Discussing the evolution of digital workplace priorities as we approach 2026, Bill Dellara explains how 2025 marked a turning point where enterprises shifted focus from collaboration features to deeper concerns about governance, risk management, and data ownership. This blogcast covers how AI capabilities have become table stakes, while governance and compliance have emerged as primary buying drivers. Dellara highlights how regulated industries are leading this transformation, and emphasizes that digital workplace decisions now involve cross-functional teams beyond IT. He concludes with recommendations for enterprise leaders to prioritize governance, automation, and insights over incremental functionality as they prepare for 2026.

VOSS shares insights from Microsoft Ignite, highlighting how AI, automation, and UC operations are converging to shape the future of digital workplaces. The event reinforced that organizations are moving toward an automation-first mindset, seeking to simplify operations and automate at scale. Microsoft's roadmap emphasizes AI-powered operations and cross-platform governance, areas where VOSS extends native Microsoft capabilities by providing automation maturity, visibility, and performance optimization. VOSS delivers an automation fabric that spans applications and systems, offering lifecycle automation, policy enforcement, and cross-platform orchestration. The platform provides AI-driven insights, end-to-end monitoring, and deep business analytics that help organizations optimize licensing, capacity, and costs while supporting their transition to AI-centered digital workplace models.

Exploring the evolution of the digital workplace in response to hybrid work, multi-vendor collaboration, and the rapid rise of generative AI. VOSS explains how traditional standardization approaches are no longer sufficient for today's fluid work environment, where agility has become a baseline requirement rather than an aspirational goal. Highlighting the increasing complexity organizations face with diverse technology stacks, remote work demands, and the need for continuous adaptation. See how VOSS enables organizations to move from rigid, reactive systems to intelligent, adaptive ones that can evolve with business needs, integrate AI capabilities, and support better employee experiences while maintaining governance and control.

Tim Jalland presents resources developed in partnership with Microsoft analyst Kevin Keeler to help organizations optimize their Microsoft 365 licensing strategy. The presentation addresses the growing complexity of Microsoft licensing, including overlapping entitlements, unused licenses, and inconsistent governance that lead to wasted spending and missed opportunities. The featured resources include Kevin's white paper 'Driving Business Value Through Smarter Microsoft Licensing,' which provides a strategic framework and licensing effectiveness model, a two-part LinkedIn live series covering licensing changes and ROI maximization strategies, and an article about the 'one hundred billion dollar blind spot' in Microsoft license value realization. These tools aim to transform license management from a reactive administrative task into a strategic advantage that balances financial accountability with operational agility.

See the importance of transforming collaboration platforms into foundations for AI-powered productivity. Highlighting the challenges IT leaders face due to limited visibility into usage, performance, and costs, which can lead to wasted resources and hinder AI readiness. But, by introducing an enterprise-owned visibility and automation layer, organizations can optimize their collaboration environments, reduce dependence on external providers, and enhance agility.

Tim Jalland, a Solutions and Product Manager at VOSS, discusses the importance of role-based access control (RBAC) in managing Microsoft licenses effectively. He highlights the complexities of license governance in global organizations and emphasizes the need for a hierarchical approach to RBAC. Automation plays a crucial role in streamlining license assignment and cancellation, reducing manual effort while ensuring transparency and accountability. VOSS enhances this process by integrating RBAC hierarchy and automation, allowing enterprises to manage licenses confidently and efficiently. Ultimately, VOSS provides a framework that balances security, simplicity, and scalability in license management.

Derek Lipscomb opened the UCX event by discussing the importance of realistic, ethical, and inclusive AI. The event highlighted the shift from AI experimentation to practical applications, emphasizing measurable outcomes and responsible adoption. Key themes included the need for transparency, data sovereignty, and the risks of AI being misused politically. The discussion also addressed the impact of automation on jobs and the necessity for technology to empower all individuals. Overall, the event called for accountability and inclusivity in the deployment of AI solutions.

This episode focuses on the challenges enterprises face in bridging the gap between license assignment and actual usage, highlighting the risks of underutilized features and wasted spending. It emphasizes the importance of license adoption insights to track activation and maximize business impact, moving beyond mere compliance. The discussion includes the need for real-time analytics to provide visibility into license activation and identify inactive licenses. By auditing current license usage and investing in analytics, organizations can align their license investments to enhance adoption and efficiency, ultimately maximizing ROI.

In a cloud-first world, Microsoft licensing has become increasingly complex, with enterprises spending over eight billion dollars monthly. Poor management often results in overpurchasing and underutilized services, highlighting the need for better license intelligence. By understanding license usage, organizations can make informed decisions, streamline processes, and maximize ROI. Implementing proactive governance and centralized platforms can transform license management into a strategic advantage. An audit and sustainable practices are essential for unlocking cost savings and agility.

At DSEI 2025 in London, the focus was on the rapid pace of digital transformation in the defense sector, highlighting the importance of AI and quantum computing as enablers of innovation. The event showcased real-world applications of emerging technologies and emphasized the necessity of collaboration across various sectors to build resilient ecosystems. Cybersecurity remained a dominant theme, with evolving access management models and a push for vendor-agnostic solutions. Attendees recognized that simply adopting technology isn't enough; organizations must embed and scale innovations effectively. The future of defense will hinge on balancing innovation with resilience, a challenge that will shape the industry's next era.