Microsoft Innovation Podcast

FULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/484 What happens when you combine multicultural experiences, love for food, family, fun, and a passion for Microsoft Dynamics ERP? You get Parag Chapre, our guest on today's show. A senior consultant at DXC Technology, Parag's journey has spanned continents - from the streets of India to the hustle of Europe, and now the shores of Australia. He shares his experiences of transitioning from different languages during his engineering to choosing Dynamics, the continuous evolution it offers, and the immense learning opportunities it provides.Parag doesn't merely work in IT; he lives it. His career started at SA Global, where he delved into Microsoft Dynamics ERP and never looked back. But how does he keep track of the ever-evolving landscape of Microsoft's features and functionalities? He shares his secret - being a part of community events and discussions. But Parag didn't stop at just being part of the community; he took his knowledge-sharing a step further and became an MVP, sharing unique content with the community. Listen in as he talks about his experiences and the pivotal role of continuous learning in his personal and professional journey.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/Dynamics Community - https://community.dynamics.com/members/parag-chapre 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/483 What if you could leverage technology to outsmart the escalating cost of living? Join us on this riveting adventure as we talk with Mike Carlton, a director at PWC and a dedicated family man from South Wales. Living with his wife, four children, and an assortment of pets, Mike's life is as colourful as it is engaging! His non-tech lifestyle at home provides a refreshing juxtaposition to his impactful work with the Power Platform at PWC.Our conversation ventures into the transformative capabilities of the Power Platform, a low-code solution that's revolutionizing businesses grappling with increasing living costs. We reveal how PWC is harnessing this innovation on an enterprise-wide scale, navigating complexities, and fostering the growth of consultants. Get ready to learn about the Power Platform, its business-centric approach, and its implications in the real world.Yet, we don't simply stop at the technology. Mike, being a leader in system integration, shares the importance of technical skills in the consulting arena. Hear his insights on the approaches of big four companies and system integrators, the need to comprehend the client's problem domain, and the invaluable art of making business-oriented decisions. As we wrap up, we take a moment to appreciate our listeners and supporters. Who knows? You might be our next guest! So, tune in, learn, and remember to shoot for the stars!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/482 What if you could transform your organization into a digital native? Join us as we converse with Ayotunde Ayoola, a Principal Consultant and Product Lead hailing from Nigeria who is leading this digital revolution. With his team at Stringify, Ayo assists organizations in undergoing crucial digital transformations, introducing the power of technology to multiple sectors. Ayo also offers a glimpse into his life outside the tech world, sharing his love for reading, sports, and church. We also explore the burgeoning Nigerian tech and MVP community and their ever-growing interest in BizApps and Power Platform careers.But this episode isn't all tech and transformations. Has he ever wondered about the charitable side of the tech industry? Mark Smith, an MVP recognized as the NZ365 guy, shares his experiences of giving back to the community. He firmly believes that contributing isn't always about money but creating opportunities. Mark shares his experiences running a boot camp for high school students, introducing them to low code and other technologies. He believes in the transformative power of giving back and how it creates more opportunities for digital transformation. This episode is filled with insights, experiences, and heartwarming stories from the tech community. So, gear up for a compelling conversation with Ayo and Mark!OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ Azure Community Portal: https://azure.styava.dev/apac/id/user/organizer?userId=5b7eceb2-6b9c-43df-9937-a02856d1da2c GitHub: https://github.com/officialAY Microsoft Power Apps Community: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Apps-Community/ct-p/PowerApps1 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/481 Picture this: You're a customer service admin needing a modernized approach. What if there were improvements in customer service administration, security role management, and agent productivity features, all at your fingertips? This episode with our guest, Tina Ding, Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, brings this transformation to life! Tina takes us on a personal journey from China to Seattle, sharing her passion for food, family, and fun while also giving us a glimpse into her career beginnings and her work in admin modernization of the customer service product. We explore the essential tasks and roles of customer service admins and the exciting progress her team has made in reshaping the customer service experience.Shifting gears, we spotlight the October Release Wave 2 2023 and the significant enhancements to contact centre and user management. Tina enlightens us on the potential of the Power Platform in creating powerful and versatile applications. We discuss how this platform could be a game-changer for your organization's productivity and delve deep into its features and capabilities. As a bonus, Tina generously shares her top tips on how to get started with the Power Platform. So, if you're all about optimizing your customer service game and leveraging the power of the Power Platform, this episode is an absolute must-listen!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/480 Get ready for a journey from the humble town of Barnveld in the Netherlands to the forefront of technology and industry innovation with our esteemed guest, Bert Verbeek. Admired for his path from economics to becoming a technical solution architect and an MVP in 2023, Bert also opens up about his personal life, his love for renovating his home and his recommendation for Burkel, a traditional Dutch dish.We also explore the Netherlands' significant strides in renewable energy, the innovative concepts of vertical plant growth and solar-powered roads, and the ambitious goal of having only electric cars by 2030. Bert's insights on his work with NavVision and his creation of a vertical overlay for the construction sector in Business Central offer a unique perspective on the integration of Power Platform and the increasing demand for automation. We also delve deep into the role of AI in the ERP system, its potential impact on the construction industry and how it may revolutionize the future. So join us as we traverse various topics from the personal to the technological and gain invaluable insights from our guest, Bert.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.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/479 Are you ready to master the Power Platform and take your digital literacy to new heights? Join us as our special guests, Antti Pajunen and Jukka Niiranen from Forward Forever, take you on a journey of exploration and discovery, sharing insights from their personal and professional lives and their work with the Power Platform. From Antti’s tales of balancing busy family life with her love for Salomon and craft beer to anecdotes of chasing after his three-year-old, you’re in for an engaging and entertaining conversation!Want a deep dive into Power Platform governance? Let's explore together! Our guests stress the importance of customer involvement and digital literacy, offering tips on conducting career state analysis and benchmarking, while also ensuring customer success. They also take us under the hood of the tenant, with an exploration of capacity, license utilization, custom connectors, and much more. We also delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) and how cultural norms and organizational maturity can influence its implementation.As we wrap up this enlightening episode, we take a detour into the exciting realm of artificial intelligence. Jukka and Antti share how they use AI to accelerate their workflows and craft meaningful marketing content. You'll hear about their experiments with tools such as Wombo AI, GPT-3, and the potential of applications like Stable Diffusion. Whether it's creating abstract art or crafting accurate tweets from podcast transcripts, the power of AI is all around us. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the Power Platform and the practical applications of AI.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/478 Get set for a lively chat with our very special guest, Kerry Peters, the passionate CEO and co-founder of New View Strategies. Not just your traditional tech leader, Kerry enthralls us with tales from her hobby farm in Indiana, where she nurtures a fascinating assortment of honeybees, cats, chickens, and an array of wildlife. Join us as we plunge into the captivating world of beekeeping, explore the potential of IoT in monitoring honey production, and share anecdotes about backyard gardens and the gratifying experience of nurturing our own food.Transitioning from the bucolic to the digital world, we navigate the trails of Business Central's metamorphosis from NAV to BC. As we unravel the reasons behind BC's burgeoning popularity, you'll gain a deeper understanding of its subscription-based, cloud-based structure, and why this approach has resonated with its user community. Kerry shares her thoughts on the role of Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power Platform within Business Central, and divulges her journey to becoming an MVP. Whether you're an aspiring MVP or intrigued by sustainable farming, this episode promises to be a thrilling ride!OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/ 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/477 Get ready to unlock the secrets of scaling and standardizing Power Platform Apps with our guest, Ryan Jones, a Partner Director of Product Management at Microsoft. Imagine managing thousands of apps like a farmer tending to a herd of cattle, instead of doting on them like beloved pets - that's what we unravelled in our enlightening chat with Ryan. We navigated through the transition from Dynamics CRM to the Power Platform, underlining the increasing necessity for Power Platform to be the go-to for building apps.  We dug into the world of managed environments and how these can transform the way tasks are automated across various environments. From the unique needs of production, development, and citizen development environments to the invaluable role of the COE starter kit and managed environments in meeting these needs - it's all about streamlining processes and boosting efficiency. Moreover, we highlighted how the Power Platform community offers invaluable tools that make managing the Power Platform a breeze.  We didn't stop there! We ventured into the realm of Artificial Intelligence and its role in governance within Microsoft. Ryan shared fascinating insights into how AI assists administrators in understanding the apps, workflows, and releases being built within their environment. Plus, we touched on an important aspect - data security and how Microsoft ensures responsible and compliant use of AI. Tune in to discover the Power Platform's potential and how investing in managed environments can result in a significant return on investment for your organization. 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 NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/476Ready to unravel the world of Dynamics 365 Business Central and the Power Platform? Join us as we delve into an insightful conversation with our distinguished guest, Gulshan Shubham, a triumph in the field and a proud recipient of the MVP award in 2022. Currently a Senior Advisory Consultant at IBM, he originates from India, a fact that flavours his intriguing journey in Business Central, his penchant for South Indian cuisine, and his hobbies that include series binging, cricket, and badminton. Listen to him articulate his evolution from a coder to a functional consultant and his unwavering commitment to disseminating his profound knowledge to the Dynamics community. Gulshan, with his astute understanding of Dynamics 365 Business Central, has plenty to share about its edge over Oracle NetSuite, particularly for SMB software. He also throws light upon the integration of the Power Platform with Dynamics 365 Business Central - a field where he and his team at IBM are making significant progress. Furthermore, his journey to earning the MVP title is nothing short of an inspirational tale for anyone passionate about Dynamics 365 Business Central. With a firm belief in sharing his knowledge, Gulshan's recognition has only fueled him to become more responsible and knowledgeable as a consultant. Don’t let this chance slip by to learn from one of the stalwarts of the industry!OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.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/475 Ever feel like you're stuck in a failing project with no way out? Fret not! Hugo, our guest for this episode and a seasoned solution architect, gives us a deep-dive into the art of project recovery. With two decades of experience in the tech industry and an unrivaled passion for Microsoft Technologies, Hugo shares invaluable insights on how to turn a sinking ship around. His secret? Understanding the situation fully and earning the customer's trust.But that's not all! Hugo takes us through his recently released book that serves as the ultimate guide for aspiring architects. It's not just about the basics but weaves together his real-world experiences, from various customer sites to diverse projects. Ready to unravel how to manage conflicting requirements and deliver a product that the business truly wants? Listen in on our compelling conversation with Hugo, and understand the magic behind Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and successful project management in the tech world.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