Cloud-Powered AI: Maximising Business Potential

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organisations are increasingly turning to the cloud to optimise their operations, enhance scalability, and gain a competitive edge. As businesses strive to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI), migrating workloads to the cloud becomes a strategic imperative. Let’s explore why clients need to embrace this transformation and how it unlocks the full potential of AI.

The Cloud as an Enabler

1. Scalability and Flexibility: Traditional on-premises infrastructure often struggles to keep pace with dynamic business demands. Cloud platforms, such as Microsoft Azure, offer unparalleled scalability. Organisations can seamlessly adjust resources up or down based on workload requirements. Whether it’s handling seasonal spikes or accommodating sudden growth, the cloud ensures agility and cost-effectiveness.

2. Data Accessibility: AI thrives on data. The cloud provides a centralised repository for data storage and processing. By migrating workloads, clients consolidate their data, making it accessible to AI models and algorithms. Whether it’s customer behaviour data, sensor readings, or transaction logs, the cloud facilitates efficient ingestion and analysis.

3. Cost Optimisation: Cloud adoption eliminates the need for hefty upfront investments in hardware and maintenance. Clients pay only for the resources they consume, optimising costs. Additionally, cloud providers offer AI-specific services, such as Azure Machine Learning, which allow clients to build, train, and deploy models without the burden of managing infrastructure.

AI Unleashed: The Cloud Advantage

1. Machine Learning and Deep Learning: The cloud democratises AI by providing pre-built tools and frameworks. Organisations can leverage machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) libraries without reinventing the wheel. Azure’s AutoML simplifies model selection, hyperparameter tuning, and deployment. Clients can focus on solving business problems rather than wrestling with ML complexities.

2. Scalable AI Workloads: AI workloads can be resource-intensive. The cloud’s elastic compute capacity ensures smooth execution of complex algorithms. Whether it’s natural language processing, image recognition, or predictive analytics, clients benefit from high-performance computing without worrying about hardware limitations.

3. Real-Time Insights: Cloud-based AI services enable real-time decision-making. Imagine an e-commerce platform recommending personalised products to users based on their browsing history. With Azure Cognitive Services, clients can extract sentiment analysis, entity recognition, and language understanding from unstructured text. Real-time insights drive customer engagement and revenue growth.

Overcoming Challenges

1. Security and Compliance: Clients often express concerns about data security in the cloud. However, leading cloud providers invest heavily in robust security measures. Azure offers encryption, identity management, and compliance certifications. By partnering with a trusted consultancy, clients can navigate security challenges effectively.

2. Change Management: Migrating workloads requires organisational buy-in. Employees must adapt to new processes and tools. Shaping Cloud assists clients in change management, ensuring a smooth transition. Training, communication, and stakeholder engagement play a crucial role in successful cloud adoption.

The cloud isn’t merely a technological shift; it’s a business transformation. Clients who embrace cloud migration position themselves to unlock AI’s full potential. Shaping Cloud, as an Azure cloud consultancy, guides organisations on this transformative journey. From workload assessment to AI model deployment, we empower clients to thrive in the age of intelligence.

Want to find out more? Get in touch!

Paul Willmore
Head of Managed Services
Shaping Cloud

paul.willmore@shapingcloud.com

Shaping Cloud named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2024

Shaping Cloud is proud to announce that we have been named among the top UK’s Best Workplaces 2024 List by Great Place To Work®

Our ranking was revealed at the prestigious UK’s Best Workplaces Awards at Grovesnor House in the heart of London, which are considered the ‘gold standard’ of employer awards. Independently assessed through a rigorous and unique process, those on the list have proved they have created a great workplace culture built on trust, supported by innovative people management practices. Achieving our position in the SME category fills us with pride as we're officially acknowledged for our commitment to inclusion, quality, and growth.

To compile the UK’s Best Workplaces™ List, Great Place To Work analysed confidential employee survey feedback on trust and reaching their full human potential, as well as employees’ experiences of innovation, company values, and leadership effectiveness across departments and seniority levels. They then used these data insights to benchmark the effectiveness of companies' employee value propositions against the culture their employees actually experience. Only those businesses who achieve the highest scores after evaluation receive Best Workplaces status.

From our anonymous employee feedback, we can see that overall our team highly commends our dedication to ongoing learning, individual growth, and the culture of knowledge exchange across our business. 

We’re so proud of this achievement and look forward to using the valuable insights Great Place To Work has provided us with to build on our culture and employee satisfaction. If you would like to be part of our GREAT team, check out our latest vacancies here Shaping Cloud - Current Openings (workable.com)

Maximising Your Business with Azure Virtual Desktop: A Managed Service Partner’s Perspective

In our rapidly evolving business world, adaptability, efficiency, and security are not just desirable; they're essential. As a Managed Service Provider deeply invested in your success, we're thrilled to highlight how Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is transforming the way businesses operate, especially in remote work scenarios. 

Key Advantages of Azure Virtual Desktop for Your Business: 

• Flexibility & Scalability: With AVD, adjusting to business fluctuations has never been easier. Our managed services ensure that your virtual desktop infrastructure scales seamlessly with your needs, without the complexities of physical hardware. 

• Unmatched Security: Leveraging Azure's comprehensive security framework, we guarantee the protection of your data and applications through cutting-edge measures, ensuring peace of mind. 

• Cost-Effectiveness: Say goodbye to unnecessary IT expenses. AVD's consumption-based pricing model, managed by us, means you pay only for what you use, optimising your IT budget. 

• Collaboration Without Borders: Through AVD, integrated with Microsoft 365, we enable your teams to collaborate efficiently, no matter where they are located. 

Why Partner with Us for Azure Virtual Desktop? 

We provide more than just solutions; we deliver peace of mind. Our managed Azure Virtual Desktop services include streamlined management, ensuring business continuity, and offering customisation to meet the unique needs of every user in your organisation. 

The Path Forward

The transition to remote work is an opportunity to reimagine how we work. With Azure Virtual Desktop, we're not just responding to current trends; we're stepping into a future of greater flexibility, security, and efficiency. As your trusted MSP, we're ready to guide you through every step of this journey, ensuring that Azure Virtual Desktop is not just implemented but optimised to transform your business operations. 

Customer Spotlight: The Transformation Journey of Top 100 Law Firm with Azure Virtual Desktop:

Our collaboration with a top 100 law firm demonstrates a transformative journey from an on-premise Citrix estate Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), highlighting a strategic evolution in their IT infrastructure. Faced with the challenges of an aging system, the client sought to modernise and streamline their operations, aiming for cost reductions and enhanced efficiency. The partnership with Shaping Cloud played a pivotal role in navigating the transition, leveraging our expertise to develop a tailored AVD solution that aligns with their strategic vision.

The process began with a comprehensive assessment, evaluating the existing Citrix setup and identifying opportunities for improvement. This led to the implementation of a dynamic proof of concept for AVD, allowing the client to test and experience the capabilities of the new system first-hand. The focus on key applications, including legal and everyday office tools, during the pilot phase demonstrated AVD's ability to meet their specific needs effectively.

The successful transition to Azure Virtual Desktop culminated in significant benefits for the client, including cost savings, technological consolidation, and enhanced scalability. The move away from on-premise Citrix to AVD not only optimised their digital infrastructure but also ensured they were ready to meet the demands of the future.

Let's Embark on This Journey Together: 

Understanding the importance of firsthand experience, Shaping Cloud now offers a proof of concept (PoC) environment for our customers. This innovative platform allows you to test Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), providing a tangible understanding of its capabilities and potential impact on your operations. Our PoC environment is designed to enable you to evaluate the flexibility, security, and efficiency that AVD can bring to your business. With this hands-on approach, you can see exactly how our managed Azure Virtual Desktop services can be tailored to meet your specific needs, ensuring that you make informed decisions about integrating this powerful solution into your IT strategy. Explore the possibilities with us and get a feel for how AVD can revolutionise your remote work infrastructure and overall business model. 
 
Discover how Azure Virtual Desktop can redefine your business landscape. Reach out to us today, and let's explore how we can tailor AVD to meet your specific business needs.  

Paul Willmore
Head of Managed Services
Shaping Cloud

paul.willmore@shapingcloud.com

Bridging the trust gap between your employees and AI

You’ve probably been considering how to harness the potential of AI to boost your company’s efficiency and productivity.

But there’s a small problem. A recent study revealed something fascinating but not entirely surprising: A trust gap when it comes to AI in the workplace.

While you see AI as a fantastic opportunity for business transformation, your employees might be sceptical and even worried about their job security.

Here’s a snapshot of the findings:

• 62% of C-suite executives welcome AI, but only 52% of employees share the same enthusiasm.

• 23% of employees doubt their company’s commitment to employee interests when implementing AI.

• However, 70% of business leaders believe that AI should include human review and intervention, showing they view AI as an assistant rather than a replacement.

Now that we understand the situation, how can you introduce AI gently and reassure your employees that their roles are safe?

Start by having open and honest conversations with your employees. Explain why you’re introducing AI and how it will benefit both the company and individual roles. Show them that AI is meant to be a helping hand, not a jobs terminator.

Invest in training that helps your people acquire the skills they need to work alongside AI. Make them feel empowered by showing that it can make their jobs more interesting and valuable.

Emphasise that your AI initiatives are designed to enhance human capabilities, not replace them. Let your team know that it will handle repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more creative and strategic aspects of their work.

Develop clear guidelines for responsible AI use in your business. Highlight your commitment to ethical practices and ensure that employees are aware of these policies.

Involve your employees in the implementation process. Seek their input, listen to their concerns, and make them part of the solution. This shows that you value their contributions.

Encourage a culture of continuous learning. Let your employees know that they’ll have opportunities for ongoing education and development, ensuring they stay relevant and valuable in the AI-driven workplace.

Introducing AI into your workplace doesn’t have to be a cause for concern among your employees. AI is a tool for growth and innovation, not a threat to job security.

If we can help you introduce the right AI tools in the right way, get in touch.

Paul Willmore
Head of Managed Services
Shaping Cloud

paul.willmore@shapingcloud.com