Reaction to Microsoft’s Ignite 2021
Coming from a consulting background, I strive to always seek the greater context behind any exchange of data or information. A key part of that is a whole lot of thoughtful listening and boy did I do a lot of listening last week at Ignite! 🔊 * 👂
You can find several Key Announcements Made At Microsoft Ignite 2021 at analyticsindiamag.com. I’m delighted to share some of my perspectives below.
A major theme that stood out to me was the drive to have hyper connectivity…
Not only between people at the same company or at some strategic partner company… it really is about connecting everyone involved in a process across a variety of upstream and downstream sources. “Connect, Collaborate, Context” were the buzzwords attached to this concept. Microsoft’s Mesh is the personification of this drive along with the investments into Azure AD to build a fabric of connectivity where users of a system process can interact seamlessly.
The newly rebranded and re-announced MS Loop (previously known as Fluid) will be a shining star for dynamic collaboration. I believe it will be what Windows 95 did for me coming from entering cryptic commands in DOS 📺 + 🖱 = 😻
Another theme was of empowering the citizen developers…
From streamlining the licensing to increasing the capabilities of Azure AI, and laying the ground work for more RPA (robotic process automation) functionality, Microsoft recognizes that each person along a given process will have perspectives and ideas to optimize the system or process. By lowering the barrier to enter what can be a daunting technical undertaking, Microsoft is opening it’s arms to the developer citizens and giving them the opportunity to create value for their organizations and process consumers. ⚡ + ⟳ =🏋
My last takeaway is more of an observation on the current state of technology…
There are many upon many sources of data and information spread across organizations. So much so that Microsoft introduced Azure Purview which is capable of consolidating data governance into a single source of truth.
Ideally, this new capability will allow citizen developers and collaborators to find where data resides at the organization and how to leverage it. This ability to take data and synthesize into information will be paramount to unlocking the value that lies in the data constantly generated by people and processes using integrated systems. 👓 = ☯
As for the buzz around the metaverse, I have many more thoughts on the possibilities that a true metaverse could bring but at the moment I don’t see what Microsoft has being ready for broad adoption.
What takeaways have you had from Ignite 2021? Any announcements that have peeked your interest? Let’s have a discussion!
