From Excel to AI: Automating at Enterprise Scale

Microsoft Innovation Podcast

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7d ago 30:59

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👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/757
Discover how automation and AI are reshaping enterprise operations through the Microsoft Power Platform. Joe Leo shares real-world use cases, lessons from scaling automation across 10,000+ users, and insights into integrating RPA, Power BI, and AI for smarter business processes.
🎙️ What you’ll learn

Build scalable automation using Power Platform tools
Replace manual checklists with real-time digital workflows
Use canvas apps to improve data quality and reduce maintenance
Integrate RPA with model-driven apps for centralised control
Navigate career shifts and personal branding in a competitive tech market

✅ Highlights

“Macros were the way to automate work before Power Platform.”
“We had over 10,000 licenses… scaling to 100,000 users.”
“Cleaning logs on a clipboard became a canvas app with photo uploads.”
“200 Excel files emailed weekly—now replaced by a single app.”
“We deployed to 1,000 users in two weeks during COVID.”
“We created a model-driven app as a control station for automation.”
“Instead of inbox triggers, we used canvas apps to cleanse data.”
“Maintenance is the hidden cost—bots went offline mid-process.”
“Power apps are agile—changes deployed during a single call.”
“LinkedIn job posts get 100+ applicants in 15 minutes.”
“You’ve got to articulate your brand in a few minutes.”
“You can’t just build, deploy and forget—maintenance is ongoing.”

🧰 Mentioned

Microsoft Power Platform - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform
UI Path - https://www.uipath.com/
Excel Macros - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/quick-start-create-a-macro-741130ca-080d-49f5-9471-1e5fb3d581a8
Canvas Apps - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/

✅ Keywords
automation, power platform, canvas apps, model-driven apps, power automate, rpa, ai integration, business process, power bi, data quality, career branding, enterprise tech

Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoption

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Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Chapters

1. From Excel to AI: Automating at Enterprise Scale (00:00:00)

2. From Excel Macros to Power Platform (00:00:23)

3. Scaling Automation to 100,000 Users (00:05:14)

4. Turning Clipboards into Canvas Apps (00:06:28)

5. Real-Time Insights with Power BI (00:09:14)

6. COVID Response in Two Weeks (00:12:21)

7. Mission Control for Automation (00:13:17)

8. Personal Branding in a Tough Market (00:24:51)

759 episodes

#Tech #Careers #Business #Microsoft #Power Platform #Dynamics 365 #Power Apps #Power Automate #Power Pages #Copilot Studio #Artificial Intelligence #Podcasting Education #Mark Smith nz365guy #CoPilot