Steve Daly, Senior Vice President Solutions, Global Digital Transformation

In the digital transformation era, organizational initiatives' success often depends on employees' ability to adapt and excel amidst continual change. Microsoft Copilot is at the forefront of revolutionizing employee upskilling, ensuring that workforce capabilities align seamlessly with evolving technological demands. What is Microsoft Copilot? Launched in 2023, Microsoft Copilot is a productivity platform powered by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) that Microsoft has dubbed "your everyday AI companion." It leverages large language models (LLMs) combined with an organization's data to help streamline routine tasks, automate workflows, and boost collaboration. It also integrates with Microsoft 365 apps to turn user input into stunning visualizations, presentations, documents, meeting notes, action items, and more. The platform sets itself apart with its user-friendly interface and interactive tutorials, making the mastery of new technologies and processes a breeze. Microsoft Copilot simplifies complex concepts into manageable modules, allowing employees to learn at their own pace. This approach not only reduces the learning curve but also facilitates a seamless transition into digital-centric operations. Microsoft Copilot's functionality goes beyond its user-friendly design; it provides real-time assistance and context-sensitive prompts, offering employees immediate support. This feature is particularly beneficial in a fast-paced business environment, where maintaining productivity is of utmost importance. Microsoft Copilot adds value with personalized learning recommendations and adaptive algorithms that tailor training content. This personalized approach ensures that learning is relevant and time-efficient, allowing employees to focus on acquiring skills specific to their roles and responsibilities. The benefits of Microsoft Copilot are not just theoretical; they are quantifiable. The platform tracks technology adoption rates, the time employees take to achieve proficiency with new tools, and the overall impact on productivity and operational efficiency. These data points are invaluable for organizations to assess Microsoft Copilot's effectiveness and refine their upskilling strategies accordingly. Investing in Microsoft Copilot also demonstrates a firm's commitment to its workforce, signaling to employees that they are valued and supported. This commitment fosters a corporate culture characterized by continuous learning, adaptability, and innovation—essential for staying competitive in a rapidly changing business landscape. Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a game-changer for organizations using the Microsoft ecosystem. This AI-powered assistant seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, empowering employees to work more efficiently and effectively. With Microsoft 365 Copilot, employees can: Generate professional emails, reports, and presentations with AI-assisted writing suggestions. Analyze data in Excel using natural language queries, making data insights accessible to non-technical users. Automate repetitive tasks, such as data entry and formatting, freeing up time for higher-value work. Receive real-time guidance and support while working within Microsoft applications, reducing the need for extensive training. By leveraging Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, organizations can significantly enhance employee productivity, collaboration, and overall digital proficiency. Microsoft Copilot for Security Microsoft Copilot for Security is a powerful tool that helps organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture by upskilling employees in security best practices and threat awareness. Key features include: Personalized security training tailored to each employee's role and level of technical expertise. Simulated phishing attacks and other real-world scenarios to test and reinforce security knowledge. Real-time security alerts and guidance when employees encounter potentially malicious content or engage in risky online behavior. Gamified learning experiences that make security training engaging and memorable. With Microsoft Copilot for Security, organizations can cultivate a strong security culture, reducing the risk of human error and bolstering their overall cybersecurity defenses. Microsoft Copilot for Sales Microsoft Copilot for Sales is a transformative solution that empowers sales teams to excel in the digital age. By leveraging AI and machine learning, Microsoft Copilot for Sales provides salespeople with the insights, guidance, and automation they need to close more deals and drive revenue growth. Key benefits include: AI-powered lead prioritization and opportunity insights, enabling salespeople to focus on the most promising prospects. Automated data entry and CRM updates, freeing up time for more strategic selling activities. Real-time coaching and guidance during sales calls, helping salespeople navigate complex conversations and objections. Personalized learning paths that upskill salespeople in areas like social selling, virtual presentations, and consultative selling techniques. By investing in Microsoft Copilot for Sales, organizations can accelerate their sales cycles, improve win rates, and drive sustainable revenue growth in the digital era. Your Ally in Digital Transformation As organizations face the accelerating pace of business evolution, the significance of systematic employee upskilling cannot be overstated. With Microsoft Copilot, companies have a reliable ally to help navigate the complexities of digital transformation, ensuring that their employees are well-equipped with the necessary skills and support. Ultimately, the efficacy of digital transformation initiatives heavily relies on the people involved. By leveraging platforms like Microsoft Copilot, organizations invest in their technological infrastructure and the human potential that propels their success. This dual investment enhances immediate business outcomes and long-term organizational resilience, creating a compelling value proposition that is hard to overlook. New Era Technology is uniquely positioned to help organizations discover and execute their AI strategies, including the implementation of Microsoft Copilot across various business functions. With deep expertise in digital transformation and a proven track record of success, New Era Technology can guide companies through the process of identifying AI use cases, selecting the right tools and platforms, and driving adoption and change management. By partnering with New Era Technology, organizations can unlock the full potential of AI and Microsoft Copilot, accelerating their digital transformation journeys and empowering their employees to thrive in the digital age. Ready to learn more? Contact us today — we're here to help.

In an era quickly shaped by the advancements of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), the responsibilities of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) have shifted. They must understand the potential of GenAI and guide their organizations in capitalizing on this transformative technology. Understanding the crucial importance of tooling in implementing GenAI, CIOs and CTOs must focus on choosing tools that match the advanced nature of this technology and assist in its effective utilization. This strategic approach to tooling is fundamental in speeding up innovation, delivering superior quality, and fostering a competitive edge in a GenAI-driven market. "Technology is nothing. What's important is that you have a faith in people, that they're basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they'll do wonderful things with them." ~ Steve Jobs The choice of GenAI tools morphs from purely a technical decision to a strategic one with implications for the business's reputation, customer trust, and overall success in this digital era. Viewing it from this perspective, the challenges posed by tooling in adopting GenAI become central to not just tech strategy but the entire organizational direction. Factors That Can Help (or Hinder) Your AI Adoption Strategy Here are some of the ways that the lack of suitable tools can significantly hinder your AI adoption strategy: Innovation and Development Good tools are essential for developers and researchers to experiment, iterate, and enhance GenAI models. Limited or poor-quality tools can slow the innovation cycle, making it challenging to advance GenAI technology efficiently. Quality and Reliability Poorly designed tools may produce subpar results, leading to a lack of trust in GenAI's outputs. This can affect the perception of the technology's reliability and accuracy, deterring its adoption in critical fields where precision is paramount. Integration and Compatibility The need for robust tools can make integrating GenAI into existing workflows and systems challenging. This could be a significant barrier for organizations looking to adopt GenAI solutions but find the integration process needs to be more convenient and compatible with their current infrastructure. Accessibility and User Experience Without intuitive and user-friendly tools, potential users, especially those who are not tech-savvy, may find it difficult to interact with GenAI systems. User experience could lead to a lower adoption rate as the technology would seem inaccessible or too complex to a broader audience. Education and Training Good tools often come with educational resources, documentation, and community support, crucial for learning and adopting new technologies. The learning curve becomes steeper in their absence, and potential users might need more guidance to use GenAI effectively. Ethical and Responsible Use Beyond the technical aspects, leaders face the critical challenge of ensuring responsible and ethical adoption of GenAI technologies. With GenAI becoming an integral part of business processes, the burden of aligning their deployment with the organization's values and ethical norms is ever-growing. Tools designed with ethical considerations and responsible GenAI principles in mind are crucial for the safe adoption of it. Lack of such tools can lead to unethical use or unintended harmful consequences, tarnishing the reputation of GenAI technology. A Strategic Approach to GenAI Tooling In conclusion, you must recognize the instrumental role of tooling in successfully integrating and adopting GenAI. The responsibilities of CIOs and CTOs extend beyond the technical aspects, pushing them to facilitate the choice of the right tools that meet the technical requirements of GenAI and align with their organizations' ethical norms and values. Tools offer a gateway to accessibility, innovation, quality assurance, seamless integration, education, and ethical use of GenAI. A strategic approach to tooling defines the path for organizations to harness the true potential of GenAI, laying a solid foundation for the accelerated innovation, heightened quality, and competitive edge that this technology promises. Therefore, the choice of tools becomes a vital determinant of the tech strategy and overall organizational direction in this digital era. References https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/steve-jobs-in-1994-the-rolling-stone-interview-231132/