AI Foundations That Deliver Real Business Value: A CTO’s Perspective

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Oct 20
2 min read

As technology leaders, we know that the promise of AI lies not in experimentation but in execution. During our recent webinar, “AI Foundations That Deliver Real Business Value,” experts from Microsoft and industry leaders shared how enterprises are driving measurable outcomes by aligning business and IT, leveraging Microsoft’s modern data platform, and unlocking real-time insights from Dynamics 365 (D365) business applications.

The message was clear: the organizations realizing tangible value from AI are those building strong data foundations—ones that support agility, accuracy, and actionable intelligence at scale.

Poll Insights: What’s Shaping Enterprise Data Strategy

The live poll from the webinar offered a revealing snapshot of where enterprises are focusing their data and analytics investments.

40% of respondents prioritized faster insights and decision-making, emphasizing the urgency to reduce latency between data generation and action.
33% highlighted AI and Copilot enablement as their next big focus—an indicator that organizations are moving beyond foundational modernization to intelligent automation.
Meanwhile, 13% cited real-time analytics capabilities and another
13% prioritized stronger governance and compliance, underscoring that while innovation drives momentum, trust and transparency remain essential.

Why Alignment Drives Faster Decisions

When business and IT teams move in sync, operational efficiency and data-driven agility naturally follow. In our live poll, 40% of participants identified faster insights and decision-making as their top data and analytics priority for the next 12 months. This reflects an enterprise-wide demand for connected data strategies that shorten the distance between information and impact.

Microsoft’s modern data platform is purpose-built for this. By unifying structured and unstructured data across Azure and integrating seamlessly with D365 business apps, it empowers teams to act on insights in real time. We’ve seen real-world success where manufacturing and retail organizations accelerated decision-making cycles by deploying predictive insights directly into operational workflows—transforming data into business outcomes.

Building the AI-Ready Enterprise

The second-highest priority in the poll—AI & Copilot enablement (33%)—signals that enterprises are ready to move from data modernization to intelligent automation. Microsoft Copilot, when powered by a secure and well-governed data estate, enables users across functions to derive insights, summarize patterns, and act faster than ever.

Yet, to harness AI responsibly, governance cannot be an afterthought. While 13% of respondents cited governance and compliance as their main focus, it remains the bedrock for AI maturity. As expert panelists noted, “Trust in AI starts with trust in data”—a reminder that every AI initiative depends on transparency, lineage, and quality.

Three Actions for Technology Leaders

To turn these insights into execution, here are three pragmatic steps CTOs should prioritize over the next 12 months:

Invest in real-time data pipelines – Enable live analytics across business operations using Microsoft’s modern data platform integrated with D365.
Launch targeted Copilot pilots – Start with high-impact workflows (sales forecasting, supply chain insights) to demonstrate value quickly.
Strengthen data governance – Build a unified framework for security, compliance, and quality to scale AI responsibly.

Enterprises that balance speed, intelligence, and control will define the next wave of digital advantage.

If you missed the session, watch our recording and insights.