Microsoft host Innovation Summit 2019, Watch Highlights

Microsoft host Innovation Summit 2019, Watch Highlights

Innovation Summit

Microsoft in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Smart Solution Services Authority (ADSSSA) host Innovation Summit.

An event that brought together innovators, business leader and IT decision makers. Conversations on the day centered on using Artificial Intelligence, hybrid cloud, data management and compliance. To drive digital transformation and promote economic development across the emirate.

Microsoft held break out sessions to expound on solutions such as Office of the Future with Microsoft 365, Transforming Government Services with AI, Data Centre Modernization with Azure and Hybrid Cloud in the Government Sector. There was an exhibition area where Microsoft and Microsoft partners showcased innovations.

Highlights – Innovation Summit 2019

Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding with the ADSSSA to build a Cloud centre of Excellence. That will aim to build its capacity for the delivery of cloud services and platforms, as well as upskill the emirate’s public sector workforce.

Microsoft, AGRA, partner to co-create technology solutions in agriculture to improve food security in Africa

Microsoft, AGRA, partner to co-create technology solutions in agriculture to improve food security in Africa

Microsoft through its business and market development engine in Africa, 4Afrika is partnering with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The collaboration will see Microsoft co-create technology solutions in agriculture. Supporting AGRA’s digital transformation initiative to improve food security in Africa.

In a report, continued use of outdated technologies and practices is the biggest hurdle to increasing farmer productivity in Africa. Microsoft will therefore work with AGRA to build locally relevant technology solutions. Solutions that are mindful of challenges local farmers face says Microsoft 4Afrika director Amrote Abdella.

We’re excited to work with AGRA in building locally-relevant technology solutions that are mindful of challenges local farmers face. Offering solutions to farmers and policy makers alike to deliver meaningful impact.”

Amrote Abdella

The partnership is part of Microsoft’s ongoing investment in agritech across Africa. This year the company introduced a $100 million Africa Development Center investment with sites in Lagos and Nairobi. The center according to Microsoft will help to advance AI innovation in agriculture.

Technology to transform sector

The collaboration will see Microsoft supporting farmers to adopt new technologies through digital training. As well as help them develop digital skills in agriculture through an internship program. Microsoft will also support policy advocacy and government engagement around the design of national agriculture digitization strategies in the region.

Agriculture is a priority sector of investment for us not only because it sustains some 70 percent of livelihoods. But because we believe technology can significantly contribute to the transformation of the sector.

Africa has many farmers with varying farming practices. We believe technology can augment this knowledge to improve crop yields.

Amrote Abdella

Microsoft will begin to expand its FarmBeats initiative across Africa, having piloted it in Kenya.

AGRA’s digital transformation in agriculture wants to improve food security for about 30 million farming households across 11 African countries by 2021. These are Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.

AGRA president, Dr. Agnes Kalibata says “digital technologies are now firmly with us. It is increasingly important that we keep finding use of such innovations in our farms“.

Going forward, digitalization will transcend every sphere of our life and it is highly likely that most of our farming investments will gain more yields as a result.
Overall, with more innovation, farmer-centric products and services can now be deployed with great success. The goal, ultimately, is to adopt digital technologies in ways that positively impact whole agricultural and food systems
.”

Dr. Kalibata
Microsoft Azure Training Day Lagos, Nigeria

Microsoft Azure Training Day Lagos, Nigeria

Microsoft is inviting developers and software architects to a one day training event in Lagos.

Microsoft is hosting a free one day Microsoft Azure Training Day event for developers and software architects. The training will be on migrating applications to the cloud.

The training is scheduled to take place 13th September 2019, 8am at the Microsoft Office in Nigeria. (6th Floor, Civic Towers Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island).

The invitation reads;

Join us at Microsoft Azure Training Day: Migrating Applications to the Cloud. A free, one-day event for developers and architects to learn the steps and decision-making process of a migration.
Assume the role of a member of the fictional Tailwind Traders’ cloud-migration team as it transitions a recent acquisition, Northwind, to the Azure cloud platform.
Please make sure to bring your laptops to the training

Topics will include migrating web applications and moving your database to Azure, deploying your application faster and safer and more.

Kindly click to register for more details and plan to be at the event.

Other reading:

Nigerian Software Developer Shares Her Experience At The Microsoft LEAP Hackathon.


Microsoft Launch Lagos Africa Development Center

Microsoft announces new Azure edge sites in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Israel

Microsoft announces new Azure edge sites in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Israel

Microsoft announces thirty one new Azure edge sites.

Bringing its cloud customers a faster network and their consumers increased satisfaction. The announced sites will include new edge sites in Kenya and Nigeria. With upcoming sites in Egypt, Turkey and Israel later. The sites will be located in Nairobi, Lagos, Cairo and Tel Aviv.

Azure edge sites

Providing users fast and reliable access to their cloud services, apps and content is pivotal to a business’ success.

Yousef Khalid

Microsoft CVP Azure networking, Yousef Khalid talks about the latest development. He says the Azure Edge sites will provide application development teams increased visibility and higher availability. To access services that improve how they deliver global applications.

Through deployment and operation of globally and strategically placed edge sites, Microsoft dramatically accelerates the performance and experience when you are accessing apps, content, or services such as Azure and Office 365 on the Microsoft global network. – Yousef Khalid

What does this mean?

Infrastructure and development teams will now have; Improved optimization for application delivery. An enhanced customer experience and Private connectivity and dedicated performance through Azure ExpressRoute.

This will significantly improve user experience. Providing fast and reliable access to cloud services for our customers in the region. Local ISVs and startups can provide services to customers competitively and with confidence. – Wale Olokodana [Intelligent Cloud (Azure) Business Group Lead at Microsoft]

Microsoft announced datacenters in Middle East and Africa this year.

Why Microsoft Software Asset Management(SAM) Program is good for your organization

Why Microsoft Software Asset Management(SAM) Program is good for your organization

Software Asset Management

Our co-founder Christopher Bennett was invited to participate in a training program last year at the Microsoft office in Nairobi, Kenya. The training gave more insight of Microsoft’s Software Asset Management program to partners from across Africa.

https://youtu.be/zUV6UC_Z25g

What is Software Asset Management?

Software Asset Management (SAM) is a set of proven IT practices that unite people, processes, and technology to control and optimize the use of software across an organization. SAM can help you control costs as well as manage business and legal risks, optimize software license investments, and grow IT systems to accommodate your organization’s expanding needs.

Five reasons why you should implement SAM

(1) Improve financial security

(2) Volume discounts for better price points

(3) More liability control

(4) Smoother operations

(5) Increased long-term business value

Some more benefits of SAM

SAM eliminates waste, overlap, and duplicate purchases throughout your organization. By optimizing your software assets and streamlining your internal processes, SAM can help you save time and money, improve workflow, and increase your competitiveness as your company grows in size and maturity.

Reach out to us and let’s help your organization get the most from your software investments. By analyzing your infrastructure and making ensure you are correctly licensed. Teach your IT team how to properly manage your company’s software asset.