AI = Data, good and ready
Join me—Andrew Welch—with HSO’s "Dynamics Matters” podcast host Michael Lonnon for part one of our AI strategy miniseries as we geek out about data consolidation and AI-addressable data storage, Microsoft Fabric, data hygiene, data readiness and the “cloud landing zone”, data distribution and more as you craft + execute your future-ready AI strategy.
NetHope Global Summit 🇩🇪
Non-profits and NGOs the world over are struggling with the shift in cloud technology from activity-based to system-based value. This means that value is shifting from the use of siloed “point solutions” in the direction of architecting strategic foundations and building platform ecosystems—the fabric into which applications, infrastructure, integrations, and the modern data platform is woven. This strategic approach to cloud technology is critical for organizations wishing to become “future-ready”, harness the power of AI, drive down costs, increase operational efficiency, and better serve employees, volunteers, partners, and constituents. In the Microsoft Cloud, workloads are increasingly being built to (a) integrate with one another, (b) integrate with the broader cloud estate, and (c) make use of common building blocks such as core platform services, Azure application and integration services, the “Fabric” modern data platform, and Power Platform. In other words, solutions are being tied together rather than architected in isolation, and this is generating vast datasets built as "single sources of truth". This session will get you thinking like the world's boldest solution and enterprise architects as we explore real-world examples of how organizations are stitching their workloads together into an ecosystem, best practices for doing so, and lessons learned along the way.
South Coast Summit 🇬🇧
Convergence and integration of technical services are coupling with modern organizational models for accelerating rapid application development to create more and more scenarios where Power Platform and the Azure Data Platform are inextricably linked. Put another way, the data platform has grown ever more sophisticated whilst at the same time solutions developed in Power Platform demand access to more and more enterprise data. This session explores five strategies for integrating these two technology sets in the Microsoft Cloud: Point to Point, Direct to Master Data, Master Data Node, Data Landing Zone, and Modern Data Platform. We’ll consider ideal scenarios, advantages, and disadvantages of each before concluding with real-world examples of organizations who have done this in practice across several industries.
Building the platform ecosystem
This fourth episode of the Ecosystems podcast dives into “building the platform ecosystem” as we discuss integrated landing zones and unified data languages in cloud platforms, promoting people-centric tech dialogues, and the idea of institutional data models to accelerate app dev and normalize transactional data throughout the ecosystem. This strategy eases tech adoption to spur organizational growth in the cloud. It underscores tool encapsulation, cultural respect, proactive leadership, and promotes organizational learning and adaptability. Success in tech demands technical skills, storytelling, change management, continuous learning, and crucial consulting support for knowledge transfer and project success… so we finish with our recommendations for technology practitioners seeking to modernize their own skills for the ecosystem era.
Nordic Summit 🇩🇰
Convergence and integration of technical services are coupling with modern organizational models for accelerating rapid application development to create more and more scenarios where Power Platform and the Azure Data Platform are inextricably linked. Put another way, the data platform has grown ever more sophisticated whilst at the same time solutions developed in Power Platform demand access to more and more enterprise data. This session explores five strategies for integrating these two technology sets in the Microsoft Cloud: Point to Point, Direct to Master Data, Master Data Node, Data Landing Zone, and Modern Data Platform. We’ll consider ideal scenarios, advantages, and disadvantages of each before concluding with real-world examples of organizations who have done this in practice across several industries.
Emergency Tech Show 🇬🇧
Join Microsoft cloud expert Andrew Welch on a journey to discover the digital building blocks for creating a platform-first law enforcement approach. One that enables UK Police forces to benefit from advances in technology, but that enables rapid and cost-effective deployment of connected applications. Hear also how the MET Police resolves Grey IT challenges using this innovative approach.
Creating the conditions for success in your ecosystem
We’re focused on the “Strategic Pyramid” for the cloud in this episode of the Ecosystems podcast. Touching on the complexity of workload implementation, we then delve into the concept of “creating the conditions for success”. This pyramid looks at the depth of layers when building a cloud ecosystem, and explores how technology functions within organizations. The focus shifts towards creating the right conditions for success rather than just implementation. We then discuss the importance of evolving from governance to strategy and conclude that without proper governance, organizations are destined for failure.
NXUnite Panel 🇺🇸
It is as yet unknown if artificial intelligence is more akin to a “great invention” of the 19th and 20th centuries, or if it will ultimately represent another more incremental evolution of existing capabilities. The former—as seems more likely given the immense investments being made today—will present significant challenges to nearly every organization that, having become accustomed to incremental change, is suddenly faced with a “great inventions” caliber paradigm shift that AI seems to portend. Or, as I continue to remind the CIOs with whom I work closely, the grace period for organizations to get their act together and position themselves for the next wave is growing much shorter, the margin for error much more narrow.
The legacy and future of “implementing workloads”
Are you ready to level up your tech game? Tune in as our expert co-hosts Ana Demeny, Andrew Welch, Chris Huntingford, and William Dorrington dive deep into the intricacies of technology strategy and implementation. From ensuring your projects thrive in larger ecosystems to the significance of balancing expertise and wisdom, this discussion sheds light on the evolving landscape of tech. Join us in this thought-provoking conversation where we explore the transformation from being experts in a field to wise decision-makers in tech. Don't miss out on the valuable insights shared by our panelists!
D365 + Power Platform UG 🇬🇧
Workloads in the Microsoft Cloud are increasingly being built to (a) integrate with one another, (b) integrate with the broader enterprise application and data system, and (c) make use of common building blocks such as core platform services, Azure data, application, and integration services, and Power Platform. On the latter, the most successful organizations are now using Power Platform to build ambitious, high value solutions. In other words, solutions are being tied together rather than architected in isolation, and this is generating vast datasets built as "single sources of truth".
Premiering the “Ecosystems” Podcast
Mark Smith, Ana Demeny, Andrew Welch, Chris Huntingford and William Dorrington launch the Ecosystems podcast. We delved into the Microsoft Cloud Ecosystem and discussed topics from missed innovation opportunities to the significance of embracing technological advancements. The conversation provides insights into the evolving nature of technology adoption, the potential consequences of not staying current, and the varying perspectives on navigating the complexities of the technological landscape.
Building future-ready cloud ecosystems for the age of AI
Discussing AI in recent months I have often thought about the fable of the boiled frog, whereby a frog placed in boiling water jumps out, but a frog placed in warm water that is gradually heated lacks awareness of his impending demise until it is too late. Or, as I continue to remind the CIOs with whom I work closely, the grace period for organizations to get their act together and position themselves for the next wave is growing much shorter, the margin for error much more narrow.
Azure Integration Congress 🇳🇱
Organizations using Microsoft Cloud are integrating their workloads with each other, broader enterprise applications, and common building blocks like core platform services, integration services, data solutions, and Power Platform. Successful organizations are using Power Platform to build high-value solutions that tie different solutions together, generating large datasets as “single sources of truth”. This session will explore real-world examples of how organizations have integrated their workloads into an ecosystem, best practices, and lessons learned, inspiring attendees to think like the world’s boldest solution and enterprise architects.
Keynote @ HSO Tech Day 🇳🇱
I have come to understand strategic thinking as more art than science. Strategy is surely informed in part by data, but I find that our society in general and the technology industry specifically too often confuse data and wisdom, that we foolishly (though understandably) seek heuristics or processes so that we can turn the art of strategic thinking into a game of color by numbers so simple that anyone can do it. When it comes to strategic thinking, better that we seek methods of framing our thoughts rather than shortcuts to the answers themselves. This session offers practical approaches to injecting strategy into your organization’s Microsoft Cloud journey, indeed, a selection of the same approaches I take with my clients. We explore a wide range of topics, including the impact of AI on the strategic landscape, how organizations have ever-decreasing time to absorb waves of innovation into their operating models, the transition from activity-based to system-based value, and how governance fits. We’ll then investigate a model for weaving strategic intent into the ongoing cloud journey, and explore industry-specific ecosystem maps that illustrate how other organizations have found success doing this.
D365 + Power Platform UG 🇬🇧
Workloads in the Microsoft Cloud are increasingly being built to (a) integrate with one another, (b) integrate with the broader enterprise application and data system, and (c) make use of common building blocks such as core platform services, Azure data, application, and integration services, and Power Platform. On the latter, the most successful organizations are now using Power Platform to build ambitious, high value solutions. In other words, solutions are being tied together rather than architected in isolation, and this is generating vast datasets built as "single sources of truth". This session will get you thinking like the world's boldest solution and enterprise architects as we explore real-world examples of how organizations have knitted their workloads together into an ecosystem, best practices for doing so, and lessons learned along the way.
Dynamics Minds 🇸🇮
Power Platform solutions are increasingly being built to integrate with one another and with the larger enterprise application and data ecosystem, and the most successful organizations are using Power Platform to build ambitious, high-value solutions. In other words, solutions are being tied together rather than architected in isolation, and this is generating vast datasets built as "single sources of truth". This session will get you thinking like the world's boldest solution and enterprise architects as we explore real-world examples of how organizations have knitted their workloads together into an ecosystem, best practices for doing so, and lessons learned along the way.
Iberian Summit 🇵🇹
Power Platform solutions are increasingly being built to integrate with one another and with the larger enterprise application and data ecosystem, and the most successful organizations are using Power Platform to build ambitious, high-value solutions. In other words, solutions are being tied together rather than architected in isolation, and this is generating vast datasets built as "single sources of truth". This session will get you thinking like the world's boldest solution and enterprise architects as we explore real-world examples of how organizations have knitted their workloads together into an ecosystem, best practices for doing so, and lessons learned along the way.
Understanding cloud ecosystem value and architecture via a “strategic pyramid”
Let’s consider a model for how organizations should be prioritizing their work and investments in the Microsoft Cloud. The imperative here could not be greater. Technological advancements are now moving on timelines that in some instances can be measured in weeks. Not months. Not years. But weeks. This both accelerates and is accelerated by the shift to system-based value. In other words, getting the platform ecosystem right in an organization is both necessary to creating the greatest likelihood that the organization can absorb rapid innovation, whilst simultaneously creating the conditions that drive that rapid innovation forward. But too many organizations have misallocated their focus up and down the value chain, prioritizing workload implementation either at the expense of or out of ignorance to architecting strategic foundations, building the platform ecosystem, and creating the conditions for success. That’s a bit esoteric, so let’s visualize this phenomenon as the “strategic pyramid”…
Power Platform School 🇬🇧
Explore how to adopt the Power Platform at scale across a large organization, and discuss how administrators, architects, and program / project managers can govern, manage, and operate the Power Platform in service to their business-focused customers. The discussion will include an overview of the current state of the platform, and dive into several of the tools and techniques used to manage and govern to platform, including the Power Platform Adoption Framework and the Center of Excellence (CoE) model.
Strategic thinking for the Microsoft Cloud
I have come to understand strategic thinking as more art than science. Strategy is surely informed in part by data, but I find that our society in general and the technology industry specifically too often confuse data and wisdom, that we foolishly (though understandably) seek heuristics or processes so that we can turn the art of strategic thinking into a game of color by numbers so simple that anyone can do it. When it comes to strategic thinking, better that we seek methods of framing our thoughts rather than shortcuts to the answers themselves. So in this piece I have sought to offer practical approaches to injecting strategy into your organization’s Cloud journey, indeed, a selection of the same approaches I take with my clients.