Microsoft Innovation Podcast

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/494 Imagine revolutionizing businesses with a single platform... that's precisely what our guest Phil Glew-Deval, an MVP from Bexel, England, does with the Power Platform. As a lead developer, he's not just designing applications; he's transforming workflows and making business processes more efficient. Balancing his technical prowess with a love for food, family, and a good book, Phil's world extends far beyond the realm of coding.Join us in the exciting journey of Phil, from his early days as an internal audit professional to becoming a Power Platform developer. Not one to keep his knowledge to himself, Phil reveals his process of creating an app in PowerApps, from the intricacies of SharePoint to the wonders of dataverse tables. Hear about his most advanced creation - a desk booking application for nearly 4,000 colleagues. But not everything is as rosy as it seems. Phil addresses the misconceptions around the Power Platform, and how education and communication are the key to dispelling them. Wrapping up our conversation, we delve into the world of Microsoft Certified Trainer qualification, giving you a comprehensive overview of what the certification entails. Prepare to be inspired and enlightened - this episode is packed with insights!OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ Learn Microsoft: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/users/philglewdeval-0632/ Website: www.dcsuk.tech Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/493 Join us for an enlightening conversation with our distinguished guest Vinay Deo, a principal group product manager at Microsoft. Step into his shoes as we traverse through his fascinating journey that spans from his work with personal gadgets to Bing Ads, all the way to his current role focusing on customer insights and orchestration. As you accompany Vinay through his diverse experiences and personal life, you'll also get a taste of the vibrant food culture in Seattle and Vinay’s love for travel.Brace yourself, as we venture into the world of Dynamics 365 Customer Insights and Marketing. Engage in an enlightening dialogue with Vinay about the transformational shift from two products to Dynamics 3.6.5, focusing on the enhancement of customer experiences and the unification of customer profiles from various data sources. Discover the power of real-time customer engagement dynamics and how trigger-based journeys can revolutionize marketers' responses to customer actions. We wrap up this engrossing discussion by exploring ways to personalize messages and ensure that they feel less like spam and more tailored to the individual. You’ll also learn ways to identify and utilize consumer preferences for boosting customer engagement. Don’t miss this riveting conversation loaded with insightful revelations.Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/492 Ever wondered how an accountant would transition into a tech guru? Meet Steven Chinsky, the director of Dynamics Practice at Accelerant. From his thrilling escapades like sky diving and racing Lamborghinis to his passion for barbecuing, Steven is all about living life in the fast lane. But what truly stands out is his seamless shift from crunching numbers to dominating the tech industry, all thanks to the push from his mentors to explore ERP software. Steven lifts the lid on his journey, becoming an MVP since 2023 and how Xapta, birthed from Navision, along with Dynamics 365 BC, is revolutionizing operations in multinational corporations.Get ready to uncover the untapped potential of Business Central in any manufacturing environment. Steven dishes on his personal journey to becoming an MVP and how he sailed through the application process, pandemic notwithstanding. His association with Microsoft has led to a myriad of opportunities to speak at various conferences, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experiences. Prepare to be inspired by his insights on the ever-evolving tech industry, his journey as a Microsoft MVP, and his valuable nuggets of wisdom for those aspiring to follow in his footsteps. So buckle up and join us on this exciting ride!OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ Dynamics Community: https://dynamicscommunities.com/community/members/steven-chinskywipfli-com/ Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/491 Are you ready to unravel the mysteries of technological evolution? Join us in this enlightening conversation with Andrew Welch, Chris Huntingford, Ana Demeny, and William Dorrington, where we bring to light the intriguing concept of enablement. As the waves of major innovations shorten, we dissect the necessity for swift adaptability to avoid being swept away in the current of change. Unearthing the demise of digital transformation, we usher in the era of ecosystem enablement.Dare to venture into the labyrinth of artificial intelligence with us? We scrutinize the overhyped expectations that have left many disillusioned and the underestimated Gartner hype cycle prevalent in the AI space. We shed light on the contrasting approaches to AI by consumers and organizations, and the pivotal role of data in a company's productivity. Delving deeper, we expose the superficial adoption of AI by many organizations and stress the significance of building a robust platform.Ever wondered about the crucial role of digital literacy for organizational leaders and boards? We delve into the incentives offered by IT organizations and external partners for certain technologies and how it can potentially distort digital transformation. Furthermore, we explore the necessity of data and knowledge management to stay ahead of the competition. As we near the end, we touch upon the double-edged sword of democratization and the increasing need for apt user interface and experience design as data processing skyrockets. So, join us on this journey and gain valuable insights into the future of technology.Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/490 Imagine the journey from a mechanical engineer to becoming a Microsoft Power Platform enthusiast, and eventually an MVP in Germany. Meet Robin Rosengrün, our guest in this episode, who effortlessly straddles the world between his passion for technology and his fascinating family life. We get candid with him about his transition, the challenges he faced, and his unique request to Microsoft's product team!Intriguingly, our conversation takes an exciting turn as we delve into Robin's role as a low-code enabler at ENVW, fostering digital transformation. We discuss the AppGap challenge, strategies to accelerate digitalisation projects, and the significance of community-building in tech. Join us to gain unique insights from Robin's journey, his perspective on the future of Power Platform, and his role in shaping it. Prepare to be inspired and take away valuable lessons from his experiences.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ GitHub: https://github.com/PowerRobinPower Platform Training: https://www.crownandwand.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@r2powerSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/489 Embrace the ingenious world of artificial intelligence with our esteemed guest, Taiki, a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft. Unravel the transformative power of Microsoft’s Co-Pilot and its synergistic application in Power Platform. Taiki will share some heartening instances of career revolution catalyzed by AI capabilities, like that of Miyu Takai, who turned her mundane data entry job into an automated process using Co-Pilot. The discussion doesn't stop at career transformation. Brace yourself for riveting stories about the astounding impact of Co-Pilot and Generative AI on citizen developers. Taiki recounts how Ashley Francis, a CPA with no prior IT experience, empowered herself by leveraging Power Automate to streamline her work processes. Discover the phenomenal advancements these tools are making in the developer ecosystem, enabling rapid prototyping of MVPs and plugins, thereby nurturing a culture of efficiency and innovation.Dive deeper into the AI realm as Taiki shares his personal experiments with various AI models. Experience the future of AI-powered personal assistants and the boundless possibilities they hold. Be part of the conversation about the limitations of current personal assistants and Taiki's futuristic vision for them. Finally, he leaves you with a thought-provoking perspective on leveraging the Power Platform for content creation and application development in the coming year. A goldmine of insights awaits those fascinated by AI, career transformation, and innovative tech solutions.Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/488 Join me as I sit down with the charismatic CTO of Colorado Technology Consultants, David Yack, a Microsoft MVP with two decades of rich experience. Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey with us as we meander through David's career path, his passion for developing on Microsoft platforms, his most cherished memories from Build and the MVP Summit, and his enthusiasm about the matured BizApps and AI.The second half of our conversation catapults you into the exhilarating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Together with David, we address the learning curve associated with this technology, and its realistic capabilities, and offer insights on maintaining balanced expectations. We explore its potential benefits for individuals and businesses, share tips on smart investments in AI, and David generously reveals how everyone can access AI functionality through 365.training. This enlightening episode serves as a tech appetizer, whetting your appetite with David's wisdom and zest for technology.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ White Paper: https://msft.it/60159ZvRl PowerUsers: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/2391 GitHub: https://github.com/davidyack Pluralsight: https://www.pluralsight.com/authors/david-yack CRM 4.0 Developer Book: http://www.thecrmbook.com/ 365 Training: https://365.training/Instructors/detail/DavidYack Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Andrew Gaskins, the global Power Platform Lead at a leading tech company provides compelling insights on the future of AI and low-code technology. Topics include success stories of automation, chatbots, and apps, adapting onboarding process, data governance with the Power Platform, and the impact of AI on future employment.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/486 You're in for a treat as we invite you to listen to our special guest Tchesco Ayih's fascinating transformation from dabbling in a computer repair shop to becoming an MVP in Ghana. With our fireside chat, we delve into Tchesco's inspiring journey that's marked by his love for cooking and gaming, his self-taught graphic design and C-Sharp skills, and his unexpected MVP award. He'll let you in on his approach to learning new skills, staying updated with the latest trends, and the significance of being part of tech communities. Moving on, we'll traverse the evolving landscape of the Power Platform community in Ghana, its inception, growth, and the key role MVP Abu played in shaping it. We'll also draw parallels with the community growth in Nigeria and shed light on Tchesco's efforts to bolster the French community's involvement in this tech revolution. Join us and get captivated by Tchesco's story of perseverance, thirst for knowledge, and the influence of tech communities in transforming lives. It's an insightful ride you wouldn't want to miss.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/Microsoft User Group Lome (French sessions): https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-User-Group-Lome/gh-p/MicrosoftUserGroupLome Microsoft User Group Ghana (English sessions): https://www.meetup.com/Microsoft-User-Group-Ghana/ Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/485 Ever reflected on how video games can affect our productivity in the digital workspace? That's a thought-provoking question we tackle with our accomplished guest, Joris de Gruyter, a seasoned program manager at Microsoft. As we journey through his intriguing career path from Belgium to the US, we find out how his hobbies like gaming, skiing, and sailing, have shaped his perspective on making business applications more engaging.You'll surely get hooked as we move into the heart of our conversation – PowerApps and PowerFX. Learn first-hand from Joe about the creative alliance between the Excel and PowerApps teams that have helped in shaping Microsoft's robust Power Platform. As he breaks down the ins and outs of PowerFX, especially how its strongly typed nature offers a unique advantage when sending data to databases, you'll gain valuable insights into the realm of coding.Brace yourself for a refreshing discussion on the complexities of UX design in PowerApps, the need for a universal formula bar, and the mammoth task of balancing the needs of ProDevs and new makers. As we venture into the challenges of code reuse in PowerFX, and the importance of user-defined functions, you'll start to see the art behind the science of coding. Finally, get a glimpse into the minds of MVPs in our vibrant discussion on customer requests, recognizing low-hanging fruit, and much more. This episode is your golden ticket to dive deep into the world of PowerApps, PowerFX, and the magic of Microsoft's Power platform.Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith