The Record

The best of enterprise technology on the Microsoft Platform

Autumn 2017

Editor: Lindsay James
Publication manager: Andy Clayton-Smith

The Autumn 2017 issue of The Record is out now and available to download free of charge in digital format. Visit the magazine page to read the magazine online, or to download a copy to your device.

In this issue there’s a strong focus on the key themes that will be presented at Sibos 2017. You’ll find a sneak preview of some of the announcements in our marketwatch section, plus Peter Hazou presents an in depth look at the solutions that Microsoft and its partners will be presenting at the event in the financial services section.

Our cover story this time is focused on how advances in technologies including cloud, big data, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) are facilitating the digital transformation of every industry. Toni Townes-Whitley is joined by a number of key Microsoft partners to explain how.

In our communications and media section, we take a look at how telco companies can differentiate themselves in an increasingly challenging market by using the Microsoft Azure cloud. And in the manufacturing section you’ll find insight into how the internet of things, combined with new advances in artificial intelligence, smart robots and mixed reality, is enabling manufacturing companies to transform their business and realise levels of efficiency that they could only dream of in the past.

Plus, don’t miss our public sector feature on what can be done to bridge the widening skills gap, or our special interview with Microsoft’s ShiSh Shridhar on how analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence can empower retailers to accurately predict hyper-local demand for products.

Plus, there’s the usual mix of news, case studies, interviews and executive insight from across the Microsoft partner network.

There’s plenty more too – enjoy the issue!

Magazine highlights

The technology transforming business models

Advances in technologies including cloud, big data, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) are facilitating the digital transformation of every industry

Marketwatch

The latest news from Microsoft and its partners

How Office 365 supports future business models

Ian McNeice from Morgan & Wolfe outlines the benefits of better collaboration

Achieving best practice data analytics

Paul Timmins from DXC Technology on turning data into actionable insight

Rethinking digital transformation

Document management is key, says Alyssa Putzer from Metafile

The right approach to enterprise security

Leaders from DXC Technology explain how to protect against cyberattacks

Turn technical objectives into business value

It’s time to lock down your data

Jon Seddon from GCI explains the need for a renewed focus on data security

The growing need for security intelligence

From idea to reality

How Microsoft is driving innovation and entrepreneurship

Industry highlights

Communications and Media

It’s a tough time for telco companies. Faced with the need to differentiate themselves in an increasingly challenging market, they’ve found that the only way to succeed is to partner up with other leaders – companies that would in the past be considered competitors.

Successfully implementing a new business model is no easy feat. In the following pages we find out how pioneering companies are getting it right, accelerating their journey using the Microsoft Azure cloud. We also hear from a number of selected partners to discover more about the valuable work they are doing across this ever-changing industry.

Download a PDF of the Communications and Media services section of the Autumn 2017 issue of The Record magazine.

The telco of the future

How telco companies are differentiating themselves in a competitive market

The power of open-source platforms

Ann Hatchell from Amdocs on why telcos should adopt opensource technology

Maximising media assets

Craig Dwyer from Avid explains how media companies can embrace cloud

Financial Services

The confluence of technology advances, cultural shifts, and regulatory change has brought the financial services industry to a pivotal moment. The cloud is enabling a wave of innovation, empowering financial institutions to create new value and be an indispensable part of interdependent value chains that cross business and industry boundaries.

It’s this digital transformation that we’ll be focusing on at Sibos 2017 – the premier forum for the global financial services community, that will bring together influential leaders from financial institutions, market infrastructures and technology partners to collectively shape the future of financial services. In the following pages, you’ll find an in-depth overview of the solutions we’ll be presenting with our partners, along with the usual mix of thought leadership articles and case studies.

Download a PDF of the Financial services section of the Autumn 2017 issue of The Record magazine.

Preparing for tomorrow

What to expect from Sibos 2017

Towards a data-led insurance industry

Magdalena Ramada from Willis Towers Watson on the power of data

The automation advantage

The benefits of robotic process automation, according to Blue Prism’s David Moss

Manufacturing and Resources

IoT has had an incredible rise to fame over recent years. While it is making a mark in almost every industry, for manufacturers in particular, it’s impact is huge.

This impact is growing by the day. Combined with new advances in artificial intelligence, smart robots and mixed reality, it is enabling manufacturing companies to transform their business and realise levels of efficiency that they could only dream of in the past.

We explore all of this and more in the pages that follow. Plus, don’t miss the usual mix of viewpoints and case studies from our partners operating across the sector.

Download a PDF of the manufacturing section of the Autumn 2017 issue of The Record magazine.

The impact of IoT

The challenges and opportunities presented to manufacturers

How to implement an IIoT automation plan

Melissa Topp from Iconics provides insight

Creating new business models with Industry 4.0

Mike James from ATS Global on the new technologies reshaping manufacturing

Public Sector

The latest statistics reveal that more than 50% of today’s jobs require some technology skills, and a recent report from the US Department of Labor indicated that that percentage will increase to 77% in less than a decade.

With this in mind, Microsoft is working with government and non-governmental organisations, schools, educators and businesses to develop the technology skills of students, empower developers and start-ups, and help today’s workers acquire the skills they need for tomorrow. You can find out exactly how in this section, where you’ll also find insight from across the sector.

Download a PDF of the Public Sector services section of the Autumn 2017 issue of The Record magazine.

Bridging the skills gap

How Microsoft is tackling the need for better digital expertise

Leading the way with the cloud

How the City of Wolverhampton Council is using PowerON technology

Transforming pharma operations

Massimo Crudeli from AX for Pharma explains how to digitise supply chains

Retail and Hospitality

At a time when competition is rife and customer experience is king, avoiding out-of-stock scenarios can make a huge difference to a retailer’s bottom line.

In the following pages, we find out how retailers can effectively predict which products will sell and how they can choose the optimum product assortment and inventory level to ensure that they can always meet customer demand. Also in this issue, we look at how fashion retailer Asos has gone from strength to strength, thanks to its new microservices platform running on Microsoft Azure.

Download a PDF of the Retail and Hospitality services section of the Summer 2017 issue of The Record magazine.