Authored by Sarah Pringle – Partner Business Manager

We are thrilled to share some of the most exciting updates announced at Microsoft Ignite 2024! This year's event was packed with groundbreaking innovations and enhancements designed to empower your business and streamline your workflows. Here are some of the highlights:

Microsoft Places

One of the standout announcements is Microsoft Places, an AI-powered workplace solution that enhances flexible work environments. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Flexible Work Coordination: Microsoft Places helps you plan and coordinate your work schedule by showing when your colleagues will be in the office. This ensures you can make the most of in-person interactions.
  
  
• Space Optimisation: The platform provides detailed analytics on space utilisation and occupancy, helping organisations make informed decisions about their office layouts and usage.
  
  
• Intelligent Booking: With features like desk and room booking, Microsoft Places makes it easy to find and reserve the right workspace. It also offers intelligent suggestions for meeting rooms based on your needs.
  
  
• Enhanced Employee Experience: By integrating with tools like Outlook and Teams, Microsoft Places simplifies the process of updating work locations and schedules, making it easier for employees to manage their hybrid work arrangements.
  
  
• AI-Powered Insights: The platform leverages AI to provide recommendations for the best days to work in the office, based on your schedule and your co-workers' plans. This helps in maximising productivity and collaboration.
  
  
• Modernised Office Environment: Microsoft Places includes features like wayfinding and impromptu meet-ups, which enhance the in-office experience and make the office more responsive to employees' needs.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Enhancements

Microsoft 365 Copilot Enhancements Microsoft continues to expand the capabilities of Copilot, introducing new out-of-the-box agents that can handle a variety of tasks. These agents, such as the Project Manager and Interpreter agents, are designed to automate project management and provide real-time interpretation in multiple languages, respectively.

Consumption Pricing Model

The consumption pricing model allows businesses to save money on IT costs by only paying for the resources they use. Plus the cost optimisation options, such as reserved instances and utilising your existing license investments, can even help businesses reduce costs and maximise budgets.

Security Enhancements

Security remains a top priority, with new innovations rooted in Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative. These updates ensure that all Microsoft products are secure by design, default, and operations, providing you with peace of mind as you navigate the digital landscape.

Developer Tools and AI Integration

Developers have much to look forward to with new tools and capabilities in the Copilot + AI stack. These enhancements are designed to make development more efficient and integrate powerful AI technology into your applications.

How can CAE support in the cloud journey?

Managing complex IT infrastructure is what we do, that’s why so many businesses choose to work with us as their cloud partner . While we enable them to implement and optimise their cloud computing, they can focus all their efforts on running their business operations. To ensure we understand where you are now, and where you want to go we begin every customer cloud journey with a cloud assessment .

Begin your cloud journey with us and let us know you're interested in a cloud assessment for your business.