Here are the top 5 news stories covering the datacentre launch:

Microsoft Expands Cloud Services in Canada by Tech Vibes

Microsoft announces trusted Azure cloud services for Canada, Germany, and the Department of Defense by WinBeta

Microsoft Azure reaches milestones in Canada, Germany and United States to deliver trusted cloud by Microsoft

Microsoft launches first part of five part eBook for partners on winning with cloud by Channel Buzz

Microsoft Expands Cloud Services in Canada by Tech Vibes

Here is more information on what the cloud can do for your business. What do you think about the Canadian cloud? Tweet us – we love feedback!

The post In the News: Microsoft’s Canadian Cloud appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - Canada.

Adoption of Technology

After a series of major acquisitions, Gibsons Energy found itself facing the opportunities and challenges of rapid expansion. The Information Services department set out to create a “One Gibson” strategy. “We wanted to have an answer, anywhere, anytime on any device,” said Richard Hannah of Gibsons Energy. He explained that the change management project they implemented was successful because “rather than talking technology, we put everything in business terms so that employees could relate and embrace these changes”. To him, Microsoft Envision is about setting the stage for these kinds of conversations – ones that ideally lend themselves to business transformation. Before Richard’s presentation, he gave us some insight into why he chose to attend Envision. “it’s about the call to networking – meeting other customers that are doing similar or different [things] and learning from each other. That’s another reason why I chose to speak at the event: to tell the story and generate the building blocks for that conversation.”

Driving Solutions with Technology

Envision attendees also welcomed Canadian Greg Kelderman of CIBC, who spoke in a session focused on how global digitization, combined with unprecedented changes to the banking business model, is mandating transformation. The session showcased how banks are delivering new value to drive increased relevance, loyalty and profitability – as well as the challenges they are faced with in the finance industry. Greg explained how CIBC chose to focus investment in CRM capabilities and strategies to enable them to overcome these challenges. “CRM is not a software purchase. It’s a business strategy. Specifically, CRM is a client strategy so it is important to keep the focus on client experience. It’s solutions through digital capabilities and digital solutions,” he said. Following the session, we also had the pleasure of speaking with Warren Andrade of CIBC about the value Envision brings to their organization from a customer solution-based perspective. “It’s been great learning from other organizations and how they’ve deployed various Microsoft solutions to drive value in their organization,” he said.

Communicating with Technology

Public Sector organizations face their own unique challenges in the cloud-first, mobile-first world. In a session entitled “Transforming the citizen experience,” Joe Fazzari from the City of Brampton discussed how the public sector can leverage technology to reach all citizens. An example was offered about The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), where the government has implemented legal standards that organizations are able to meet using technology. Other sessions throughout the day highlighted how Governments must consider a multitude of variables before integrating technology; cloud-based products that are tailored for flexibility and scalability will become increasingly important for these organizations.

As day two wrapped up, a common theme was at the surface: technology is at the forefront for these companies as they’re strategizing ways to improve their customer-facing issues as well as internal employee-facing issues. For the most up-to-date news on technology solutions to transform your business, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post Bringing strategy to life: Canadian organizations at Envision appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - Canada.

Throughout the day, we had the pleasure of speaking with some of our partners and customers to get an understanding of the value they’ve drawn from day one at Envision. Here are the top three highlights according to attendees.

Business-Driven Technology

Microsoft Envision is about business-facing technology, where people attend to experience some of the hottest trends and topics facing businesses today. An interesting perspective came from Patrick St-Hilaire of AFI Expertise. “It’s about being in a setting that encourages insightful business conversation — where the focus is on business. It’s about technology to our customers – but for us, making their experience the best it can be, is about putting business before technology,” he said.

Thought-Provoking Conversations

What we’re hearing time and time again is that Envision is providing people the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others – whether it’s through the sessions, panel discussions or conversations with peers. “I’ve already talked to a couple of partners who potentially have solutions for our systems,” said Mihai Strusievici of Colliers International. What do attendees hope to get out of these conversations? We asked Réal Charlebois of the Parliament of Canada. “The highlight for me, is being able to take home a few pearls to start having new conversations with your peers at work – and then you’re really changing the way you’re thinking about business,” he said.

Solution-Based Networking

Many attendees reported that this conference helps build a bridge of solution-based information from customer to customer. “For me, the highlight has been networking with other Microsoft customers that might have similar situations that we have, and trading information and building relationships,” said Neven Bradasevic of Colliers International Canada. The conference lends a great opportunity to see how others businesses are looking at the future of technology. “It’s a great opportunity to meet the people here and have a discussion on how they’re living these changes in technology – the cloud and cyber security. Then you get a sense of how they’re looking at it – and maybe it breaks the mold for you and your organization,” said Réal Charlebois of the Parliament of Canada.

Customers and partners have been eager to share their experiences from the issues they’re facing to where they see their organizations moving with the help of Microsoft technology. “After spending two days with customers and partners in New Orleans, I’ve never been more energized for the potential for Canadian customers to lower costs and increase productivity and drive new innovation into the Canadian Marketplace,” said Janet Kennedy, President of Microsoft Canada.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more Canadian Microsoft Envision coverage.

The post 3 key business benefits of attending Microsoft Envision appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - Canada.

As we move closer to the opening of Envision, the positive feedback from Partners and Customers has been overwhelming. Here are some of the top reasons they shared with us for why they are excited to attend:

Networking

Microsoft Envision brings together the most forward thinking minds in business and technology. “Meeting clients and prospects in a non-formal business environment to develop relationships and continue building up the business is the true value of attending Microsoft Envision,” said Felix Robitaille of XRM Vision. Customers and Partners were eager to exchange and generate ideas.” First and foremost is the call to networking component and meeting other customers that are doing similar or different and learning from each other. That’s another reason why I chose to speak at the event: to tell the story and generate the building blocks for that conversation,” said Richard Hannah of Gibson Energy.

Vision

Today’s enterprises operate in an era marked by a massive change. The traditional approach to doing business has forever changed, as customers and speed-to-evolve have become the focus. Partners and Customers expressed their interest in hearing from business leaders and visionaries at the event. “I’m looking forward to Microsoft’s vision and it’s a great place to learn and understand how to propel your business forward — there are just so many possibilities with Microsoft that we want to grab a hold of,” said Sebastien Auger of XRM Vision. A common theme among attendees was the idea of moving in the same direction as Microsoft, and evolving at the same rate. ” It’s a venue where we can see what’s coming next so our customers can get more value out of it. Microsoft’s vision depicts ours,” said Shekar Kadaa of Frequency Foundry.

Emerging Technology

The venue was filled with conversations surrounding emerging technology. Excitement over diving into the unique trends, strategies and challenges were among some of the many topics discussed. “We come to Envision to see what’s upcoming in analytical tools, so we can bring that back our team. It’s what Microsoft is offering in order to move our business forward,” said Hassan Ait El Trach of National Bank of Canada. Conversations moved from Dynamics CRM to the adoption of the datacentre for the financial industry. “We are trying to promote and instigate change. We need to break that wall and demonstrate the security of the cloud so we can reap the benefits. We have to collaborate and show them it’s happening and it’s happening now,” said Peng Li Hong of National Bank of Canada.

It’s safe to say that Canadians are looking forward to Envision 2016. Follow us on Twitter throughout the conference for more Canadian coverage.

The post Top 3 Reasons Canadians are Attending Microsoft Envision appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - Canada.

We’ve collected some of our favourite coverage of this event below – check out how these select customers are benefiting from the Canadian Cloud:

• Microsoft Canadian customers, partners begin operational preview of Canadian Azure cloud
• Microsoft opens made-in-Canada Azure to reseller partners
• Microsoft opens cloud services to select Canadian clients with new data centres
• Microsoft begins rollout of Azure cloud services hosted in Canada
• Microsoft launches Azure preview in Germany and Canada, announces DoD-specific regions in U.S.

Learn more about how Microsoft is accelerating the Canadian Cloud, visit our datacentre website.

The post The Trusted Cloud: A Canadian Milestone appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - Canada.