By Alice Chambers |
Frontier firms have emerged as the standout performers in IDC’s Accelerating innovation with AI report, which was sponsored by Microsoft. These are organisations that don’t treat AI as a side project but instead embed it into their core business strategy by combining human expertise with agent-operated systems. The result is impressive: they are achieving three times higher returns than their slower-moving peers.
“Frontier firms are blending human ambition with AI-first innovation to maximise their potential and impact on society,” says Alysa Taylor, chief marketing officer for commercial cloud and AI at Microsoft, in our Winter 2025 issue of Technology Record. “These companies aren’t just deploying tools, they are embedding intelligence into every workflow, decision and process to amplify insight across their business.”
Taylor explains in our cover story how Microsoft and its partners are helping businesses turn AI and data into insights to drive real-world impact. As the IDC report highlights, organisations are becoming increasingly comfortable with AI, a trend illustrated by examples from investment banking firm UBS, farmer-owned cooperative Land O’Lakes and American clothing firm Levi Strauss & Co.
Over 20,000 people attended Microsoft Ignite in person in November 2025, while more than 200,000 watched online, all to hear the latest technology trends and innovations that help enterprise and public sector organisations gain a competitive edge and drive impact in the era of AI. Our news section begins by highlighting some of the new products and services launched at Ignite that are designed to empower frontier firms.
New features were announced for Microsoft Teams at Ignite too. In our in-focus feature, we hear from Ilya Bukshteyn, corporate vice president of Microsoft Teams calling, devices and premium experiences, who explains how AI-powered tools are making meetings more meaningful. “Having AI features that work on behalf of an individual or group is crucial for frontier firms,” he says.
Agentic AI is a recurring theme throughout the magazine, featuring prominently in insights shared by senior Microsoft executives. Chad Hamblin, director of global financial services, explains how agentic AI and human expertise can work in harmony to empower bankers and deliver more efficient customer experiences. Indranil Sircar, chief technology officer of manufacturing and mobility, details how AI and agentic operations are shaping the next generation of manufacturing supply chains, whilst Mandy Rutledge, managing director of sports, media and entertainment, explains how AI is transforming the production and delivery of live broadcasting. Plus, we hear from Valentina Ion, global public finance and social services lead, on how AI agents are helping public finance organisations transform operations and deliver citizen-focused services.
Furthermore, Anya Minbiole, business strategy leader of retail and consumer goods at Microsoft, offers a preview of the conversations she and her colleagues will be having with delegates about the value of AI in retail, ahead of NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York, USA, in January 2026.
The Winter 2025 issue of Technology Record also offers a selection of news, interviews, case studies and viewpoints from industry experts. We hope you enjoy the read.