This year's Microsoft Ignite 2024 was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing groundbreaking advancements in AI and their transformative impact on business operations. Over the course of four days, we introduced more than 80 new products and features. The enthusiasm from our partners and customers was evident as over 212,000 IT professionals registered for the event, with nearly 12,000 attending in person!
In his keynote, chairman and CEO Satya Nadella put partners at the center of Microsoft’s vision of building an AI platform for business process transformation:
“I always say we are a platform-first and a partner-first company. Those are the two things, when I think about Microsoft, what’s core to us, core to our DNA and our approach—it’s about building platforms that create partner opportunity, that add value to our customers. That’s it.”
Partner-led announcements
Microsoft Ignite was an excellent forum to showcase new innovation along with new investments to enable our partners to meet evolving customer needs while building thriving, growing businesses. We celebrated achievements from across our partner ecosystem and many of our partners had significant product announcements illustrating the power of collaboration with Microsoft.
Adobe Express Agent and Adobe Marketing Agent are revolutionizing the marketing function within Microsoft 365 by meeting marketers in their day-to-day workflow. With seamless integration into M365 apps like Teams, Word, and PowerPoint, Adobe Express Agent enables users to quickly and easily create standout content from images to videos, directly within the Copilot interface. Adobe Marketing Agent further empowers marketers by providing tools for campaign planning, measurement, and workflow optimization, driving impactful results and operational efficiency all within the flow of work within M365. Adobe Express Agent is coming soon, and Adobe Marketing Agent will be in private preview by early Q2 2025. Learn more.
One of Microsoft's key distribution partners in Europe and North America, Arrow, has introduced ArrowSphere AI at Microsoft Ignite. This platform, built with Azure AI, allows partners to harness their data and workflows alongside vendor-specific information to create customized AI agents. These agents drive efficiency, cost savings, and new business opportunities. ArrowSphere AI addresses critical business areas such as security, cost optimization, and sustainability, supporting partners to maximize their earnings and potential through Microsoft's ecosystem. Watch a demo.
Dell introduced new services to simplify AI adoption and enhance data protection for Microsoft customers. Dell APEX File Storage for Microsoft Azure offers enterprise-class performance for AI workloads with a new Dell-managed option for simplified management, while Accelerator Services and Implementation Services support productivity and AI application development. Dell APEX Protection Services provide AI-powered cloud data protection, and new security services help align with CMMC guidelines and offer 24/7 threat detection and response, ensuring comprehensive data security and operational efficiency. Read the press release.
IBM announced that it is bringing the Apptio portfolio of enterprise agile planning (EAP), IT financial management, and cloud FinOps solutions to Microsoft Azure. Now available on the Azure Marketplace, IBM Targetprocess EAP software helps portfolio managers and finance teams plan and manage budgets and align their workforces across various technology priorities, while applying technology business management (TBM) industry best practices. Target process integrates with Azure DevOps to provide simplified management, increased efficiencies, and potential cost savings. Moreover, IBM announced their global expansion of the company’s software portfolio on the Azure Marketplace to 14 additional countries, making it easier for customers to buy software directly on the marketplace while using their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC). Read the press release.
NTT DATA announced and showcased tsuzumi, a bilingual AI model for Japanese and English language processing now available on Azure, and GenAI TechHub, an accelerator platform that hosts a suite of integrated, prequalified generative AI prototypes, components, toolkits, and solutions to help minimize complexity and risk while speeding solution adoption. By integrating seamlessly into Azure services, tsuzumi offers users the ability to quickly tune and develop business applications on Azure AI Studio. TechHub eliminates the challenges of disparate systems, teams, and data, and scales efficiently on Azure integrating with a variety of leading infrastructure and tools. NTT DATA clients have achieved 40% faster deployments, lowered costs, and improved time to market and ROI through the platform. Read the press release.
Rackspace Technology has launched the Adaptive Cloud Manager, a solution leveraging Microsoft Azure Arc technology to support hybrid cloud deployments. This tool centralizes hybrid cloud information, enhancing observability, licensing efficiency, and security monitoring across workloads. It facilitates customer onboarding to hybrid architectures with Microsoft Azure. The new offering is available globally and aims to optimize data center footprints and operating expenses by moving workloads to Azure. The initiative underscores Rackspace's commitment to innovation and partnership with Microsoft. Learn more.
Sitecore, a global ISV partner and Ignite Technologist Visionary sponsor, launched new AI capabilities for digital visionaries, Sitecore Stream. This solution for their digital experience platform, co-developed with Microsoft and enterprise customers, brings secure generative AI to digital experiences. With features like brand-aware AI, generative AI copilots, and AI-driven workflows, Sitecore Stream empowers marketers and technologists to create and manage hyper-personalized, secure content and experiences at scale. Watch Ignite industry AI and retail value chain sessions featuring Microsoft leadership and Kathie Johnson, Sitecore CMO. Visit Sitecore’s Ignite Digital Partner Showcase and watch this on-demand session highlighting how Sitecore is transforming the content value chain with AI.
Read about all of the exciting partner-led announcements made at Microsoft Ignite.
Microsoft Ignite sessions now available on demand
If you missed any of the partner sessions at Microsoft Ignite, here are links to some of the most relevant sessions for partners.
Check out the full Microsoft Ignite session catalog to find all the partner-focused on-demand content now available.
Microsoft Ignite highlights a promising future for partners embracing AI and cloud technologies. We are deeply committed to your success, with continued investments in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, to provide all tools, skilling, assets, and incentives needed to deliver growth and customer value. Read about all the partner announcements made at Microsoft Ignite 2024: Empowering partners to drive growth and innovation.
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