a group of people on a stage in front of a crowd
Read Time, 7 min.

Ten things to take away from Microsoft TechX.

When it comes to cloud computing, it is no longer if, or when it will be part of your enterprise strategy, in fact it is not even how. Now the conversation is for how best it can be incorporated into enterprise infrastructure because no organisation can now ignore the base level of capability it delivers.

Cloud computing is now the foundation of many organisations, and the corner stone of their transformation ambitions.

Microsoft’s TechX event in Dublin was cloud-focused this year, exploring developments and directions for the cloud platform, as well as how partners and customers are leveraging it to drive innovation.

Here are 10 key takeaways from the event, which saw managers, developers, engineers, partners and customers share experiences and insights from their respective cloud journeys.

 

Cross discipline cooperation

Cooperation between diverse disciplines focused on specific goals has proven to be not just fruitful for the task at hand but has improved how skills and knowledge transfer happens in general.

When gamers meet cloud engineers, or user experience designers meet disability consultants, or when aerospace engineers meet school children, the cross pollination of ideas and innovation can be staggering.

Opening up innovation to diverse ranges of experiences and ideas can yield, quite simply, fantastic results. Organisations can facilitate this by recognising that every person, at every level, can contribute to innovation by providing their unique perspective.

 

Cloud help

Despite the broader conversation around cloud computing and how such platforms can enable development ambitions, organisations still need help in understanding how these capabilities can enable their own journey.

In each case study and success story presented, there is a clear thread that, in many cases, organisations need technology partners and vendors to fully illustrate the current capabilities of cloud platforms to allow customers to grasp the potential.

However, it is vital for organisations to have that understanding for themselves, as even the closest partner may not be able to make the leap for them. In understanding their own needs and development ambitions, organisation can confidently set out where they need to go, supported by the technology.

 

Trust earned

Trust, though critical in today’s technologically permeated world, is still slowly earned, and to be guarded jealously.

With much of the social media world under heavy criticism for being less than transparent on privacy issues, trust in technology is under threat.

Despite the pace of change in the world of technology, trust is still gradually earned and not to be squandered.

Through the careful development of open standards, rigorous application of security controls and best practice adoption, organisations can ensure a culture of trust is developed and maintained, as we as a society, a business community and a wider world bring technology ever closer into our lives.

 

Diverse views

Diverse views and approaches are necessary, not just between organisations, but also between departments, teams and people.

If we have a uniformity of voice and opinions within our organisations, it can be very difficult anticipate problems. Organisations that succeed promote diversity, and provide welcoming platforms for sharing viewpoints.

Not just the usual voice for devil’s advocate, diverse views can inform and enrich debates on design and development to allow for greater understanding of how applications, tools and services might be employed once out in the open market.

Such insight, early in development cycles, can be invaluable in anticipating what may later be difficult to retro fit.

 

Innovation multipliers

Innovation will happen, regardless of technology.

But technology can not only smooth the flow of human interaction that produces innovation, it can multiply its effects. But the old wisdom still applies — don’t get in the way of people doing great things. Ensure the technologies at their disposal are easy to use, accessible and appropriate. Then, let the magic happen.

 

Open source gives way to open development

For those of a certain age, there is still a novelty to seeing Red Hat share a stage with Microsoft. However, the progress that has been made between not just the two partners, but the two ecosystems is unequivocal.

Not only has Microsoft embraced open source, it has led a charge for open development, where the respective strengths of all approaches are brought together to foster innovation and drive progress. With other vendors and partners, the company has fully engaged with the co-creation principle to the benefit of all. While competition still exists, it is the customers who benefit as choice is now unrestricted by any notion of proprietary concerns.

It is worth pointing too, that where partnership takes place for co-creation, the benefits stay with the partner.

“We (Microsoft) co-create technologies with our customers that make them successful — customers own their patents and design rights in their technology — not Microsoft. And this is unique in the tech industry,” Cathriona Hallahan, managing director, Microsoft Ireland.

 

Tech for good

Tech for good is now ingrained as a concept, and it has many facets, from protecting the planet to making individual lives better, acknowledging and including groups that may previously have been underserved.

No one sets out to make technology inaccessible, but it has taken some time and some shared experiences to allow developers and engineers to see from different perspectives to understand what needs to be done to open up the possibilities. Hackathons and other initiatives are making a real difference to focus on specific needs, making adjustments and delivering new uses.

 

The incredibly complexity of the simple

The accessibility of new tools in areas such as data analytics and business process automation has allowed business domain experts to produce what would have taken developers significant coding time in the recent past.

However, despite the emergence of citizen developers through low and no-code applications, it must be borne in mind that it is only through the supreme application of skill and experience that such tools are developed at all.

It is only through a huge depth of understanding that developers and user experience professionals can determine what to hide and what to expose to allow the domain experts to interact with applications and produce meaningful results. Incredible complexity and sophistication lies just beneath every one of those beautiful interfaces, whether provisioning a new cloud infrastructure, automating a business process or linking a set of applications.

 

The change dilemma

In today’s business world, an organisation that is not changing is not living in reality.

Managing that change can be a difficult prospect, but it is the new business reality.

However, within that continually evolving landscape, there are still some constants.

Security must be a constant thread through all aspects of technology. Protecting the user, protecting the data and protecting the organisation, are still key concerns, irrespective of where the base technology goes or markets might stray.

Trust is key and will remain so.

Shared experiences help everyone. Whether it is lessons on a regulatory journey or admitting when things have gone wrong, sharing is better than silence.

With these constants in mind, organisation can better position themselves to handle the fluid aspects of the pace of technological change.

 

People will talk

Though the themes were dominated by cloud, AI, analytics, scalability and innovation, the lasting impression from TechX was the interaction — people love to talk!

At every opportunity, people congregated to discuss, react and share. Just as diversity must be encouraged internally, people also need to be facilitated in getting out to meet others in the industry, in other disciplines and other perspectives.

The continued popularity of these events demonstrates the unchanging human need for shared experiences and peer groups. Social interaction around the chosen discipline is still an invaluable part of being an ICT professional, and will continue to play an important part in professional development along side all manner of digital media.

Dossier

None

Looking to skill up on Azure?

Get the e-book and learn Azure in a Month of Lunches

Discover more related articles per industry:

Education

  • Unlock the potential of your students with Microsoft’s new Learning Accelerators

    Unlock the potential of your students with Microsoft’s new Learning Accelerators

    Personalized learning is a goal that educators everywhere have been trying to achieve for years. But the pandemic shone a light on the complexity of that challenge for teachers, who face a more diverse set of student needs than ever before.  Because delivering a truly personalized learning experience for every student has traditionally required lots […]

  • Northern Ireland moves to cloud-first education

    Northern Ireland moves to cloud-first education

    Northern Ireland moves to cloud-first education All teachers in the region now being equipped with Surface Pro laptops Transforming how education is provided in Northern Ireland over the next decade is a crucial goal for the region’s Education Authority.  To meet digital skills needs over that period and beyond, the authority is implementing a versatile […]

Finance & Insurance

Government

  • Two people inside using Surface Go in office

    How technology is transforming the work of governments

    Governments have the ultimate responsibility to their citizens. People depend on the services they provide like no other institution. Whether in healthcare, education, business, roads, railways, water – it’s essential that government institutions are always at the forefront of social and digital trends. Cloud-powered technologies are playing a critical role in helping government agencies to […]

Healthcare

Manufacturing

  • The Best Coffee Is Brewed In The Cloud

    The Best Coffee Is Brewed In The Cloud

    Modern coffee is complicated. Gone are the days when a quick cup of ‘instant’ in the morning would satisfy most of us. Coffee is a living, breathing culture, and with it comes a burgeoning set of consumer expectations. Meeting and exceeding them determines whether coffee businesses sink or swim in an industry where you’re only […]

  • Malarenergi

    Future society: The utility company turning up the heat with AI

    One Swedish utility company is undergoing a journey in energy innovation―empowered by dynamic collaborations and AI technology. Frosty commutes from work in wintery Nordic cities are endured knowing that a toasty home awaits. Keeping city energy consumption steadily regulated is key, not just for an economical and warm home for residents, but to minimise environmental […]

Retail

  • Store staff llooking and pointing at screen

    Helping store staff rise to the challenge of creating world-class experiences

    Consumers have more information and choice than ever. That’s why shopping experiences provide an opportunity to differentiate and delight customers – rather than competing on cost alone. The digital shopping revolution has given us access to companies and information that was unimaginable two decades ago – and it has raised our expectations of bricks-and-mortar retailers […]

  • Big data boosts business for beverage company

    Big data boosts business for beverage company

    Contemplate, if you will, the multiple choices available every time you want something to drink. Water? Juice? Soft drink? Do you want a single-serve can or a six-pack? Or maybe you just grab a liter bottle. The fact is, we as consumers expect a lot of options and the global non-alcoholic beverage industry delivers. Arca […]

Discover more related articles per dossier:

Customer Stories

  • Sacred Heart Tullamore achieving sustainability through reimagined learning

    Sacred Heart Tullamore achieving sustainability through reimagined learning

    Irish rural secondary school has boosted sustainability and increased collaboration, while building a deep culture of trust through its innovative approach to education.  Sustainability and promoting collaboration are vital goals in education today. Sacred Heart Secondary School in Tullamore, Co Offaly is achieving both by harnessing the transformative power of digital tools in education.   “We […]

Digital Transformation

  • Follow the Leaders: What Competencies are Required to Get AI Right?

    Follow the Leaders: What Competencies are Required to Get AI Right?

    Every technology goes through an age of discovery and an age of implementation. Today, AI is hurtling full speed through its age of implementation. Companies are applying this technology to empower employees, engage with customers and transform their businesses. “All the big tech companies are spending money on AI capabilities. They have explicit visions to […]

Press

  • Image of a man and woman smiling

    Microsoft and Connect at Catalyst Inc

    Microsoft and Connect at Catalyst Inc It’s an exciting time to be working in the technology sector in Northern Ireland. More than ever before we’re seeing increased numbers of entrepreneurs, start-up businesses, and indeed multinationals setting up in the North. Working together and learning from each other encourages a strong technology ecosystem and ultimately yields […]

Security & Privacy

Tips

  • Group of two female and one male office workers brainstorming in informal office setting. Both women are using laptops while the man is writing. Large screen shown in background.

    2019 Modern Selling Trends in 5 webinars

    The relationship between buyers and sellers grows more complicated each day. Every potential partnership requires finding the right buyer, fully understanding their business, tracking progress through the buying cycle, and engaging them with the right content—when and how they want it. These shifting dynamics underscore the artistry of modern selling. When the time is right, […]