Microsoft Power Platform Conference 2024 in Las Vegas 🇺🇸
The global Power Platform community converges in Las Vegas from 18-20 September 2024 for the Microsoft Power Platform Community Conference! Join Mark Smith, Chris Huntingford, and Andrew Welch together with Dona Sarkar to build your AI strategy with low-code, become an AI extensibility expert with Power Platform, and learn why “free” licensing is not cheaper in the long-run. Join us!
👉🏼 Session materials by Cloud Lighthouse (posted after the event)
Sessions by Cloud Lighthouse and the Ecosystems Podcast hosts…
Low-code as the Gateway for AI
Presented by:
Andrew Welch, CTO + Founder @ Cloud Lighthouse
Dona Sarkar, Chief Troublemaker - AI and Copilot Extensibility @ Microsoft
Have you spent the last few years driving low-code adoption in your organization?
GOOD NEWS! You have laid out all the groundwork to ALSO drive the AI-adoption that your org wants...but has no idea how to do.
In this session you will learn about how:
A weird new tech
Plugins, connectors and other extensibility models
Security, compliance, governance
Cajoling people to use a new thing
...is not just a Power Platform thing, but it's ALSO an AI thing.
You'll learn our 4 step framework to driving AI implementation AND adoption in your org without as much complaining as last time (we hope)
The Fallacy of Free Licensing for the Power Platform: Why Free is not Cheaper
Presented by Mark Smith, Managing Partner and Cloud Strategist @ Cloud Lighthouse
In this eye-opening presentation, Mark Smith will delve into the often-misunderstood realm of "free" licensing for the Power Platform, a crucial component of digital transformation in modern enterprises. Despite the allure of cost savings, the reality of free licenses, mainly those "seeded" through M365, E3, and E5 plans, is fraught with limitations and hidden costs that can significantly impact business operations' long-term viability and security. Understanding the concept of free licensing and its apparent benefits sets the stage for a deeper investigation into the critical aspects often overlooked by organizations. A significant focus will be on the limitations caused by the exclusion of Dataverse, a cornerstone for high security and governance within the Power Platform ecosystem. Through real-world examples, Mark will highlight the operational and financial implications of relying on low-security, low-governance solutions like SharePoint, which increase the risk profile and contribute to the accumulation of massive technical debt. By comparing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for organizations leveraging free versus paid licensing, Mark will expose the hidden expenses associated with maintenance, security breaches, and system inefficiencies often accompanying solutions built using free licenses. By contrasting these with the long-term benefits and value of investing in Managed Environments and premium connectors through paid licensing, attendees will better understand how to maximize return on their Power Platform investments. This presentation will equip CxO-level managers and decision-makers with the insights and strategic frameworks necessary to reassess their licensing strategies. Mark advocates for leaders to take a more informed and strategic approach to leveraging the Power Platform, ensuring organizations can fully capitalize on its capabilities to drive business transformation and growth.
Why Power Platform People are now AI Extensibility Experts
Presented by Chris Huntingford, Director of Digital Innovation @ ANS Group
The new era of copilot and IA is upon us and literally EVERYONE is somehow talking about Copilot! What some folks may not realise is that NOW Power Platform consultants are MORE valuable than ever. Power Platform is the primary tool for extending Microsoft 365 copilot and also to create your OWN copilots.
In this session I will position Power Platform in a new light and help you understand where you may fit in the new world. YOUR skills are more valuable than ever now and there is a huge opportunity to move into n AI positioned job way faster than you may know.
Key Takeaways:
How Power Platform fits into the world of AI and Copilot;
What YOU can do to reposition yourself to potentially take a new career path;
Technical aspects of AI extensibility such as:
Extending Microsoft 365 copilot with different data;
Building copilots on your data;
Leveraging other AI type connectors within Power Platform to super charge your solutions.
This new world of AI has SO much opportunity so lets ensure we adapt and adopt successfully. The need to innovate is extremely important and AI is certainly upon us. Let AI happen WITH you, not TO you!
