Above: IDC Group Vice President of Worldwide Telecommunications Research Courtney Munroe delivers his keynote address. Photo by NH Productions and courtesy Microsoft.
On Thursday 22nd October, Microsoft held its second annual local conference entitled M4: An Event by Microsoft – Empowering Your Enterprise and Future-Proofing Your Business at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad in Port of Spain. The conference brought together Microsoft partners, renowned business leaders and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry experts to discuss how technology can serve as a key driver and enabler of innovation and success in a digital world. Other discussions included how additional innovative technologies optimize business operations, as well as the reality of ‘data as the new currency’.
Courtney Munroe, Group Vice President of Worldwide Telecommunications Research, International Data Corporation (IDC), was keynote speaker, offering insight in global ICT trends and how Enterprises should be innovating for success. Munroe also discussed the ICT impact and outlook for the Caribbean. With international industry knowledge honed by consultancy services around the world, his acumen in analysis and forecasting of demand side trends provided a valuable outlook on strengthening businesses to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
The M4 Conference also featured a slate of high-level Microsoft insiders who shared their perspectives on advancing business by understanding and mastering digital operations and new technologies. Speakers included Marc Reguera, Director of Finance at Microsoft Worldwide, currently responsible for driving external engagement with Microsoft Finance on Business Intelligence (BI); Daniel Korn, Director of Legal & Corporate Affairs at Microsoft Latin America, where he leads Microsoft’s government affairs engagements in 46 countries in the region.
A focal point of the M4 Conference was a discussion on the narrative of ‘data as the new currency’. With Microsoft’s vision focused on reinventing productivity through meaningful digital information, audience members gained an understanding of how to transform their businesses by leveraging data and creating an action-driven culture in which all employees are empowered with access to data and insight.
Frances Correia, Country Manager, Microsoft Trinidad & Tobago, Eastern & Southern Caribbean; Courtney Munroe, Group Vice President of Worldwide Telecommunications Research, IDC; and Ineke Geesnik, Windows Business Group Lead, Microsoft LATAM New Markets, demonstrate the capabilities of Windows 10 at M4. Photo by NH Productions and courtesy Microsoft.
Windows 10 and its intelligent cloud capabilities were also central to the dialogue on harnessing progressive technology to augment business. According to Frances Correia, Country Manager, Microsoft Trinidad & Tobago, Eastern & Southern Caribbean, digital business transformation is integral to leading in a disruptive environment.
“At the M4 conference, participants had the opportunity to learn how they can significantly increase competitiveness in this Mobile-first, Cloud-first world by transforming into agile, flexible businesses with Microsoft’s services,” Correia remarked. “With the one converged platform of Windows 10, businesses will be able to stay up-to-date with the latest technology. For local and regional businesses to achieve growth, it is imperative that they are equipped with innovative solutions, and we were happy to share how Microsoft can simplify the digital transformation for our customers.”
The M4 Conference was a defining point in the competitive advancement of local and regional business. It was sponsored by Software One, Massy Technologies, Caribbean TECH TrendZ Limited/MC3, Infotech, Flow and Digicel.
