When AI goes from future topic to business reality
The Microsoft AI Tour in Zurich impressively demonstrated the extent to which artificial intelligence has now arrived in the Swiss corporate world. The Zurich trade fair was packed, the energy was palpable and the interest was enormous. Marco Denzler and Ralf Angermann were on site for us AG, in the midst of discussions with customers, Microsoft, partners and many familiar faces from the network. This is exactly where we want to be when technological developments become concrete business opportunities.
From hype to real business relevance
AI has long been more than just a topic for the future. Today, companies are faced with the question of how to integrate artificial intelligence into their processes, collaboration and customer interactions in a meaningful, secure and effective way. The Microsoft AI Tour made it clear that the focus is no longer just on individual tools. The decisive factor is how AI is anchored in the organization, how people work with it and how it creates measurable added value.
Copilot as an introduction to a new form of collaboration
Microsoft Copilot remains the most tangible entry point into productive AI use for many companies. However, the discussions in Zurich also showed that Copilot should not be viewed in isolation. It becomes really exciting where data quality, processes, governance, security and change management interact. It is precisely at this interface that we support our customers, with a clear focus on business benefits, acceptance and sustainable implementation.
AI agents are changing the way work is organized
AI agents were a central topic of the AI Tour. They represent the next step in the development of artificial intelligence, moving away from pure support and towards systems that understand tasks, support processes and can act independently within defined framework conditions. This opens up new opportunities for companies, for example in the automation of processes, customer service, knowledge management and process optimization. At the same time, clear guidelines, responsibilities and a good understanding of where AI creates real benefits and where human expertise remains indispensable are required.
Technology needs people, conversations and trust
As digital as the topics are, the event showed one thing above all: transformation comes about through personal exchange. The many discussions on site, the networking with customers, partners and Microsoft as well as the discussions about specific challenges make all the difference. AI will not be successful because it is available. AI becomes successful when people understand how they can use it meaningfully in everyday life.
In tune with the times, with a focus on the essentials
For us, attending such events is more than just an industry get-together. It is part of our aspiration to identify developments at an early stage, absorb relevant impulses and translate them into concrete solutions for our customers. Whether Microsoft 365 Copilot, AI agents, business applications, security or data-driven processes, it is not the individual innovation that is decisive, but the ability to create viable scenarios for day-to-day business.
Our conclusion from Zurich
The Microsoft AI Tour Zurich confirmed what we are already experiencing in many projects. AI is no longer experimental, but is becoming an integral part of modern corporate development. It is now a matter of identifying the right use cases, getting employees on board, setting up data and processes properly and integrating AI responsibly into the organization. This is precisely where we see our role, as a partner, sparring partner and implementer for companies that not only want to test AI, but also use it effectively.
The next step begins now
The momentum in Zurich was a strong signal. AI has arrived, Copilot is becoming more concrete, AI agents are opening up new perspectives and the need for guidance is growing. We look forward to continuing to help shape these developments, in dialog with Microsoft, with our partners and, above all, with our customers. Because the real question is no longer whether companies use AI. The question is how well they do it.
