and demand for instant resolution becoming more crucial, customer service agents need more. That's where technology, like a Power Virtual Agent (PVA) can help. Today's Dynamics 365 expert, Brian Caauwe, Principal Technical Specialist, highlights what a PVA is and how it can benefit your organization. Episode TopicsWhat is Microsoft Build?Who should attend Microsoft Build in the future?What are the key takeaways from Microsoft Build? Useful Resources:Power Virtual AgentsLearn Power Virtual AgentsAbout Brian Caauwe:Brian Caauwe is a Principal Technical Specialist at Microsoft who has been working with Microsoft technologies for nearly 20 years. With deep expertise across the One Microsoft cloud including various roles with implementation, consulting, sales engineering and management he utilizes applications throughout the Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 platforms to identify how the Microsoft toolset can help achieve his customers goals. By leveraging his background in user experience, security, system architecture, and integration strategies he works to map organizational outcomes to business value leveraging Microsoft Business Applications focusing on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Connect with Brian here - Brian Caauwe | LinkedIn We'd love to hear from you:Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, suggestions or feedback! We'd love to hear from you. Send your hosts an email at digestibledynamics@microsoft.com Follow the Digestible Dynamics Podcast LinkedIn Page for the latest episode updates!Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/389 Hobbies, interests and life of Vivian Voss. Writing a book – is there a reason why Vivian writes a book? Find out more about Estonia – things you can do Who are Alfa People and what do they do in Microsoft Business Applications? Do Alfa People do other things other than Microsoft Business Applications or non-Microsoft Tech? How did Vivian get into Dynamics? Vivian's journey into becoming an Architect Advice to people wanting to become a Microsoft MVPOTHER RESOURCES:Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ AgileXRM AgileXRm - The integrated BPM for Microsoft Power PlatformSupport the show

The Microsoft Business Applications product line's new look is starting to come into focus under the leadership of CVP Charles Lamanna. In a recent conversation with Microsoft MVP Steve Mordue, Lamanna discussed some of his team's recent work, its successes, and future challenges. Lamanna's upward rise at Microsoft started in the Power Platform team, but he now represents the Dynamics 365 lineup, too.   Mordue discusses his impressions after talking with Lamanna this time (it was the fourth interview they've done over the years) and how both Microsoft's product and channel plans have impacted the community, including Mordue's own business decisions related to RapidStart CRM and Forceworks.   Show Notes: 6:30 - Could Power Platform really help upsell Dynamics 365 apps? 12:30 - Viva Sales and the Biz Apps R&D team's involvement 15:30 - Why enthusiasm from Charles Lamanna is likely to be followed by real progress 20:00 - Some Nuance R&D is now under the Biz Apps umbrella 22:45 - Microsoft's much improved acquisition strategy for business apps 25:30 - Reviewing the D365 product management leaders 29:00 - Are Steve's new clients starting with an interest in an app or in the platform? 31:30 - Adapting services offerings for low code development 38:15 - Changing customer perceptions on the idea of continuous development vs discrete start and end dates 40:00 - Making sense of the channel outlook from Partner Economics as it relates to Power Platform opportunities 44:00 - Differences in the new generation of buyers 45:30 - Why Steve's firm transitioned to offering a free app on Power Platform with a subscription services model 49:45 - How will partners prove their worth with a new generation of customers? 52:00 - Thinking about the future of the partner business model

Microsoft Build is an annual conference aimed at software engineers, developers, and other end users for Windows, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Business Applications, like Dynamics 365, and other Microsoft Technologies. It most recently occurred on May 24-26, 2022. If you were unable to attend, don't worry! This week's Dynamics 365 Expert, Brian Caauwe, Principal Technical Specialist, and Power Platform guru, breaks down what Microsoft Build was, why you should care as a Dynamics 365 user, and some future features to look out for that could help you maximize your investment in Dynamics 365. Episode TopicsWhat is Microsoft Build?Who should attend Microsoft Build in the future?What are the key takeaways from Microsoft Build? Useful Resources:Learn more from Microsoft Build 2022 | Microsoft Build HomepageGithub Code SpacesGithub Copilot5G + AzureWindows 365Azure Kub ServiceAzure Confidential ComputingAzure AIAzure TranslatorPower PagesNGINX for Azure About Brian Caauwe:Brian Caauwe is a Principal Technical Specialist at Microsoft who has been working with Microsoft technologies for nearly 20 years. With deep expertise across the One Microsoft cloud including various roles with implementation, consulting, sales engineering, and management he utilizes applications throughout the Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 platforms to identify how the Microsoft toolset can help achieve his customer's goals. By leveraging his background in user experience, security, system architecture, and integration strategies he works to map organizational outcomes to business value by leveraging Microsoft Business Applications focusing on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Connect with Brian here - Brian Caauwe | LinkedIn We'd love to hear from you:Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, suggestions, or feedback! We'd love to hear from you. Send your hosts an email at digestibledynamics@microsoft.com Follow the Digestible Dynamics Podcast LinkedIn Page for the latest episode updates! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About seven years ago we pioneered the "Support by Blocks" model, and it has served our Forceworks clients and us well. But thanks to Microsoft, it is time for a whole new model for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Support and Services. Let's unpack this one. The Challenge Let's be honest, no business application you can buy will serve your needs as delivered. Any of them will require some modifications to fit your goals. Fortunately, you have many Microsoft Business Applications partners to assist you with this, including my company Forceworks. This is not new; customizing business applications has been around as long as business applications have been around. For a small organization, you may only have to invest a few bucks to get things where you want; enterprise customers often invest six or seven figures to get things right. It is not a small industry that I am in. It is precisely this high cost that has led Microsoft to invest so much into low-no-code technologies. How many more customers could Microsoft have if this "startup cost" was significantly reduced? More on that in a minute. Models There are quite a few engagement models available from different partners. The old "Fixed-Price based on your Requirements" has fallen out of favor, and for good reasons. Scope creep is a common one, but customers, thinking that competitive bidding got them the best price were often surprised at how much the bids came in at—typically ranging from 25-50% higher than what Time and Materials may have cost. Partner risk padding has probably run off many customers, But as I said, few partners even offer this model today. The most prevalent model is the Time and Materials model, which may be based on an estimate. But Scope Creep rears its head just as often there, the difference being that the customer assumes the risk. Still, this usually works out cheaper than what a "Risk-Adjusted" Fixed Price would have been. Blocks Several years ago, we pioneered a variation on the Time and Materials model called "Support by Blocks". In that model, the customer pre-purchased blocks of time, like 80 hours, for example, for a single blended rate that was discounted for their pre-payment. These hours would be consumed by anyone on our team, developers, analysts, consultants, etc., to meet customer requests until the block was depleted. It was a better model for both the customer and us than traditional Time and Materials and has served us well for many years. The downside was that some customers became too focused on the hours, often hoarding them to stave off having to buy more. This also meant that they would never reach the full potential of what these solutions could achieve for them. It was understandable but frustrating for me to know what "could be". It often triggered their "we'll take it from here" reflex when a block was depleted. This always meant the end of the line for any hope of exploiting the full potential for their business. They were obliviously missing out on dollars to save pennies. Is it Time? I have had this idea in my head for many years about an "All-You-Can-Eat" subscription model to eliminate scope and hours from the equation. But to not go broke, you would have to either charge an astronomical amount or exclude the development work. And each time I had looked in the past, there was still way too much development work, relegating any Subscription to just Support. But in the meantime, Microsoft has continued to advance the low-no-code platform, and I was noticing the utilization of our code-writing developers was falling, and developers are some of the highest paid people in a partner organization. To confirm my thinking, we analyzed our customers over the last 18 months, and sure enough, the level of actual code development had continued to drop. In fact, in the previous 12 months, less than five percent of our customers needed any actual code development at all. Bingo! "The Works from Forceworks" I could not wait to take this new information and finally build the model I had been thinking about for years... so I did. "The Works" is that all-inclusive model with unlimited everything except code. One challenge is making sure a prospective customer understands what "Code" means. They seem to feel that anything they could not figure out themselves must be "Code" and fear that anytime they open their mouth, the "Code Alarm" will go off. But our analysis says that is not the case. And frankly, the way you make money on a "Service as a Subscription" is over time, so renewals are far more important than some quick buck made from the code alarm. If that "Code Alarm" goes off too often, or possibly even once, the renewal is at risk. Again, this model would not have been viable even two years ago, so I have to give Microsoft a big hug. The Big Gulp A model like this is not without its risks for us. For one thing, our primary competition was not other partners but rather customers thinking about hiring someone internally. While these people are not easy to find, the thought that they could be found limits what a customer would pay, and it would have to be less than an internal salary. We went with an extensive list of unlimited services, starting from and including deployment(s). There were some heated conversations internally about what could be realistically offered on an unlimited basis for a fixed monthly cost. Still, I pushed for the max, and I happen to own the company. The service does have a one-year term to prevent someone from maxing out capacity in the first month and then canceling. Resellers To work financially, we need scale in both customers and people for a model like this. We had dabbled with some resellers with our "Support by Blocks" model, but I was not happy with the results, both for us and the end customers. Adding a third party in the middle created conflicts. But this new model is perfect for resellers, who are all looking for a recurring revenue component that they can bolt onto their existing billing arrangements with their customers. And since it is "scopeless" and "unlimited", there really is no reason for conflicts. Summary It is early days, but we have already transitioned most of our current customers to this new model and have started onboarding new ones. So, the customer verdict seems to be in on the value proposition. I expect to be underwater for a while financially as we scale up, but I was prepared for that. I am "Betting the Farm" as they say. We are firmly planted in the battle for the limited talent, but even those folks seem to like this model, so I am not too worried about that. In fact, I have another idea for that, but I will let you in on that a little later :) Those of you who know me know that I am not afraid to try new business models, and so far, each one has been better than the last, and I feel stronger about this one than any other. Wish me luck!  

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/363A conversation about Guro Faller's life – country of origin, family, favourite food and hobbies! Talks about Guro's involvement with other communities around the world. Guro's story about how did she get into IT? A discussion about the career journey and educational background of Guro. A story about Guro's passion for designing - clothes and IT Guro's transition from being an IT to Microsoft Business Applications ecosystem Learn more about Guro's day to day tasks and her focus What does Guro see when it comes to the use of Dynamics 365 marketing? Guro's views about the XRM platform.  AgileXRM AgileXRm - The integrated BPM for Microsoft Power PlatformSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nz365guy)

#111. Start here to learn why, when and how to use an agile approach to build Dynamics 365 and Power Platform applications.In this episode, you'll learn:Why I use an agile approach building Dynamics 365 and Power AppWhen an agile approach is suitable and when it's notThe benefits that Microsoft customers and partners experience using an agile approachWhat agile actually means, the history of agile software development, and the principles and values in the agile manifestoThe basics of the Scrum framework, and how to get certified in itFinally, some proven practices that I think that business apps teams need to learn to complement the Scrum framework to have wildly successful projectsTo learn more about adopting an agile approach, take my free Agile Foundations for Microsoft Business Applications mini-course.If you're ready to learn Scrum, achieve your Scrum.org PSM1 certification and learn my proven practices for applying Scrum to Microsoft Business Apps projects, join my Scrum for Microsoft Business Apps online course.If you're a Microsoft partner applying Scrum to your projects and you're ready to win more agile projects, apply for my Winning Agile Projects masterclass.ResourcesThe Manifesto for Agile Software Development"The New, New Product Development Game", Harvard Business ReviewThe Scrum Guide 2020Professional Scrum Master 1 certification at Scrum.orgAgile Foundations for Microsoft Business Apps free mini-course at Customery AcademyScrum for Microsoft Business Apps online course at Customery AcademyWinning Agile Projects masterclass at Customery AcademyCustomery Academy on YouTubeCustomery on LinkedInCustomery on TwitterAgile Apps user groupSupport the show (https://buymeacoffee.com/amazingapps)

On this episode, the MSDynamicsWorld and MSCloudNews editorial team discuss recent news coverage and popular expert articles. Topics range from Ukraine to executive changes in the Microsoft Business Applications organization to ISV alignment strategies to the conference outlook. Show Notes: 0:30 – Microsoft community response to war in Ukraine Microsoft partners and professionals with Ukraine connections express growing concern, dismay What does the Russian invasion of Ukraine mean for cloud security? 4:00 – Cloud security outlook related to the Russian invasion 6:15 – Executive departure: Business Apps channel lead Cecilia Flombaum 8:20 – Executive departure: Muhammad Alam's departure 10:20 – Microsoft completes the acquisition of Nuance 13:15 – Advice for ISVs on aligning properly with Microsoft 15:00 – Getting ready for DynamicsCon 2022 virtual event. 17:00 – Broader event outlook for March and April - 17:45 – The future of hybrid cloud 19:00 – Gaining an advantage in contract manufacturing

Lisa Crosbie has a contagious enthusiasm for low code technology and making it possible for anyone to get started with Power Platform and Dynamics 365. She has taken a career journey from being a Dynamics 365 customer and business user doing unspeakable things with Excel, to an evangelist for Microsoft Business Applications, educating customers and helping solve problems for people like she used to be. She loves getting people excited about this awesome technology, opening new possibilities, and learning and sharing with the global community every day. Lisa is a Microsoft Business Applications MVP, blogger, trainer, speaker, YouTuber and host of The UP Podcast with her good friend Megan V. Walker.  In this episode we cover a lot of ground with Lisa and cover the following topics that will brign you some value: Personal Productivity - Many think that Power Automate is a developer tool and need IT to create workflows But this is not the case…Information Workers have opportunities to use pre built templates and really save some time with common tasks. PowerApps, Power Automate, Dynamics all powerful in their own right - What is Lisa's personal fav and when you combine them all, what are the benefits ? Power Apps - Canvas or Model Driven apps what is the difference and what to use when ? Dataverse and Microsoft Teams - a lot is talked about Dataverse, Lisa exaplains what this is and how it relates to Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams Webinars + Dynamics 365 use cases here around follloowing up after the event Microsoft Ignite is fast approaching - find out what Lisa is looking forward to. Lisa talks about what is exciting her in the PowerPlatform Space right now. Connect with Lisa: Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaMCrosbie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-crosbie/ Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/LisaCrosbie  

Thanks for checking out The UP Podcast! In the 42nd episode we cover:Microsoft Business Applications LaunchPower Automate newsExciting stuff with Power Apps PortalsSome awesome community contentUpcoming eventsBooks and apps from Lisa & MeganCheck out the full show notes:https://theuppodcast.com/podcast/episode-42-microsoft-business-applications-launchIf you enjoyed this episode, we'd love to know! All reviews are appreciated and help us reach a wider audience:⭐ https://up.theuppodcast.com/reviews ⭐