In a recent interview with Finance.si, Charles Calestroupat, Vice President for Southern Europe at Microsoft, explained why the organizations achieving the strongest results with AI focus on business outcomes rather than technology adoption alone.
Speaking at Slovenia’s NT Conference, he highlighted how companies can turn AI investments into measurable business value.
Research referenced during the interview indicates that companies integrating AI into key business processes report significant returns on their investments. Organizations using tools such as Microsoft Copilot are also seeing improvements in productivity, customer engagement and sales performance.
According to Calestroupat, successful AI transformation focuses on four areas:
- Accelerating innovation.
- Improving employee experience.
- Creating more personalized customer interactions.
- Redesigning business processes.
He also stressed that governance is becoming a critical differentiator for organizations seeking measurable AI outcomes. This includes leadership adoption, clear business objectives, performance metrics, security and compliance controls, and continuous employee training.
Addressing questions about cloud infrastructure and digital sovereignty, Calestroupat noted that organizations can access the same Microsoft cloud capabilities regardless of whether a local cloud region exists in their country. He pointed to Microsoft’s continued investment in European infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data protection capabilities, including the EU Data Boundary.
On resilience and trust, he emphasized that responsibility for AI is shared. Microsoft is responsible for the platform and its security, while customers remain responsible for deciding how AI systems and agents are deployed within their organizations. Human oversight and judgment therefore remain essential to successful AI adoption.
Calestroupat also reiterated Microsoft’s commitment to Europe and to local markets through ongoing investment in technology, partner ecosystems, cybersecurity expertise and digital skills development. He highlighted Microsoft’s long-term approach to customer choice, supported by thousands of models available through its platforms and strategic partnerships with companies including OpenAI.
Red the original interview: https://www.finance.si/manager/koliko-lahko-vase-podjetje-zasluzi-od-vsakega-evra-vlozenega-v-ui/a/9051567