<\/p>\n
Microsoft has shared the progress of a programme that has been running with its SI partners to increase the use of artificial intelligence (AI).<\/p>\n
The vendor has been working with a number of SIs over the past few months to encourage greater use of AI and cloud tools that can improve the support they provide customers.<\/p>\n
Those involved include NTT Data, Tata Consultancy Services, Kyndryl, Capgemini and Cognizant.<\/p>\n
Dan Stevenson, partner director of product management for Copilot extensibility ecosystem at Microsoft<\/a>, penned a blog<\/a> to provide an update on the progress of the SI initiative.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year, a select group of specialised SIs participated in a six-month initiative in which they explored the full range of Copilot extensibility from declarative agents to custom engine agents, across both low-code and pro-code environments,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross industries, SIs are introducing intelligent agents that streamline operations, boost productivity and create entirely new customer experiences,\u201d said Stevenson.<\/p>\n \u201cThese aren\u2019t experiments; they\u2019re high-impact solutions delivering measurable results,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd behind many of them are Microsoft 365 Copilot, agentic AI and a deep partnership with Microsoft.\u201d<\/p>\n Enhancing customer support<\/p>\n Stevenson said the six-month process had seen SIs use AI tools to improve internal training and streamline processes to enhance customer support.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are using key learnings from this initiative to make our extensive library of resources even more impactful. For SIs just beginning their journey,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAgentic AI is here,\u201d added Stevenson. \u201cAs it continues to transform our work, accelerate decision-making and enhance collaboration, our SI partners are proving just how impactful it can be. Microsoft is proud to support their vision, speed their progress and celebrate their results. I look forward to seeing how these and other SI partners continue to use what they\u2019ve learned to embrace agents and create innovative, customer-centric solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the latest pilot was confined to SI partners, he pointed out the vendor is also encouraging its wider channel base through the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Programme.<\/p>\n Elsewhere in the channel, the advice to those looking to help small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) customers adopt AI tools is to make sure the foundations are in place before deploying the technology.<\/p>\n