Microsoft and M&S partner to transform retail experience

Microsoft and M&S have announced the signing of a strategic partnership focused on testing the integration of Microsoft AI technologies into M&S’s customer experience, stores and wider operations. The partnership will see the two organisations work together to explore how technologies such as artificial intelligence can be utilised within the retail environment to improve customer […]

New digital skills courses making students more employable

New courses aimed at teaching students some of the most sought-after digital skills have been launched at Birmingham City University. Microsoft has teamed up with the Institute of Coding (IoC) to introduce a programme focused on analysing and visualising data with Power BI, the technology company’s information analytics tool. The courses were created to help […]

New digital skills university planned for Milton Keynes

Plans have been unveiled for a new university in Milton Keynes focused on digital skills. It is hoped that around 5,000 students will study for qualifications in areas such as digital, cyber, autonomy, robotics and artificial intelligence at the university, which is currently called MK:U. The first undergraduate cohort is expected to start in 2023. […]

Microsoft launches first UK-based AI residency outside the US

The first artificial intelligence residency outside of the US is to be launched in the UK by Microsoft. The technology company is inviting graduates with an interest in AI and machine learning to apply for the one-year residency programme, working alongside world-leading experts to solve real-world problems. While other US-based firms run similar schemes, Microsoft’s […]

NHS is about to take an important step into the cloud, says Microsoft

The government has taken an ‘important’ step in providing clarity to the NHS on storing patient information in the cloud, Microsoft has said. Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has signed off on guidance that helps public health organisations move data from on-site servers to cloud services in data centres run […]

Prevention or cure? Focusing your cybersecurity efforts

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so the saying goes. When it comes to protecting your organisation against the imminent threat of a cyber attack, it’s essential to factor in both. Here’s why. Today’s hackers are motivated and more organised than ever. This past year has shown how vulnerable organisations of […]

Connected Nation – a digital government for everyone

More than three-quarters of us connect to the Internet every day, and being connected through multiple devices has also become the norm. Unsurprisingly, this has changed our expectations and behaviour when it comes to our relationships with government. Connected citizens want even greater access to digitally-delivered services than is currently available. The same is true […]

5 ways Oracle keeps its cloud platform open

Article by: Chris Murphy, Director of Cloud Content When Amit Zavery laid out the Oracle Cloud Platform roadmap at Oracle OpenWorld on October 2, one of the first themes he focused on was keeping that platform “open.” “This is something that we really believe is important,” said Zavery, senior vice president for Oracle Cloud Platform. […]

Cognitive intelligence solution developed to digitise global trade

HSBC, the world’s leading trade finance bank, is working with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to develop a cognitive intelligence solution combining optical character recognition with advanced robotics to make global trade safer and more efficient for thousands of businesses. HSBC’s Global Trade and Receivables Finance (GTRF) team facilitates over USD500 billion of documentary trade for customers […]

Microchips, beetles and the evolution of your data centre

Article by: Nathan Rawles, Data Centre Specialist, Europe, leads sales across CommScope’s multi-tenant data centre accounts based in the UK. I recently picked up Thomas Friedman’s new book, “Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations.” It’s a wonderful take on the challenges and opportunities of adapting to […]