Hey Business Leader, there’s more power at your fingertips than ever before—here’s how to harness it.
Modernization looks different for every business, and today’s leaders are eager to understand what that means for their companies and their roles within them. One thing is for certain: AI and automation are at the forefront of this conversation for every leader, but there’s much more than meets the AI, if you will.
Today, we’ll explore the hidden superpowers lying at the intersection of Artificial and Emotional Intelligence for leadership. Moreover, we’ll look at how embracing tech innovation and fostering connections enables leaders to unlock new potential and drive meaningful change.
1. CEOs Growing Interest in AI
2. Implementing Automation in Business
3. Challenges and Solutions in Implementation
4. The Impact of Remote Work and Technology
5. Building a Community and Culture
6. The Role of Business in the Community
7. The Future of Technology and Business
Automation and advanced technologies are no longer confined to IT departments—they’ve become critical tools for scaling businesses and improving efficiency across the board. CEOs now see these tools as drivers of strategic outcomes rather than back-office functions. The ability to analyze data, streamline operations, and make smarter decisions faster has piqued the interest of many top executives.
With these technologies, business leaders have a powerful opportunity to implement continuous improvement across every facet of their operations. From predictive analytics to automating routine tasks, these tools enable companies to adapt quickly in a competitive market, making them crucial parts of a CEO’s toolkit for success.
As advanced technologies become more accessible, many CEOs are asking how they can integrate these innovations into their business models. These tools help leaders make better decisions by analyzing centralized data, transforming it from disparate systems into actionable insights that guide business strategies.
The key to successful implementation lies in understanding both the technology and the business itself. IT leadership must identify gaps and opportunities where these tools can provide value. This is why it is essential for CEOs to maintain a close connection to their IT teams, as this alignment ensures that solutions are tailored to the company’s unique goals.
When business needs are clear, the right technology solutions emerge—whether that’s automating customer service, optimizing supply chains, or enhancing marketing efforts.
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| Advanced technologies aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. They require a deep understanding of specific business processes, and hesitancy in adopting them can hinder progress. This is where expert partnerships become invaluable.
Trusted technology partners can help navigate the complexities of integration, ensuring businesses implement the right solutions for their unique challenges. When leadership lacks clarity, finding the right solution becomes more challenging. Each company’s culture, vision, and processes are different, and the leadership’s ability to articulate these specifics can make or break an implementation. CEOs who invest time in understanding their technological needs set their businesses up for success. For more insights, check out our very own CEO, Sean Ferrel share his take in this episode on the Conscious Curiosity SD Podcast, where he highlights many of the points discussed here such as AI Implementation, Cybersecurity, Community Building and so much more. |
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With the rise of advanced technologies, cybersecurity has become more critical than ever. Cybercriminals are now using sophisticated tools to launch more advanced attacks, often targeting smaller businesses to access larger networks.
Here it's important to understanding that these technologies are not just about efficiency--they are also key elements in protecting their business. Advanced tools can detect and respond to cybersecurity threats faster than any human can, identifying vulnerabilities and fixing issues before they become major problems.
By integrating AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, businesses can protect their data, safeguard their operations, and maintain customer trust. Sign up for our upcoming webinar here to learn more about the how's and why's of AI and Cybersecurity.
The shift to remote work has permanently changed the IT landscape. Remote support has become more efficient and cost-effective, enabling businesses to provide seamless assistance to employees regardless of location. Managed IT services ensure that companies maintain security and compliance standards while supporting a nationwide workforce. Managed IT services provide a proactive approach to compliance audits and monitoring.
They also have access to resources with specialized skill sets. According to ISC2’s 2023 Cyber Workforce Study, 67% of organizations have a shortage of needed cybersecurity staff, and 92% have a skills gap in cybersecurity1. Managed IT services help bridge these gaps, ensuring companies maintain security and compliance standards while supporting a nationwide workforce1.
With remote work on the rise, CEOs must consider how automation and advanced technologies can optimize their IT operations. Companies with a national footprint are better positioned to support their employees and clients across the country, ensuring they remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.
While technology is advancing rapidly, the human aspect of business remains just as important. CEOs must balance technological innovation with emotional intelligence (EQ) to foster a strong sense of community within their organizations. Even as automation increases workplace efficiency, human connection is crucial to building resilient teams.
Creating a sense of safety and community, both internally and externally, strengthens business relationships. Technology can help facilitate this, but it’s the leadership’s understanding of emotional intelligence and human capacity that drives real success. Building a culture of openness, empathy, and collaboration allows businesses to thrive in the digital age.
Furthermore, as businesses adapt to remote and hybrid workforces, the challenges of hiring and managing teams have evolved. While remote work offers flexibility, it also demands that CEOs focus on hiring employees with strong integrity and soft skills, such as curiosity and humility, before honing-in on technical abilities.
This balanced approach ensures that teams are adaptable, innovative, and well-equipped to handle the challenges of a remote environment.
Business leaders are increasingly focused on making a positive impact in their communities. By coming together at conferences, events, and leadership forums, CEOs can address community issues and drive meaningful change.
Involvement in community initiatives not only enhances a company’s reputation but also reinforces its commitment to the well-being of employees, customers, and society. CEOs who take an active role in their communities create businesses that are not only successful but also socially conscious and aligned with the needs of the world around them.
Looking ahead, the future of automation and advanced technologies in business is both exciting as it is filled with responsibility. There’s a valid concern about the impact on jobs, but businesses must also consider how to protect their data and ensure that technology serves the needs of humans, not the other way around.
The key lies in striking a balance between embracing innovation and safeguarding the people and processes that drive business success. In the future, these technologies will continue to create business outcomes, but they will also challenge leaders to stay ahead of the curve.
Leaders who focus on both the technological and emotional aspects of their leadership will be better equipped to navigate this future and lead their companies to new heights. As technology and emotional intelligence converge, modern CEOs have more power at their fingertips than ever before.
By embracing automation, a people-first approach, and fostering connections, today’s business leaders can scale their operations, protect their businesses, and create a lasting, positive impact on their communities.
As businesses increasingly prioritize AI-driven productivity, Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 is now here to set the standard for integrating advanced AI into core business functions.
Following its successful initial rollout, Copilot has enabled over 400 million users to optimize how they manage documents, data, and workflows. Wave Two of Microsoft 365 Copilot introduces groundbreaking updates that take this transformation to the next level.
If you’re a business leader looking to advance your organization with the power of AI, this blog will serve as a perfect outline to help you understand how you can do just that with Microsoft’s latest and greatest version of Copilot.
Wave Two represents a significant leap in the capabilities of Copilot, aligning tightly with the strategic needs of organizations seeking to maximize efficiency and harness AI for smarter decision-making. Below are the key advancements:
Overview: Pages introduces a dynamic AI-driven workspace that unifies web content and internal work artifacts into a single, actionable canvas. This reimagined knowledge layer gives users the ability to turn unstructured data into actionable insights, enabling ideation and collaboration at scale.
Leadership Insight: For decision-makers, this feature presents the ability to quickly distill vast amounts of information, making strategic planning more data-driven and responsive.
Key Technical Advantage: Pages integrates across various Microsoft 365 applications, providing a seamless connection between external data (like market analysis) and internal resources (such as project plans), allowing IT leaders to make faster, more informed decisions.
Overview: Microsoft 365 Copilot now embeds deeper into essential tools like Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, enhancing everyday workflows without disrupting user experience.
Leadership Insight: New features such as Python integration in Excel allows organizations to run advanced analytics directly within the platform, while Narrative Builder in PowerPoint leverages AI to create data-driven presentations in a fraction of the time. Additionally, Prioritize My Inbox in Outlook uses AI to manage the flow of communications, filtering and flagging critical messages in real time.
Key Technical Advantage: These updates offer a tighter integration with existing processes, allowing technology leaders to drive operational efficiency by combining Copilot’s AI capabilities with their organization’s unique workflows and data.
Overview: Copilot’s evolution into an enterprise orchestration layer addresses the need for smoother cross-application workflows. Siloed systems are now augmented by Copilot Agents, which automate complex business processes, such as project approvals, reporting, or resource allocation.
Leadership Insight: This orchestration reduces manual tasks and empowers technical teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key Technical Advantage: Copilot Agents enable seamless automation across multiple business systems, reducing inefficiencies and freeing up valuable IT resources to focus on innovation.
Microsoft 365 Copilot’s ability to learn and evolve from continuous customer feedback is a key differentiator in the market. Microsoft’s collaboration with nearly 1,000 organizations has led to over 700 product updates and 150 new features. The switch to GPT-4 ensures faster processing times, and improvements in user interaction have significantly enhanced satisfaction rates.
Key Technical Advantage: Copilot’s adaptability allows organizations to continuously refine their AI-driven processes, ensuring alignment with evolving business goals and technology requirements.
As we look toward the future, the integration of AI within business operations will become increasingly sophisticated and pervasive.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is at the forefront of this transformation, offering tools that not only enhance current workflows but also prepare organizations for the evolving landscape of AI-driven work.
The future of AI in business lies in its ability to adapt to specific organizational needs. With these latest Microsoft Copilot updates is designed to integrate business-specific AI models, allowing companies to create highly personalized workflows.
Customization capabilities will ensure that AI tools are not just generic solutions but are tailored to address unique challenges and opportunities within each organization.
AI will play a crucial role in breaking down silos and enhancing collaboration across departments and teams. With tools like Biz Chat, employees can interact with their entire organizational knowledge base, surfacing key insights that drive business strategy and innovation.
This level of connectivity ensures that valuable information is accessible to all, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
The ability to make data-driven decisions quickly and accurately will be a defining feature of successful organizations in the AI era. Microsoft 365 Copilot’s advanced analytics and AI-driven insights enable leaders to distill vast amounts of data into actionable strategies.
Not only will this improve the speed and quality of decision-making but it will also ensure that strategies are grounded in real-time data and trends.
One of the key advantages of using Microsoft 365 Copilot for business workflows is its ability to evolve based on continuous customer feedback. This iterative improvement process ensures that the tool remains aligned with the latest business needs and technological advancements.
As AI technology progresses, Copilot will incorporate new features and capabilities, ensuring that organizations are always equipped with cutting-edge tools.
The shift towards a digital-first approach is inevitable, and AI will be at the heart of this transformation. Microsoft 365 Copilot provides the foundation for this shift, enabling organizations to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and make more strategic, data-informed decisions.
By adopting these AI advancements, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with confidence.
In focusing on the aspects listed above, your organization can leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot to not only meet current demands but also prepare for the future of AI-driven business. This proactive approach ensures long-term success and a competitive edge in an increasingly digital world.
Staying at the forefront of these AI advancements will enable your organization to harness Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 to elevate productivity, streamline workflows, and make more strategic, data-informed decisions.
This new and improved version represents the next step in this journey, offering the tools necessary to meet the increasing complexity of today’s digital-first landscape. Embracing these innovations not only positions your company as a leader in AI adoption but also ensures you are equipped to tackle future challenges with agility and confidence.
Investing in these technologies today translates to a future of sustained growth, giving you a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving business environment.
At Managed Solution we take pride in delivering imperative news about all things Microsoft, AI Productivity tools, business innovation, and technology advancements. For more exclusive content and news be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here.
In this in-depth guide for purchasing Copilot you'll learn about every licensing option available in detail, along with the demographics each option best suits to choose the perfect plan for you.
“The company discovered there were different “types” of Copilot users. One segment includes creators, researchers, and programmers who want rapid access to the latest generative AI tools.
Another segment includes Microsoft 365 customers who want to leverage Copilot in their apps for personal use. Plus, there are Copilot users who need access to the complete capabilities of Copilot, alongside enterprise data protection, Microsoft Graph grounding, and Copilot in Teams.
As a result, there are now different “Copilot plans” available for each type of user, starting with the introduction of Microsoft Copilot Pro”. -- Android Authority
Freelancers and Hobbyists: Copilot’s Free version is the perfect fit for freelancers and hobbyists who work on projects intermittently. This option allows individuals to access Copilot's capabilities without committing to a fixed monthly subscription, making it cost-effective and highly accessible for users who don’t yet have the need for Copilots complete suite of services.
Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs): SMBs with Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Business Premium subscription and small to medium-sized development teams can benefit from Copilot Pro or Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365.
With its predictable monthly subscription fee per user, Copilot Pro offers unlimited access to Copilot's features, enabling teams to collaborate effectively and increase productivity without worrying about variable costs.
If the organization is working heavily with Microsoft 365, then Copilot for Microsoft 365 is the best option to reap all of Copilots benefits within their existing M365 platform.
Large Enterprises: Large enterprises with Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 and complex development environments and stringent security requirements can leverage Copilot for Microsoft 365.
Customizable pricing and features, along with advanced security controls and dedicated support, make Copilot for Microsoft 365 ideal for organizations seeking enterprise-grade solutions tailored to their specific needs.
The "free" Copilot experience for individuals grants access to foundational capabilities, web grounding, and commercial data protection. However, users do not have access to Copilot features within tools like Word, PowerPoint, or Teams.
Free users can utilize Copilot in specific solutions, such as Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise.
Considering upgrading from the free version of Copilot to the monthly Copilot Pro subscription for $20? If you're a casual Copilot user and satisfied with the performance and features of the free version, there's no pressing need to upgrade.
However, if you frequently use Microsoft Office applications, the decision becomes more nuanced. Copilot Pro unlocks AI features within Office, particularly in apps like PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook, which can be truly transformative.
The ability to command Copilot to assist in creating a PowerPoint presentation based on a Word document or email is remarkable and can significantly save time.
If such capabilities align with your needs and preferences, then opting for a Copilot Pro subscription is advisable. While $20 per month may seem steep, we anticipate that Copilot Pro will continue to evolve with additional features over time, potentially increasing its value in the future.
The Copilot Free Plan is particularly beneficial for individuals and small teams who have occasional or moderate needs for AI-driven assistance in software development but do not require access to advanced features or integration with Microsoft Office applications.
Specifically, the following demographics would benefit the most from Copilot's Free Plan:
Freelancers and Hobbyists: Individuals who work on coding projects independently or as a hobby can benefit from the Copilot Free Plan as it provides foundational AI capabilities without the need for a paid subscription.
Students: Students learning to code or working on coding projects for academic purposes can leverage the Copilot Free Plan to access AI-powered coding assistance at no cost.
Small Development Teams: Small teams with limited resources or budgets can utilize the Copilot Free Plan to enhance their coding productivity without incurring additional expenses.
Startups and Bootstrapped Companies: Startups and bootstrapped companies in their early stages of development may find the Copilot Free Plan advantageous as it offers basic AI assistance without requiring a financial commitment.
Overall, the Copilot Free Plan caters to individuals and organizations looking to explore AI-driven coding assistance without the need for advanced features or integration with Microsoft Office applications.
The Copilot Pro Plan is best suited for users and organizations with more extensive needs, particularly those who rely heavily on Microsoft Office applications for their work.
The following demographics would benefit the most from Copilot's Pro Plan:
Professional Developers: Experienced developers and software engineers who work on complex projects and require advanced AI-driven assistance, such as code suggestions, refactoring, and bug fixing, would benefit greatly from the Copilot Pro Plan.
Microsoft Office Users: Individuals and teams who heavily utilize Microsoft Office applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook in their workflow can unlock the full potential of Copilot's integration with Office applications with the Pro Plan. This includes features such as generating PowerPoint presentations based on Word documents or emails, which can significantly save time and enhance productivity.
Companies with Compliance and Security Needs: Enterprises with strict compliance and security requirements can benefit from the advanced security controls and dedicated support offered by the Copilot Pro Plan, ensuring that their coding activities remain secure and compliant with industry standards.
Teams Requiring Priority Support and Collaboration Tools: Organizations that require priority support and advanced collaboration tools, such as centralized billing and management, can take advantage of the Copilot Pro Plan to enhance team collaboration and productivity.
For users wanting to incorporate Copilot into their Microsoft 365 infrastructure, there are many different options to explore which we have broken down below:
For individuals or families subscribed to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, Copilot Essentials provides access to essential AI-powered features within select Microsoft 365 apps.
With Copilot Essentials, users can enjoy priority access to Copilot and experience faster performance. Additionally, Copilot Essentials accelerates image creation with Designer, making it an ideal choice for personal or household use.
Individuals or families seeking enhanced productivity within select Microsoft 365 apps.
Casual users who do not require extensive AI capabilities but value improved performance and image creation features.
Designed for customers with a Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Business Premium subscription, Copilot for Microsoft 365 Business Essentials offers a comprehensive set of AI-powered tools tailored for small to medium-sized businesses.
Users gain access to AI-powered chat with secure access to organizational graphs, enabling efficient communication and collaboration. Additionally, Copilot is seamlessly integrated into Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, enhancing productivity across the organization.
With the ability to customize and extend Copilot using Microsoft Copilot Studio Preview, businesses can adapt the AI assistant to meet their unique needs. Furthermore, Copilot for Microsoft 365 Business Essentials provides enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance features, ensuring data protection and regulatory compliance.
Small to medium-sized businesses requiring AI-powered tools for improved communication, collaboration, and productivity.
Organizations seeking enterprise-grade security and compliance features within their AI assistant.
For customers with a Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 subscription, Copilot for Microsoft 365 Enterprise Solutions offers advanced AI capabilities tailored for large enterprises.
In addition to AI-powered chat and access to Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps, enterprise users benefit from customizable AI solutions through Microsoft Copilot Studio Preview.
With enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance features, Copilot for Microsoft 365 Enterprise Solutions ensures data protection and regulatory compliance at scale.
Large enterprises with complex workflows and extensive AI requirements.
Organizations seeking highly customizable AI solutions with robust security and compliance features.
On March 1st of 2024, Microsoft released the following additional licensing options for Copilot. These licenses for Copilot Sales and Copilot Service will be available for CSP.
Read the graph below to learn more or contact our procurement team at quotes@managedsolution.com.
Choosing the right Copilot pricing plan depends on your specific needs and the Microsoft 365 subscription you currently hold. Whether you're an individual user, a small business, or a large enterprise, there's a Copilot plan tailored to enhance your productivity, collaboration, and security within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
We hope this guide for purchasing copilot will help you evaluate your requirements carefully and select the Copilot plan that best aligns with your goals and priorities.
If you're ready to unlock the full potential of AI-driven productivity tools within Microsoft 365, reach out to our procurement team at quotes@managedsolution.com to learn more, and explore the Copilot pricing plans today with one of our experts.
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