Mission Impossible: Decoding Business Applications Licensing with OpenAI

😎🕴️ Good morning agent. It’s time to do the impossible. For years, consultants, partners and customers have struggled with answers to Dynamics 365 and Power Platform licensing questions. It always feels like we just rolled up a snowball and tossed it into hell to see what chance it had.

Now, with the power of OpenAI, we can create a tool that will do the job and give the answers we need. Imagine how much better we would be at advising on the best solution which will not just empower users but also provide a more sustainable financial model. Because at the end of the day, machines are ALWAYS perfect and have the right answer, no? 😅 🤣

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us in a practical and fun example of how OpenAI can be used in democratizing a topic as recognizable as licensing. After all, who wouldn’t want quick and authoritative answers instead of living on a prayer? If you want to apply these latest innovations in your business or have difficult licensing questions, this is the session for you! 🥳 🤖

AI-Empowered Humans: A Panel Discussion on AI and Copilot Studio to Support “People Activities"

Join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring how AI can help individuals better navigate the challenges of balancing work and personal life. Our panelists will share real-world examples of how they have leveraged Microsoft's Power Platform tools to streamline daily tasks and enhance their overall well-being. Discover how a Power App, enhanced by Copilot Studio, can seamlessly manage important family details, and learn about an innovative Power Automate flow that delivers a dose of daily inspiration straight to your inbox. Gain insights into effectively integrating work and personal calendars to ensure quality time for loved ones and the fun things in life, so that they are not overshadowed by professional commitments.

Through this discussion, attendees will see practical applications of AI that support the human experience, emphasizing how these tools should supplement, rather than replace, the essence of what makes us human.

Guardians of the Lead Galaxy: Building your own Lead Management Solution to Weed out Tire Kickers

We've all zipped through the galaxy, right? You meet that dream client who seems so put-together – "It's as simple as a Groot's vocabulary", "I'm as organized as a Collector's gallery", "Price? Pfft, I know exactly what I'm scavenging for".

You think it's gonna be a quick 30-minute space call, they send the deposit, and then..."Just a few teeny-tiny questions", "Why can't I just email you the docs?", "Whoa, I didn't pay this much last time", "Can you help me design it?" Could've dodged that asteroid field but you were all like “Building my own prospect pipeline? Ain't nobody got time for that", "Don't wanna fork out units for some fancy license", "How tough can it be?", "I just need some clients right now".

Here's the supernova of good news – crafting a prospect pipeline can be hassle-free. We'll guide you, step-by-step, on how to build one using Power Pages to collect enquiries, Power Apps to rank leads, and Power Automate to keep comms flowing. Perfect for freelancers and small businesses wanting a slice of the Dynamics 365 pie without the higher price tag.

Join a duo of Microsoft MVPs (Most Valuable Pilots, obviously) as we construct a pipeline in real-time with special customization tips. Remember, it’s not about the size of your spaceship, but the power of your Pages.

Panel: Career in Tech - during the revolution of AI

Join Sr. Community Program Manager Holly Lehman as she gets together with bright minds from our tech community to discuss different career journeys in tech. Learn from tips & tricks from others and hear different real-world perspectives in the era of AI.

Empowering Your Apps Anywhere: Dataverse Offline Mode Explained

Are you ready to revolutionize the way your applications function, offering your users unmatched mobility and data accessibility? Join us in this enlightening session as we delve deep into the world of Dataverse's offline capabilities.

In this session, we'll unlock the full potential of Dataverse in offline mode, providing you with the knowledge and tools to create apps that work seamlessly, even when connectivity is limited or nonexistent. Whether you're developing Model Driven Apps or Canvas Apps, this session is your gateway to unparalleled user experiences.

Neurodiverse Pirates Unite! Building Your Own Treasure Map With Power Platform

In the vast ocean of both our workplaces and personal lives, neurodiversity is still an uncharted territory: brimming with potential, yet often misunderstood. Just as a pirate navigates through treacherous waters, we still struggle with the complexities of understanding, communicating, and managing the uniqueness of neurodiverse minds. What tools and culture do we need to not only enable them to thrive, but to celebrate them?

What if we reimagined Power Platform to be the biggest catalyst? From creating flexible tools to manage mental health during fast-paced workdays, to navigating daily routines and motivational lows in personal time, let’s drive a new era of inclusivity and understanding. Together, we can embark on a thrilling voyage where every mind is valued like the rarest of pearls.

Angeliki and Lindsay will show you how to create your own neurodiversity treasure map with humour and empathy. Whether you are exploring your own neurodiversity or are a business leader looking to support your employees’ mental health, you will learn how to leverage: 1) external APIs to personalise content, 2) Power Automate flows with the support of Microsoft 365 tools to reach your audience, and 3) Canvas Apps for an interactive interface any user can harness your neurodiverse superpowers. Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Come sail with us in this special session.

Houston, we have a problem: Smart ways to make your chatbot translation-ready in any language

Localization has long been important to make our solutions more accessible. Whether you are dealing with a website, email or even an in-person transaction, lack of translation capabilities can be a DEFCON 1 problem. Non-inclusive products mean we are reducing our market reach, whilst risking our service reputation, revenue generation and completely ignoring human impact. But there is a better way.

Instead of focusing on complex code and payload-heavy products, we can leverage the full power of Copilot Studio. There has never been a better time to rethink our operating model in terms of how we design and maintain apps.

In this session, we will cover the common use cases where localization is not a luxury but rather a customer obsession we must get on board with. We will detail the key elements of the design toolkit, and show you the steps to configure a language-ready chatbot which can also handle tone of voice and cultural differences to personalize the user experience.

Avengers Assemble...Simpler Checklists in D365 with Power Automate and Power Pages

Ever had a villain-looking checklist straight out of the pit of paper hell? One that your frenemy, Loki-like, stakeholder wanted you to create an exact replica of in a Model-Driven App? But it is part of a bigger paper journey. Yep, we still live in a world where sometimes paper processes are endgame.

Fear not, there are ways to hold the low-code power stone and bring such checklists to life. Imagine an elegant, yet simple combination of Dataverse, Dynamics 365, Power Automate, Power Pages and Ribbon Workbench to blow those worries away. We all have better things to do than ticking boxes all day, like practicing our mind control, building the latest super app or saving the world.

In this session, we will build together a simple, easily configurable and extendable solution leveraging the flexibility of Dynamics 365, might of Dataverse, automation superpowers of Power Automate, the external-facing magic of Power Pages and extreme potential of the Ribbon Workbench. Get ready for a Marvel-lous solution!

Be a MultiDataverse hero: Top XRMToolbox tools for Dynamics

Have you ever found yourself entangled in the intricate web of configuring an app, feeling like you've stumbled into the MultiDataverse? A place where data models twist and turn like the strands of fate, where documentation is as elusive as the Infinity Stones, and legacy commands refuse to heed your commands. It's a tale as ancient as the Sorcerer Supreme himself, and no Soul Stone in sight to aid your plight.

But fret not, my temporal companion. You need not conjure alternative realities or spin the wheel of time for assistance. Behold the wonders of XRMToolbox, a sanctuary amidst the chaos. With the collective wisdom of the community and the enchantment of MIT licenses, a plethora of tools stand ready to aid you in your journey through the Dataverse and app configurations.

Join us in this mystical session, where you will unravel the mysteries of these invaluable tools together. We shall delve into their magical features and benefits, along with practical tales from the field. And yes, we shall summon the demo gods as we showcase each tool’s power in practice. Heed the call, for the secrets of the MultiDataverse and XRMToolbox await those brave enough to seek them.

Becoming Change-Aware: Your New AI Superpower!

Who you gonna call in a world of fast-paced AI changes where products evolve at lightning speed?

Whether you are a pro dev, business technologist or end user, keeping up is a challenge. Can you really design Minimum Lovable Products which have deep human impact otherwise?

Join this session to understand why being change-aware is the new AI superpower to accelerate your professional development, team productivity and customer satisfaction.

Be a pilot with a mission, not at the mercy of a Copilot without one.

I want it all and I want it now - Taming the dragons of Power Platform

By day Power Platform is a place where creativity is unleashed, problems are solved, and heroes are made…
But by night it can be a scary place where dragons attack unprotected data, they carry off our excitement, and burn our apps and flows to the ground!
This isn’t how it has to be though. Our Admins Protect the city with their shield of governance and give our Citizen Devs the flexibility and permissions they need to showcase their skills, solve problems, and slay their dragons and become the heroes.

To do this we need to have an honest conversation about the challenges we face, the fires we often put out and what matters to each group; creating a collaborative Power Platform team that champions real user needs in a sustainable manner. It all starts with seeing the perspectives of all communities involved, separating myths from the truths and finding how we make governance more accessible.

We don’t have to kill governance; there is another way. In this session, you will learn how to debunk misconceptions about Power Platform governance, align with your organization' s vision, culture, and goals and educate your community to foster a culture of trusted innovation and responsibility for end user needs whilst monitoring with the latest tools that drive seamless dragon coexistence.

Welcome to the AI jungle: From tech to human empowerment

With the fast-paced advancements of GenAI tools, we've been thrown into a Jumanji-like game of seemingly infinite power. We're all wondering if we'll end up stuck in a digital wilderness of Copilot announcements without identity as individuals, and without intention in the applications we design. Now, Copilot and GenAI tools might sound like NPCs in a video game, but let's face it – there's more skepticism here than when someone rolls a questionable dice. Are we unlocking the next level, or are we about to get caught in a glitch?

Instead of risking a Jumanji-style chaos with tech implementations gone wild, let's focus on human empowerment. It's time to roll the dice of innovation with intention, navigating this AI jungle without getting stuck in quicksand. Authentic leadership, reframing doubts and forging a new identity in the modern workplace are essential ingredients.

In this session, we will be decoding user needs with the help of social sciences. We'll uncover the key pillars to bridge the gap between business vision and users when implementing AI solutions. We will also look at how a strong employee value proposition can help us forge a collective identity to inspire professional growth. It's not just about survival; it's about reigning in the tech chaos.

Next Generation of Messaging: Going Warp Speed with JMS and Azure Service Bus

In the vast reaches of enterprise communications, the crew of starship Enterprise has a recurring challenge with their on-premises message broker. Much like the tribulations faced on their journeys, they encounter limitations in scalability, reliability, and flexibility. Captain Picard wants to overcome these obstacles with a bold migration to ensure the seamless flow of information throughout the ship.

With the interstellar capabilities of Azure Service Bus, the Enterprise propels itself into a new era of communications that would even make Data proud. With JMS at its core, this cloud-based solution revolutionizes the way messages are transmitted. No longer constrained by the limited resources of being on-prem, the Enterprise navigates the complexities of modern communication systems with unparalleled ease. Just as Picard boldly explores new galaxies, the integration of JMS and Azure Service Bus enables the Enterprise to venture into uncharted optimisation territories.

However, as with any transformation journey, managing the change in the Enterprise is critical to maximizing operational and cost benefits. Like Geordi La Forge optimizing the ship's systems, a well-executed migration strategy ensures a smooth transition and minimum disruptions. From engaging stakeholders in various departments, to driving tailored training programs, and a culture of openness and collaboration, the crew will unite under the shared vision of a connected and thriving Enterprise.

From padawan to master: a Jedi's top tips to ensure Dynamics 365 user adoption

Do or do not, there is no try. This is what organisations want when they implement Dynamics 365 - a successful project, high user adoption and good ROI. But when they do not support their people on their adoption journey, projects can easily fall to the dark side.

To unleash the full potential of Dynamics 365, you need to utilise all the components that can empower your users’ journey. From considering their current pain points, to explaining your future vision, and then developing the desire for your users to meet you there. Your people matter, and this is why you need strong change management to support your digital transformation journey.

Having successfully implemented Dynamics 365 many times, we will share our advice for communicating the case for change, setting up your change management strategy and handling resistance to change.

You'll leave this session with a deeper understanding of the importance of change management on Dynamics 365 implementations, and practical strategies for applying change management principles to your own projects.

Don’t be a Stormtrooper always missing your (implementation) target, let’s make it a Jedi-level change success - may the change be with you!

Rolling (out) in the deep: Lessons I learned as a Change Manager from a global Dynamics 365 rollout

Global Dynamics 365 CRM rollouts can be very complicated. Even more than an Adele love song. On top of the complexity in product development and making it fit for purpose across a myriad of business entities, managing users resistant to change and new ways of working can be a minefield.

There does not seem to be enough open conversations about how to manage this magnitude of change from the start. Change Management is still considered as a latter part of the delivery plan. But with that, there also seems to be a compromise in a human-centered design thinking as technical experts can struggle championing the user lens. So how can we learn together and do better?

In this session, I will share with you lessons I learned as a Change Manager from a Dynamics 365 rollout in over 50 countries with more than 11000 users. From giving custom fields out like candy, to managing user CRUD permissions like Braveheart, and explaining to users non-logged sales don’t count, I am here to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly.

What the Avengers taught me about working with Dynamics 365 developers

Dynamics 365 developers are a curious kind of creature. Often found in the wild lands of product development, they create magical solutions by bringing requirements to life. As a Change Manager and big fan of the Avengers, I am fascinated by what I can achieve with them. However, due to misconceptions around the value and timing for Change Management, a question remains. How do you bring such different skillsets together to fight the battle against terrible Dynamics 365 implementations?

Whilst many turn to ChatGPT, I am here to share with you what I learned from the Avengers about bringing a diverse team together. From fighting monsters in New York, to the absolute end game with the infinity stones, they can teach us a lot about dealing with adversity to bring change, enterprise, or small scale. After all, they also share a common mission despite a very diverse background.

Through parallels between the Avengers and Dynamics 365 implementation teams, as well as the core principles of building robust and scalable applications, we will focus on defining what matters; Smart collaboration to make users the heroes of every solution story and empower them to navigate a world of continuous tech transformation.

Low Code Approach - Panel Discussion

Hear from Microsoft employees, MVPs, and Microsoft Power Platform professionals as they use low code solutions to help their organizations adopt and expand their low code practice. We will cover topics such as governance and administration, service management, change management, and how to become the best Microsoft Power Platform developer you can be!

Investigating the mind of a citizen developer

You have heard about Citizen Development, Low Code and No Code products. It's everywhere. But what about the making of a Citizen Developer? What does it truly take to transform into it? You are never too Jung to find out about the psychology of one.

Citizen Developers are not born, they are made. Through hell and fire, they are forged with heroic Change Managers who collaborate closely with Power Platform unicorns and Governance superheroes to drive a new wave of product development.

In this session, I will use the 5 stages of grief to mourn traditional IT product delivery, and explain the psychological journey of getting your business to invest in Citizen Developers who can make meaningful solutions for their teams. From awareness to adoption, let's explore what the psychology of real change looks like.

Do Low Code projects need Change Management? Appsolutely!

The Low Code, No Code movement is one of the most exciting movements in our days. Citizen Development is capturing the attention of businesses and industries by democratizing IT processes and access to creative design. But with great power comes greater responsibility; how can we drive meaningful adoption whilst still protecting the delivery ecosystem?

Change Management is one of the key enablers to give everyone a voice on the way to true transformation and app usage beyond license sales. Low/ no code apps do not mean low/ no Change Management. Appsolutely, you need your partners in growth!

This session will offer a fresh perspective on how Change Managers can strengthen the collaboration between business leaders, users and pro developers when driving adaptive governance and empowering learning paths for new hybrid teams.

Women In Tech Roundtable hosted by Microsoft Spotlight Podcast

The Microsoft Spotlight Podcast highlights the importance of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion within the Microsoft Community.

In this session will talk with a number of high profile Women In Tech about their journey into the world of IT and how as a community we can engage more women to get involved with the IT industry.

This will provide insight into the challenges our panel has faced and how they manage to carve out a successful career in IT, the goals that they have set for themselves and how we can get women in technical or non-technical roles throughout the industry.

Tenant or Faith Migration? The story of migrating 50+ tenants into one.

Da Vinci said simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. This is why multi-subsidiary companies merge their Microsoft tenants into one. A single view of their security infrastructure, better licensing agreements and enhanced collaboration. But how does that journey to simplicity look like? What happens when you migrate 50+ diverse tenants into one? Between ambitious deadlines, demanding leaders, confused users, and a technical Goliath to navigate, you are the David with a slingshot.

You must create an unbreakable bond between technical and change management leadership. Whilst the technical roadmap will be your guiding light to managing things like assessing your data variation or throughput options, you need to manage the thousands of people affected. Especially if migrating tenants means new tools, new ways of working and different cultures coming together.

In this session, I will share with you my experience as Change Manager from a client having to merge 50+ tenants into 1 for over 5,000 users globally. From defining user migration strategy, to aligning multiple roadmaps and breaking down cultural and business barriers, we will look at it all. Most importantly, how to champion your users in their interactions with business applications. Because managing the human impact of technology is the name of the game, and this is level 10 of Jumanji.

(Em)Power Automate: Third-party access management with first-class automation

This is not a drill. A new third-party user has to be onboarded into your project. Here we go again with manual set up and licensing worries. They must sign the contract but no direct link to Dynamics 365. And when they need to start working, how do you set them up on time with minimal effort?

Spoiler alert! You can automate everything seamlessly and only give them a license when they start work. Access on a need-to-know basis? Check. Licenses only for confirmed collaborations? Check. Automation all along? Check, check, check. Imagine a seamless solution to assign your third-party user with the right Azure AD account, license and security group in order to access your deal.

In this session, we will show you how to automate third-party user management with Power Automate, Outlook, Azure AD and Dynamics 365. Our goal is to empower you to minimize manual intervention and licensing costs whilst creating a smooth onboarding journey. Whilst we will start with the example of Real Estate as an industry with third-party contracts that present such a challenge, we will also discuss other applications in IT Consulting and elsewhere.

Who you gonna call: How Change Managers fight for the human impact of technology

Have you noticed how change is the only constant? This applies to all sorts of changes, including in technology. Whilst those are rising exponentially, not everyone is ready to adopt them in their daily life. This natural resistance can stall exciting business innovation and transformation, which is a missed opportunity.
So, as a technical expert, who you gonna call?

The answer is simple: Change Managers. We are people who champion users and their experience. By using simple language, personalized adoption strategies and strong influencing skills, we get users excited about digital transformation. Not only do Change Managers like myself connect them to the business vision, but empower them in their own journey.

Does that sound fascinating? Are you passionate about making a difference and a genuine human impact? Join this session to find out more about how I started in Change Management, my tech journey and how you can find your own path in this area too.

The power of three: Mentorship, Community and Creating a Legacy

You know what they say: the Power of Three will set you free. When we participate in conferences, we are reminded how great our community is; with people sharing their knowledge and ideas to everyone being open for a discussion around the power of technology. You might be wondering how you could become an active member in the community yourself, but don't know where to get started.

This is where the Power of Three comes in. It starts with a mentor who can really help unleash your potential; from finding where your passion is, to setting up your first piece of content, and finding places to share this. Whilst finding a mentor is crucial, it is also important to find the right community where you would like to take your first steps. This is where you will explore your unique message, on the right platform, and with the right people.

In this panel discussion we will have several community members discuss how they first got started in the community, and how creating mentorship relationships helped them create a legacy for the whole community. All the panelists have a different background when it comes to experience and interest areas. But they do share one thing, their passion for people and empowering them to reach their potential.

Silence of the technical lambs: When you don’t speak up for user experience

How exciting is it to design your first home? You get to personalize it, and make it a perfect fit for your lifestyle. Just like that, you can also create a business application to suit your users’ needs. A grand design to connect them to the business vision.
But what if your business application was put together based on decision makers’ egos? What if they did not understand their end users’ needs and your app development team decided to stay silent? Despite best intentions for your grand design, it all goes wrong. So, you are stuck in endless retrospectives, tech debt in your future sprints, and some very disappointed stakeholders.
In this session, let us take you through a tour in our digital app dollhouse where things have gone all sorts of wrong for users. From low adoption, to jargon-filled custom fields, to inconsistent process flows and anything in between, we are here to explain it all. A cautionary tale for all your business application projects. Remember, all good things to those who wait.

The chicken-egg dilemma; Should Product Development or Change Management come first in CRM systems?

CRM systems are a wonderful thing. They help you manage data for your clients, sales processes and your overall business relationship with them. But they can be messy when they are not developed around the user and are overloaded with technical expertise instead. And then you wonder, why are my end-users not adopting the system?

Imagine instead a world where Change Managers were best friends with Business Analysts, Solution Architects and Developers. A world where they all work together towards the CRM platform’s development from the beginning by championing the user experience instead of working separately. No longer is Change Management at the end of the product lifecycle, but rather a trusted companion at the start of the journey.

In this session, we will review the benefits of Change Managers being involved in the continuous development of CRM systems, both for the business and their clients. We will also look at the risks and potential hurdles if Product Development and Change Management work in silos. Finally, we will look at how you can inspire a collaboration culture that brings your teams together and ultimately drives end-user satisfaction in your operations.

This session covers an overview of the relationship between Change Management and development of CRM systems. I will share real-life business examples from my own project experience with clients to paint a story and inspire the audience to think about the problem statement within their own business and operations.

Welcome to Copilot academy: Foundations of Prompt Engineering

We are living in a new era of generative AI where natural language has become the universal programming language. With this unseen world of opportunity and power, comes great responsibility. How do we truly adopt tools like ChatGPT or Copilot when users are not equipped with any foundations or understand how to level up their productivity?

In this Copilot world, we need to learn how prompt engineering works and how to integrate it into our daily lives. From reducing manual admin, to accelerating sales revenue and modernizing service, let’s master this need for speed. People must become the strongest Pilot to every Copilot, so we can’t be Mavericks without a flight plan.

In this session, we will cover the origins and inner workings of large language models, and an A-Z guide for how to approach prompt engineering with users of all backgrounds. To ensure we are also advocating for enterprise readiness, we will also look at the key benefits and risks a business needs to consider before implementing Generative AI tools. Brace yourselves, this lesson is going to be a wild ride.