Microsoft Teams: From Slack Rival to AI for Work – Jim Gaynor, Directions on Microsoft

Matt Hurst, Senior Director of Strategic Business Architecture at Ribbon, joins Tom Arbuthnot to discuss the significant changes occurring in telco infrastructure with AI, analytics, and automation. Matt clearly explains how Automation, Containerisation and AI work and apply in telco and also large enterprise infrastructure.The telecommunications industry is embracing containerisation and automation to address competitive pressures, security requirements, and operational efficiency challenges. Traditional hardware deployment models are being replaced by flexible, cloud-native approaches that enable rapid scaling and automated management.Containerisation breaks network functions into modular components that scale dynamically based on demandAutomation reduces manual patching, testing, and configuration whilst improving security complianceAI-powered chatbots guide junior engineers through complex troubleshooting using integrated documentationInfrastructure as code creates single source of truth for network configurations across multiple sitesAdoption is being driven by security operations requirements and specialised skills shortagesThanks to Ribbon, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support. 

Tom Arbuthnot discusses Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption with Karoliina Kettukari, Head of Modern Work at OP Financial Group in Finland.OP Financial Group has licensed approximately half their workforce for M365 Copilot, with strong support from senior management and eager employee adoption. The organisation also utilises Copilot Chat for an additional 50% of their licensed user base, particularly for roles working primarily in customer systems rather than M365 applications.Meeting summaries and note-taking represent the primary use case, delivering immediate time savingsOrganisation uses a tiered approach with basic training for general users and advanced documentation for power usersTeams-based sharing of use cases within departments proves more effective than organisation-wide librariesAgent development shows promise but faces technical barriers requiring Copilot Studio expertiseRegulatory compliance creates additional approval processes for new AI features in financial servicesSupport delivered through Teams channels and Viva Engage communities rather than traditional training methodsThe transition from personal productivity use cases to team-based and process automation represents the next phase of their adoption journey.Thanks to Neat, this episode's sponsor, for their continued support.

Bo Pintea from Huddly talks about the evolution of multi-camera setups and their role in creating more immersive and equitable meeting experiences. Bo shares insights from his Microsoft journey and current role at Huddly, covering:Why IP-based AV and edge AI are critical for scalable multi-camera deploymentsThe science behind camera angles, spatial reasoning, and reducing hyper-gaze fatigueHow AI agents are reshaping meeting dynamics—from intelligent shot selection to real-time transcriptionThe future of corporate knowledge, digital twins, and who owns the data we generateWhy SMBs might leapfrog larger enterprises in adopting AI-first business modelsBo also reflects on the shift from human-centric UC to AI-augmented collaboration, and what it means for the next generation of workplace tools.Thanks to AVI-SPL, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support. 

Leon Wright, Global Lead for Converged Communications at Microsoft, discusses how AI is transforming Teams Phone, telco partnerships and customer engagement.How AI is driving renewed interest in Teams Phone and enabling new productivity use casesThe evolving roles of SIs and telcos in delivering scale and strategic valueWhy partners integrating AI into Converged Comms are seeing 20%+ growthThe convergence of Teams and Dynamics in Microsoft’s AI business solutions strategyMicrosoft’s shift to transparent roadmap sharing and early partner feedbackThanks to Pure IP, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud.

Prashi Badkur, Senior Product Manager Lead for Teams phone devices at Microsoft, talks about the evolving role of physical desk phones.Despite predictions that physical phones would disappear, there remains a strong demand for Teams phone devices across various industries, including healthcare, finance, and emergency services. Specific roles value the tactile buttons and instant functionality for high call volumes and efficiency.AI features including Copilot-powered call summaries for transfers and voice commands for device navigationEnhanced line key capabilities with remote configuration through Teams Admin CentreShared line features with LED indicators and custom ringtones for multi-store scenariosQueues app now available on desk phones for agent opt-in/opt-out functionalityContact management for common area phones allowing admins to preload emergency contactsMicrosoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) support for phonesFuture roadmapThanks to Ribbon, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support. 

Alexander Ivanov, Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Teams explains how the Technology Adoption Programme (TAP) helps shape Microsoft Teams Android devices and drive quality.How TAP enables customers to test features early and influence product developmentThe role of customer feedback in shaping Teams device experiencesWhy TAP is more than a preview—it’s a partnership with customers.Insights into certification, firmware updates, and the importance measuring satisfactionIf you are interested in participating in the Technology Adoption Program, you can fill in this form here to be considered: aka.ms/TeamsDevicesTapThanks to Logitech, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud

Microsoft Teams Monthly Update - August 2025Microsoft Q4 2025 Earnings In-Car Teams Video CallsTrigger workflows using emoji reactionsOn-Behalf-Of Outbound Teams Phone Calls ChangeFirst Unify Certified Contact CenterNo more Paid Teams Metered APIsGPT-5 is here in M365 Copilot and moreSummarise Email with Copilot ChatImproved M365 Copilot in WordThanks to Logitech, this month's benefactor, for your support of Empowering.Cloud and the community.Note that this is an audio-only version of the update, so if you would like to see the accompanying slides, please watch the video version on Empowering.CloudFollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS FeedSee All

Jim Gaynor, Editorial Vice President at Directions on Microsoft, reflects on the evolution of Microsoft Teams and its shifting role in Microsoft’s strategy.How Teams evolved from a Slack competitor to a central productivity platformThe impact of the pandemic on Teams adoption and scaleWhy Teams Premium is becoming the home for advanced featuresMicrosoft’s pivot to Copilot and what it means for TeamsHow customers are approaching Copilot adoption, ROI, and data governanceJim’s perspective on Microsoft’s long-game approach to AI and platform strategyThanks to AudioCodes, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support of Empowering.Cloud.

Neil Milliken, Global Head of Accessibility at Atos, looks at how accessibility is evolving in the enterprise—driven by AI, inclusive design, and upcoming regulation.Neil shares insights from over two decades in assistive technology and accessibility, including how mainstream tools like Microsoft 365 are increasingly embedding features that benefit everyone—not just those with disabilities.The growing role of AI in assistive tech and how it’s improving productivity and inclusionHow features like captions, voice input, and personalisation are becoming everyday toolsThe impact of the European Accessibility Act and what it means for private sector organisationsThe convergence of enterprise audio tech and hearing support, including innovations from Jabra and othersWhy accessibility is a business imperative, not just a compliance checkboxNeil also discusses how organisations can prepare for the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the importance of inclusive design in product development, and how accessibility features are increasingly used by a wider audience—including those with temporary or situational needs.For more on this, check out Neil’s podcastThanks to Jabra, this episode’s sponsor, for their continued support. 

Mark Herbert (https://www.linkedin.com/in/herbertmark/), co-founder of Call2Teams (at Qunifi, acquired by Dstny) and now launching Haptap Call Manager, explores how partners are enabling Microsoft Teams Phone for SMB and mid-market.Mark shares industry insights from his Teams journey and working with UCaaS vendors and partners to bridge SIP trunks into Teams. He gives a demo of Haptap Call Manager (https://www.haptap.com/), a cloud-hosted management tool for simplified management of Microsoft Teams phone services.The evolving Teams Phone opportunity in SMB and mid-market • How AI and Copilot are driving interest in Teams PhoneThe challenges partners face managing voice at scaleHaptap’s approach to multi-tenant Teams Phone managementWhy Dstny backed Haptap as an innovation-led startup within the group