From the new H&M miniature flagship store in Berlin, to Microsoft’s Surface lineup announcement, these were some of Microsoft Europe’s top stories in October.
The retail industry has been in a state of change over the last several years, driven by changing expectations of the customer, and leading retailers are increasingly looking at how technology can help enhance the customer experience. H&M Mitte Garten is a brand new shopping experience opening today in Berlin which was developed by H&M Laboratory in collaboration with Microsoft, AKQA and Turnpike, specifically to meet those evolving demands. The new H&M store is a splendid example of this – putting technology in the hands of retail employees to increase customer service. Read more
A new survey – The State of Digital Skills in CEE* – conducted for Microsoft by IDC, finds that companies in CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) who have adopted cloud technologies are generating 35% more demand for digitally skilled people vs non-adopters. Consequently, many businesses are already facing a skills crunch: only 3.5% of employees in CEE today fully meet digital skills needs. Without action, the existing gap between supply and demand will only widen. Read more
As Porsche Holding uses Microsoft 365 to boost agility across its diverse workforce, from management to the warehouse floor, it’s become a more digitally focused organization that’s collaborating across new boundaries to accelerate the pace of business. “One of our executives said that we previously operated by building a wall around our organization and then optimized our operations inside it,” says Friedwagner. “But today, we need to open up to new ecosystems, new ways of working to quickly innovate new business models. As Microsoft 365 tools become integrated into the way we work at Porsche Holding, we’re using them to drive the business forward.” Read more
How AI is helping children overcome their speech disabilities
Innovative solutions like Timlogo are needed across the continent. It’s estimated that as many as one in five children in the EU have some form of hearing, vision or language disability. Technology can play a vital role in overcoming geographical and financial barriers while helping healthcare systems make the most of limited resources. With people like Dana, Alex and Cosmin at the helm, the isolation and frustration felt by too many children across Europe can become a thing of the past. Read more
Why lifelong learning makes for top teaching
Every year, EU Code Week encourages young people across Europe to engage with computer science in a hands-on way. Computer science skills are increasingly in demand in Europe’s labor market, across all kinds of sectors. In fact, over 90 percent of all jobs now require basic levels of digital skills. Meanwhile, the demand for skilled ICT professionals in Europe has grown by 4 percent annually in the past decade. Read more
Microsoft has announced its best Surface lineup ever, with five new products coming this holiday, in addition to two new dual-screen devices – Surface Neo and Surface Duo, coming in Holiday 2020. The company is also bringing more performance and new designs to its most popular product lines with the new Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X, all available for pre-order today in selected markets. Read more
Technology is transforming the banking industry, and you’re at the centre
As with all industries, banking and finance are evolving. Technology, coupled with the right culture, can lead to growth, innovation, and the offering of new services to help attract new customers while maintaining the loyalty of existing ones. Read more
Bee-ing innovative: we4bee combines nature and technology to create AI-powered beehive
Next time you see bees buzzing around your garden, take a moment to consider just how important they are to our ecosystem. According to research, crops pollinated by bees make up 35 percent of global food production, which is valued at a total of $577 billion. Read more
Recommended LinkedIn Articles:
- Why lifelong learning should top every business leaders agenda – Philippe Rogge, President, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe
- Why Microsoft is Committing to Help 1.3 Million People Across Western Europe Develop Their Technical Skills – Vahe Torossian, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Corporation & President, Microsoft Western Europe
