MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions is shaking up the tradition-bound construction industry. Using Internet of Things and data analytics technologies, MacDonald-Miller helps customers build energy-efficient buildings and keep them operating at peak efficiency. Here, Bradd Busick, the company’s Chief Information Officer, talks about how MacDonald-Miller has gone all in with the Microsoft Cloud to design cutting-edge smart-building systems that save customers money, give MacDonald-Miller new growth opportunities, and help save the planet, one building at a time.
10 December 2019 
At NQ Cranes, the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central was a total success. Not only did the business flow automation immediately reduce time on internal processes, but it also allowed more time for client management. Stephen Goodson, IT Manager at NQ Cranes touches on Business Central selection, implementation, and results—asserting that they were able to spend less time on internal processes and devote more time to account management.
10 December 2019
More firms are on their way to becoming cloud-only in operations, as cloud computing techniques and availability make it easier for companies to consider full migration.
10 December 2019
Managed Instance is a resource type in SQL Database that enables you to quickly and confidently move your SQL Server databases (2005 and newer) at scale to the cloud. Companies report a 212% return on investment by moving their SQL Server databases to Azure with less that 6 months post-migration payback. Read this infographic for more on how straightforward and economical migration can be.
View: Azure SQL Database Managed Instance
10 December 2019
The role of technology in business has led to tremendous growth in trade and commerce. Business concepts and models have been revolutionized from today’s innovative technologies. What business doesn’t want to streamline accounting, manage costs better, and connect with customers in a more immediate and authentic way? In this article, you’ll learn about a wide range of new technology solutions that can be key enablers of growth and expansion.
10 December 2019
In a move that looks set to bring cloud capability to the masses, Amazon and its Amazon Web Services (AWS) arm aim to break into the household sector with a range of chips built for its Alexa devices.
10 December 2019
From the start, leaders at Clifton Coffee Roasters (CCR) knew they wanted to go beyond just roasting coffee. They wanted to empower other coffee companies to succeed. Now they provide technical support, delivery service, and back-of-house training to coffee shops across the UK, in addition to providing all of the products needed to run a coffee company. But it wasn’t always that way. In the company’s early days, the team had a difficult time coming together, with employees scattered across the UK and no reliable means to connect them. Once they adopted a teamwork solution to improve internal communication, teamwork became easy and the business took off. The rest is history. Want to take cues from CCR’s teamwork game? Contact us for help getting started.
10 December 2019
Like the vast majority of Nepalese, Melisha Ghimere came from a remote village from a family of subsistence farmers who raised cows, goats, and water buffalos. Seven years ago, she watched her relatively wealthy uncle and aunt lose a lot of their herd to an outbreak of anthrax; they were never to recover their economic footing. Melisha went on to college thinking about the plight of her family. In college, she worked to develop a predictive early warning solution to help farmers. With a team of four students, they researched livestock farming, veterinary practices, and spoke to farmers. They built a prototype for a monitoring device that tracks temperature, sleep patterns, stress levels, motion, and the activity of farm animals. Melisha’s AI system predicts the likely health of each animal based on often subtle changes in these observations. Farmers are able to track their animals, receive alerts and actionable recommendations. Although her project is still in its infancy, the field tests have shown the solution was about 95% accurate in predicting risks to an animal’s health. Melisha and her team were able to help a family prevent a deadly outbreak of an anthrax infection by identifying a diseased cow, before symptoms were evident to the farmer. Melisha’s team was a regional finalist in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition in 2016.* For more to inspire you to embrace AI, read this developer’s ebook. Then contact us to find out how we can help make AI work for you! * The Future Computed–Artificial Intelligence and its role in society–Microsoft
View: A Developer’s Guide to Building AI Application
4 December 2019
There is seldom a sector or field that is not undergoing some form of transformation driven by a wave of digital technologies that are upending traditional ways of doing things — including customer service. While many of claims of disruption suffer from over-hype, the way companies engage with customers is one domain where claims are justified. A recent report from Deloitte highlights how customer service has transitioned from the cost centers of old to create experiences that delight customers and turn them into brand devotees. Read this blog for insight on the various ways enlightened organizations are using technology and automation to empower humans to augment and enhance customer experiences.
3 December 2019
Did you know that up to 80% of workers’ time is spent on collaborative activities like responding to emails and attending meetings? This guide to promoting a more collaborative workplace culture outlines common communication breakdowns in the modern workplace and provides strategies to help customers communicate and collaborate more effectively.
View: Unblocking Workplace Collaboration: 5 Tools and Strategies
3 December 2019