Justin Racine, Principal of Unified Commerce Strategy at Perficient, was recently featured on the Wholesale Change podcast hosted by Jonathan Bein and Brian Hopkins of the Distribution Strategy Group. In the episode, Justin shared how AI is reshaping the B2B customer experience and what distributors need to do to stay competitive.

Explore our Artificial Intelligence expertise and services.

Changing Expectations in B2B

In this interview, Justin opened with a powerful reminder: “You’re only as good as your last best experience.” Today’s B2B buyers expect the same ease and personalization they experience as consumers. Many distribution portals still feel outdated, making it difficult for buyers to complete large, complex orders efficiently. With platforms like Amazon and AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot changing how people discover and purchase products, distributors must modernize their digital experiences or risk falling behind.

How AI Is Transforming Commerce

Justin outlined three major ways AI is changing the order experience:

1. Generative Commerce: AI can create personalized shopping experiences based on a user’s behavior, purchase history, and preferences. Instead of browsing static product pages, buyers interact with intelligent systems that curate content and recommendations in real time.
2. Autonomous Agents: Tools like ChatGPT can send agents to brand websites to gather product information and return it to the user. This shifts the focus from traditional SEO to AI discoverability. If a site isn’t optimized for these agents, it will be skipped.
3. AI-Driven Marketplaces: Buyers may soon place orders directly within AI interfaces, bypassing traditional e-commerce sites. To stay competitive, distributors must adopt flexible, API-first architectures and ensure their product data is clean, complete, and accessible.

Human Connection Still Matters

Despite AI’s growing capabilities, human relationships remain essential. Justin emphasized that customer service and sales roles are evolving, not disappearing. For example, salespeople didn’t go away because of digital commerce, their role just changed. The same holds true with customer service and generative commerce: As much as you can make an autonomous agent or agentic agent feel like a human, oftentimes people still want to talk to a real person, maybe a customer service rep that they’ve known and worked with before. It’s not just pricing or a good experience but rather because of a personal relationship built over time that drives the psychology of B2B brand loyalty.

AI can handle routine inquiries, allowing reps to focus on high-value interactions and relationship-building. The key is blending AI efficiency with human empathy.

What Distributors Can Do Now

Justin offered practical advice for distributors looking to modernize:

• Start with customer feedback. Use surveys and direct conversations to identify pain points and opportunities.
• Invest in AI tools. Implement chatbots and product information management systems to improve service and personalization.
• Think like a software company. Embrace composable, API-first solutions that can adapt to new channels and technologies.

The future of B2B commerce is dynamic, data-driven, and increasingly powered by AI. Success depends on understanding your customers and building systems that serve them both digitally and personally.

Watch the full interview to learn how Perficient is helping businesses lead in the age of generative commerce.

This post builds on our original GenStudio for Performance Marketing in 5 Minutes overview. In that post, we explored what GenStudio is, how to get started, and where it fits in the content creation process.
Since then, we’ve continued testing GenStudio and tracking its evolution. Here’s what we’ve learned—and what’s new.

Real-World Use Cases for GenStudio

GenStudio helps marketers scale content creation and personalization. Here are a few high-impact use cases:

• Reuse content from past campaigns across multiple channels
• Personalize content by product, offer, or audience segment
• Localize content for different languages and regions
• Optimize content using performance insights

These use cases make GenStudio a powerful tool for performance marketing teams.

What’s New in GenStudio

Adobe continues to enhance GenStudio with new features and integrations. Since our initial review, here are some of the most notable updates:

• Multilingual content creation in 12 languages
• Video support for LinkedIn and Meta templates
• Rich text formatting in content variants
• Starter templates to accelerate creative production
• Workfront Proof integration for streamlined reviews

You can find the full list of updates and fixes on Adobe’s release notes page.

What’s Working and What We’d Like to See

Development Considerations

GenStudio is primarily UI-based, which makes version control tricky. We recommend managing template versions outside the platform. Keeping multiple versions inside GenStudio can confuse users and clutter the workspace.

However, deleting templates can break experiences built from them. Proceed with caution.

Although rudimentary, it is possible to use the search tool to find a template and then create an experience from that template. It can be used while navigating templates, or when creating new content and prompted for a template, as in the example pictured below. 

Activation Channels Are Expanding

GenStudio now supports activation to Meta, Google Campaign Manager 360, and LinkedIn. Adobe has also announced upcoming support for:

• Microsoft Advertising
• Snap
• TikTok

Integration with Adobe Journey Optimizer (AJO) is now available as well.

Managing Multiple Brands

We’ve added several brands to our GenStudio instance, including the one behind LumaX—our shopping experience site that demonstrates Edge Delivery Services, StreamX, Adobe Commerce, and Adobe Experience Platform integrations.

Adobe has previewed a Unified Branding Service in webinars, but we’re still waiting on official documentation and guidance on how to use it across applications.

Visualizing the Experience

The infographic below shows how we’ve structured GenStudio for performance marketing. Your experience may vary depending on your configuration and rollout stage.

Click the image to enlarge the infographic.

Final Thoughts

We’re excited about GenStudio’s momentum and its growing list of features. As we continue building experiences that align with our clients’ needs, here are the things we’d love to see from Adobe in the future:

• Best practices for image generation
• Guidance on organizing assets
• Faster performance and load times

As GenStudio evolves, so does the opportunity to reimagine how we create, personalize, and activate content at scale. We’re committed to exploring what’s possible—and sharing what we learn—so our clients can stay ahead in a fast-moving digital landscape.

As a global AI-first consultancy, we’re driving meaningful results through AI-powered innovation and digital transformation, creating lasting impact for businesses and their customers. Our thought leaders actively engage with top global analyst firms, including Forrester, IDC, and more. These partnerships not only validate our capabilities but also amplify the impact we deliver to our clients every day. So far, we’ve secured 35 analyst report inclusions in 2025. 

Perficient Named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape for Software-Defined Vehicles 

Perficient was named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide IT Professional Services for Software Defined Vehicles 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc# US51813124, September 2025). The IDC MarketScape evaluated software defined vehicles (SDV) professional service providers, creating a framework to compare vendors’ capabilities and strategies. 

“We’re proud of our long-term partnerships with clients that have led to continuous improvements and innovations in the automotive ecosystem. Whether we’re powering subscription-based monetization, unlocking predictive insights, or creating more connected and personalized customer experiences, Perficient is helping drive what’s next in mobility.” 

Justin Huckins, director of digital strategy and automotive industry lead, Perficient

According to IDC, Perficient “excels in its off-board SDV capabilities with advanced data analysis platforms supporting multiple automotive use cases and guides OEMS through strategic tools like the Envision framework and maintains strong partnerships with top-tier tech and automotive players. Customers appreciate its marketing campaigns and messaging around automotive offerings” 

Read More: Perficient Named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide IT and Engineering Services for Software-Defined Vehicles

Perficient’s Continued Inclusion in IDC Market Glances 

For the third year in a row, Perficient has been included in the category of IT Services Providers in the IDC Market Glance: Customer Experience Services, 2Q25 report (doc #US52469525, June 2025). According to IDC, “Agentic AI and GenAI are working their way into marketing and sales technologies and services, beginning with a pragmatic focus on automating, improving and scaling existing business processes and offerings. New AI-based business models have yet to emerge, but AI is already putting existing CX services under pressure to change.” 

Two additional IDC Market Glance reports were both healthcare-focused: IDC Market Glance: Payer, 1Q25 (doc# US53200825, March 2025) and IDC Market Glance: Healthcare Provider Operational IT Solutions, 1Q25 (doc# US52221325, March 2025.)  

In the IDC Market Glance: Healthcare Provider Operational IT Solutions report, Perficient is included in the newly introduced categories of IT Services and SI Services. We believe our inclusion underscores our expertise in leveraging AI-driven automation and advanced analytics, optimizing technology investments, and navigating evolving industry challenges. 

Highlighted in Forrester Landscapes 

Perficient has been recognized in Forrester’s report, The Connected Product Engineering Services Landscape, Q2 2025. Our clients rely on us not only for engineering and implementation, but also for the high-value strategic work that drives connected product success. 

Explore More: Build a Powerful Connected Products Strategy

Perficient was included in The Digital Transformation Landscape, Q2 2025. In this landscape, Perficient is recognized as a large-sized consultancy with an industry focus on financial services, healthcare, and industrial products, with a geographical presence in North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.  

Perficient was also included in The AI Technical Services Landscape, Q2 2025. Forrester defines AI Technical Services as: “The delivery capability of repeatable and scalable AI solutions, encompassing AI and data infrastructure, governance, training, and innovation.” We help clients harness the power of AI to solve complex business challenges and create meaningful transformation. 

Perficient Insights Contributed to Forrester Research 

Perficient’s work with a leading automotive manufacturer’s GenAI virtual assistant was included in Forrester’s report titled Design GenAI-Powered Experiences Responsibly. At the Forrester CX Summit North America in 2024, the author of this report, Principal Analyst Gina Bhawalkar, presented Perficient’s work with this automaker during her session. 

Perficient was interviewed by Forrester for their report titled The Future of Commerce (US). Perficient’s commitment to innovation and ability to deliver high-impact solutions positions us to meet the growing demand for AI-driven, intelligent commerce in an ever-evolving landscape. Our experts were also interviewed for the Forrester report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms. We believe our inclusion in the research for this report reflects our expertise in helping enterprise clients implement and optimize DXPs through AI-powered transformation.

“AI is redefining what’s possible in digital experience. The convergence of agentic and Generative AI is empowering brands to create more human, adaptive, and intelligent interactions at scale.”

Mark Polly, principal of customer experience platforms, Perficient.

 

Perficient Director Priyal Patel is quoted in Forrester’s report, Becoming An Intelligent Healthcare Organization Is An Attainable Goal, Not A Lost Cause. “Today’s decisions should be guided by long-term thinking, envisioning your organization’s business needs five to 10 years into the future,” says Priyal, emphasizing the importance of a shared strategic vision. 

Deepening Analyst Relationships to Amplify Perficient’s Impact

Perficient continues to gain recognition from leading analyst firms like Forrester and IDC, reinforcing our global presence and growing influence in AI and emerging technologies. Visit our Analyst Coverage page to explore additional mentions and stay informed on how we’re shaping the future of technology. 

In today’s world of AI-powered development tools, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are often compared side by side. Both promise to make coding easier, debugging faster, and problem-solving more efficient. But when it comes to solving real-world enterprise issues, the difference in their effectiveness becomes clear.

Recently, I faced a practical challenge while working with Sitecore 10.2.0 and Sitecore SXA 11.3.0, which presented a perfect case study for comparing the two AI assistants.

The Context: Node.js & Sitecore Compatibility

I was troubleshooting an issue with Sitecore SXA where certain commands (npm run build, sxa r Main, and sxa w) weren’t behaving as expected. Initially, my environment was running on Node.js v14.17.1, but I upgraded to v20.12.2. After the upgrade, I started suspecting a compatibility issue between Node.js and Sitecore’s front-end build setup.

Naturally, I decided to put both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT to the test to see which one handled things better.

My Experience with Microsoft Copilot

When I first used Copilot, I gave it a very specific and clear prompt:

I am facing an issue with Sitecore SXA 11.3.0 on Sitecore 10.2.0 using Node.js v20.12.2. The gulp tasks are not running properly. Is this a compatibility issue and what should I do?

Copilot’s Response

• Copilot generated a generic suggestion about checking the gulp configuration.
• It repeated standard troubleshooting steps such as “try reinstalling dependencies,” “check your package.json,” and “make sure Node is installed correctly.”
• Despite rephrasing the prompt multiple times, it failed to recognize the known compatibility issue between Sitecore SXA’s front-end tooling and newer Node versions.

Takeaway: Copilot provided a starting point, but the guidance lacked the technical depth and contextual relevance required to move the solution forward. It felt more like a general suggestion than a targeted response to the specific challenge at hand.

My Experience with ChatGPT

I then tried the same prompt in ChatGPT.

ChatGPT’s Response

• Immediately identified that Sitecore SXA 11.3.0 running on Sitecore 10.2.0 has known compatibility issues with Node.js 20+.
• It suggested that I should switch to Node.js v18.20.7 because it’s stable and works well with Sitecore.
• Recommended checking SXA version compatibility matrix to confirm the supported Node versions.
• Also guided me on how to use Node Version Manager (NVM) to switch between multiple Node versions without affecting other projects.

This response was not only accurate but also actionable. By following the steps, I was able to resolve the issue and get the build running smoothly again.

Takeaway: ChatGPT felt like talking to a teammate who understands how Sitecore and Node.js really work. In contrast, Copilot seemed more like the suggestion tool, it offered helpful prompts but didn’t fully comprehend the broader context or the specific challenge I was addressing.

Key Differences I Observed

Takeaways for Developers

1. Copilot is great for boilerplate code and inline suggestions – if you want quick syntax help, it works well.
2. ChatGPT shines in debugging and architectural guidance – especially when working with enterprise systems like Sitecore or giving code suggestions.
3. When you’re stuck on environment or compatibility issues, ChatGPT can save hours by pointing you in the right direction.
4. Best workflow: Use Copilot for code-writing speed, and ChatGPT for solving bigger technical challenges.

Final Thoughts

Both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are powerful AI tools, but they serve different purposes.

• Copilot functions like a code suggestion tool integrated within your IDE.
• ChatGPT feels like a senior consultant who understands the ecosystem and gives you actionable advice.

When working on complex platforms like Sitecore 10.2.0 with SXA 11.3.0, and specific Node.js compatibility issues, ChatGPT clearly comes out ahead.

We’re excited to announce that Perficient has been named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide IT and Engineering Services for Software-Defined Vehicles 2025 Vendor Assessment. We believe this recognition reflects our deep commitment to helping automotive OEMs and mobility innovators navigate the complex shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with confidence, agility, and innovation.

What Does This Inclusion Mean for Perficient?

This IDC MarketScape evaluated vendors based on both current capabilities and future strategies. We believe this inclusion is another impressive recognition to celebrate as Perficient leads in strategic vision for the automotive industry and continues to take a pragmatic yet ambitious AI-first approach across the SDV lifecycle. Specifically, Perficient promotes innovation in areas such as digital twins, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), smart personalization throughout the buyer and ownership experience, and the monetization of connected vehicle data. Our global delivery capabilities are bolstered by a robust partner ecosystem, and our ongoing commitment to employee excellence and R&D productivity further reinforces our leadership in the automotive technology space.

“It’s an honor to be recognized as a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape report for worldwide IT professional services for software defined vehicles,” said Justin Huckins, director of digital strategy and automotive industry lead, Perficient. “We’re proud of our long-term partnerships with clients that have led to continuous improvements and innovations in the automotive ecosystem. Whether we’re powering subscription-based monetization, unlocking predictive insights, or creating more connected and personalized customer experiences, Perficient is helping drive what’s next in mobility.”

What Does This Mean for Our Clients?

At Perficient, we understand that the shift to SDVs is more than a technology upgrade, it’s a fundamental transformation of how automotive companies design, build, and deliver value. That’s why our consulting model is built around a comprehensive, client-centric, and AI-first approach that supports every stage of the SDV journey.

• Strategic Vision and Alignment: We help OEMs define their vision and align stakeholders around a shared strategy with our Envision Framework & EnvisionOnline platform.
• Accelerating Innovation and Product Development: We apply agile methodologies and implement continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) practices.
• Building Scalable Technology Foundations: We develop secure, compliant, and cloud-native platforms and subscription-based business models.
• Data Organization and Utilization: We unlock full value of customer data, from vehicle telemetry to customer insights, advanced analytics, digital twins, personalization, and monetization strategies that drive new revenue streams, enhance customer experience, and support sustainability and compliance goals.
• Artificial Intelligence Capabilities: Our teams build virtual assistants that understand natural language, design generative interfaces that adapt in real time to user behavior, and intelligent frameworks that automate complex tasks and decision-making.

Let’s Build the Future Together

As the automotive industry continues its transformation, Perficient remains a trusted partner for automotive companies seeking to lead in the era of software-defined vehicles.

Learn more about how Perficient is shaping the future of automotive.

Read our News Release for more details on this recognition.

For years, insurers have experimented with digital initiatives, but the pace of disruption has accelerated. Legacy models can’t keep up with rising risks, evolving customer expectations, and operational pressures. The question isn’t whether insurers will transform, but rather how fast they can adapt.

Technologies like AI, advanced analytics, and embedded solutions have moved from emerging concepts to essential capabilities for competitive advantage. Earlier this year, we highlighted these opportunities in our Top 5 Digital Trends for Insurance.

As we gear up for the world’s largest event for insurance innovation in October, ITC Vegas, it’s clear these trends are shaping the conversations that matter most. Here’s a closer look at three that are leading the way.

1. Make AI Your Growth Engine

Artificial intelligence is a core enabler of insurance innovation. It’s powering efficiency and elevating customer experiences across the value chain. From underwriting to claims, AI enables real-time decisions, sharpens risk modeling, and delivers personalized interactions at scale. Generative AI builds on this foundation by accelerating content creation, enabling smarter agent support, and transforming customer engagement. Together, these capabilities thrive on modern, cloud-native platforms designed for speed and scalability.

Why Leaders Should Act Now:

AI creates value when it’s embedded in workflows. Focus on the high-impact domains that accelerate outcomes: underwriting, claims, and distribution. Research shows early AI adopters are already seeing measurable results:

• New-agent success and sales conversion rates increased up to 20%
• Premium growth boosted by as much as 15%
• New customer onboarding costs reduced up to 40%

We help clients advance AI capabilities through virtual assistants, generative interfaces, agentic frameworks, and product development, enhancing team velocity by integrating AI team members.

Read More: Empowering the Modern Insurance Agent

2. Personalize Every Moment

Today’s policyholders expect the same level of personalization they receive from other industries like retail and streaming platforms. By leveraging AI and advanced analytics, insurers can move beyond broad segments to anticipate needs, remove friction, and tailor products and pricing in the moments that matter.

Forbes highlights three key pillars of modern personalization critical for insurers aiming to deliver tailored experiences: data, intent signals, and artificial intelligence. At ITC, these principles are front and center as insurers explore how to meet expectations and unlock new revenue streams, without adding complexity.

Why Leaders Should Act Now:

Personalization isn’t just about customer experience—it’s a growth strategy. Research shows over 70% of consumers expect personalized interactions, and more than three-quarters feel frustrated when they don’t get them. Insurers that utilize AI to anticipate needs and simplify choices can earn trust and loyalty faster than those who don’t.

Success In Action: Proving Rapid Value and Creating Better Member Experiences

3. Meet Customers at the Point of Need

Embedded insurance is moving into everyday moments, and research shows it’s on a massive growth trajectory. Global P&C embedded sales are projected to reach as high as $700 billion by 2030, including $70 billion in the U.S. alone. By meeting customers where decisions happen, carriers can create seamless experiences, new revenue streams, and stronger brand visibility—while offering convenience, transparency, and choice.

Insurers that embrace ecosystems will expand their reach and relevance as consumer expectations and engagement continually shift. Agencies will continue to play a critical role in navigating difficult underwriting conditions by tailoring policy coverages and providing transparency, which requires that they have access to modern sales and servicing tools. It’s a prominent theme that’s echoed throughout ITC sessions this year.

Why Leaders Should Act Now:

AI amplifies embedded strategies by enabling real-time pricing, risk assessment, and personalized offers within those touchpoints. What matters most is making the “yes” simple: clear options, plain language, and confidence about what’s covered. Together, embedded ecosystems and AI-driven insights help insurers deliver relevance at scale when and where consumers need it.

You May Also Enjoy: Commerce Experiences and the Rise of Digital-First Insurance

Lead the Insurance Evolution With AI-First Transformation

The insurance industry is entering uncharted territory. Those who act decisively and swiftly to leverage AI, embrace embedded ecosystems, and personalize every moment will lead the curve in the next era of insurance.

As the industry gathers at events like ITC Vegas, these conversations come to life. Expect AI to be the common thread across underwriting, claims, distribution, and customer experience. If you’re attending ITC at Mandalay Bay in October, schedule a meeting with our team to explore how we help insurers turn disruption into opportunity.

Carriers and brokers count on us to help modernize, innovate, and win in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Our solutions power personalized omnichannel experiences and optimize performance across the enterprise.

• Business Transformation: Activate strategy and innovation ​within the insurance ecosystem.​
• Modernization: Optimize technology to boost agility and ​efficiency across the value chain.​
• Data + Analytics: Power insights and accelerate ​underwriting and claims decision-making.​
• Customer Experience: Ease and personalize experiences ​for policyholders and producers.​

We are trusted by leading technology partners and consistently mentioned by analysts. Discover why we have been trusted by 13 of the 20 largest P&C firms and 11 of the 20 largest annuity carriers. Explore our insurance expertise and contact us to learn more.

The future of service isn’t reactive; it’s intelligent, predictive, and AI-powered. At Dreamforce 2025, join Perficient and Salesforce for a roundtable built for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize their service strategy. If you’re responsible for uptime, field service, or asset performance, this session is for you. 

Take part in a focused, 40-person discussion where industry peers share how they use AI, IoT, and asset data to reshape aftermarket service. Learn how early adopters reduce operational risks and control rising service costs. 

Led by: 

• Lester McHargue – Director, Salesforce Manufacturing, Perficient 

• Nanda Chitrala – Sr. Director, Manufacturing Solutions & Strategy, Salesforce 

• Lance Fettig – Sr. Director, Business Consulting, Salesforce 

What You’ll Gain 

The manufacturers getting ahead are the ones transforming their service models now. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to: 

• Enable smarter scheduling with real-time asset visibility  

• Prevent asset failures using predictive insights  

• Ensure accurate billing with the right data and tools  

• Drive new revenue models through Servitization 

This session is a chance to see what’s working on the ground and ask the questions that matter to your business. 

Event Details 

Reserve your session spot with the Dreamforce Agenda Builder today: Transform Aftermarket with Asset Service Management 

Dates & Times:
Tuesday, Oct 14 |  2:30 PM – 3:30 PM PDT (4:30 PM – 5:30 PM CDT) | Moscone West, L2, Roundtable 12
Wednesday, Oct 15 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM PDT (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM CDT) | Moscone West, L2, Roundtable 12

Let’s Rethink Aftermarket Service: Smarter, Faster, and Powered by AI 

Manufacturers are transforming service operations with AI, IoT, and asset intelligence. This roundtable offers a chance to learn what early adopters are doing to reduce costs, prevent downtime, and unlock new revenue. 

If you’re interested in meeting with our team during Dreamforce or would like to connect ahead of the event, visit our event page to schedule a 1:1 meeting with our AI strategy team or connect with executive leadership onsite. 

As digital experience platforms (DXPs) evolve, Adobe continues to lead the way in embedding artificial intelligence to help organizations deliver more personalized, efficient, and scalable customer experiences. Forrester’s report, The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms, explores how vendors like Adobe are integrating agentic AI and generative AI (GenAI) to streamline experience operations and empower practitioners. 

Adobe is among the leaders in this space, offering tools that help teams simulate ideas, analyze impact, and activate personalized experiences across channels, all within a unified platform. 

Agentic AI Turns Insights Into Action

Adobe’s DXP ecosystem, including Adobe Experience Platform and Adobe Sensei, is increasingly powered by agentic AI — intelligent agents that support marketers and developers in orchestrating and optimizing customer journeys. These agents are designed to reduce manual effort, surface actionable insights, and automate tasks across the experience lifecycle. 

Perficient Adobe Consulting Principal Robert Sumner has seen firsthand how Adobe’s orchestration capabilities can be extended to deliver more seamless digital experiences across platforms. 

“Adobe’s suite enables orchestration to happen naturally across its tools, but we often help clients go further by integrating these capabilities across platforms to create a seamless journey,” said Sumner.  

Creativity Meets Efficiency With GenAI

Adobe is also at the forefront of GenAI innovation. From generating brand-consistent content to enabling marketers to build data-driven briefs and presentations within Microsoft 365 via Adobe’s copilot, GenAI is transforming how teams create and collaborate. 

Sumner mentioned that Adobe’s GenAI tools are already delivering measurable impact for clients. He said, “We’re seeing Adobe’s GenAI tools help clients scale content creation and experimentation. But success depends on aligning these capabilities with business goals and ensuring strong governance.”  

Perficient Named 2025 Gold Globee® Winner for Best Artificial Intelligence Service Provider | Learn More

Responsible AI Adoption

Adobe’s AI capabilities are powerful, but success depends on strong data foundations, human oversight, and change management. That’s why we work closely with clients to ensure these pillars are in place, enabling responsible and effective adoption of AI. 

We’re honored to have contributed to the research in an interview for Forrester’s report , The Impact of AI on Digital Experience Platforms. We believe it reflects our deep expertise in helping enterprise clients implement and optimize DXPs like Adobe. Whether it’s integrating predictive analytics, deploying cognitive copilots, or improving data governance, our teams are leading the way in enabling AI-powered transformation. 

If you’re exploring how to bring AI into your DXP strategy, we invite you to connect with us and keep the conversation going. 

Access the report here (available to Forrester subscribers or for purchase).  

Learn more about our Adobe expertise here.  

Contact us to learn more. 

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant embedded across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, designed to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and empower users with intelligent automation. Built on Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and GPT-5, and tightly integrated with Microsoft Graph, Copilot transforms how professionals interact with tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Microsoft Copilot is an LLM-powered AI assistant by Microsoft, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Under the Copilot brand, Microsoft has released a variety of products. Here’s a timeline of key releases:

Core Features of Microsoft Copilot

Copilot offers a wide range of capabilities. Specifically, it supports:

• Data Analysis: Analyzes large datasets, identifies trends, and generates insights.
• Document Creation: Drafts reports, emails, and presentations using natural language prompts.
• Project Management: Tracks tasks, schedules meetings, and summarizes conversations.
• Workflow Automation: Automates repetitive tasks like data entry and report generation.
• Communication: Summarizes emails, drafts responses, and manages inboxes.
• Security & Privacy: Honors Conditional Access, MFA, and data boundaries.

These features span across multiple Microsoft 365 apps, making Copilot a versatile productivity tool.

How Microsoft Copilot Works as an AI tool

At its core, Copilot combines:

• Large Language Models (LLMs) from OpenAI
  • It orchestrates large language models (like GPT-4 /GPT-5 via Azure OpenAI) to understand, generate, and summarize content in context.
• Microsoft Graph for contextual enterprise data
  • Copilot uses Microsoft Graph and semantic indexing—adding metadata and vector embeddings to content—enhancing intelligent retrieval when generating responses.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) for understanding user intent
• Uses plain language prompts to perform complex tasks
• Microsoft 365 APIs for secure integration

 Microsoft Copilot Workflow

Security & Compliance

• Data Access: Copilot only accesses data that the user is authorized to view.
• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit.
• MFA & Conditional Access: Fully supported for enterprise-grade security.

 Advantages of Microsoft Copilot

Copilot delivers several benefits:

• Automation: Reduces manual tasks like writing and formatting.
• Data Insights: Analyzes trends and creates visualizations.
• Contextual Intelligence: Uses enterprise data for tailored responses.
• Time Savings: Speeds up routine work and decision-making.
• Security: Honors user permissions and governance policies.

As a result, organizations can achieve measurable productivity gains.

Day-to-Day Uses in the Software Industry

For Developers

• Code Suggestions: GitHub Copilot offers real-time code completions.
• Documentation: Drafts technical documentation in Word.
• Data Analysis: Uses Excel + Python for forecasting and modeling.
• Meeting Summaries: Teams Copilot summarizes stand-ups and action items.

For Project Managers

• Task Tracking: Automates task updates and reminders.
• Presentation Creation: Builds stakeholder decks from project data.
• Email Drafting: Summarizes threads and drafts follow-ups.

For QA/Testers

• Bug Reporting: Drafts structured bug reports.
• Test Case Generation: Suggests test scenarios based on requirements

Industry Applications Uses

• Retail: Optimize shift scheduling and inventory
• Finance: Automate reporting and investment analysis
• Healthcare: Streamline clinical documentation
• Education: Personalize learning and automate grading
• Government: Draft public communications and manage budgets

Business Impact of Using Microsoft Copilot

1. Boosted Productivity

Automates repetitive tasks like drafting emails, generating summaries, or designing slides—freeing up more time for strategic work

2. Time Savings

• UK civil servants saved approximately 26 minutes daily (entry users averaged 37 minutes).
• TAL insurer saved up to 6 hours a week per employee.

3. Creativity & Quality Enhancements

Helps generate polished content, insightful visual designs, and improves presentation efficacy.

4. Seamless Integration

Works natively within existing Microsoft tools, reducing learning curves and ensuring smooth adoption.

5. Executive Workflow Optimization

Satya Nadella uses GPT-5–powered Copilot for prompts like meeting prep, project updates, time categorization, and decision analysis

Scaling Copilot—Building Intelligence for Your Organization

1. Copilot Connectors

Ingest data from ERP, CRM, and internal systems to enrich Copilot’s knowledge base, letting it reason over broader, organization-specific content, while respecting access controls.

2. Copilot Agents

Build or use prebuilt AI agents to automate workflows—e.g., employee onboarding, sales leads creation, IT requests—right from within Copilot.

Agents can:

• Take real-time actions (database updates, triggering flows)
• Tailor automation to your context

3. Copilot APIs

Use the Copilot Retrieval API to programmatically access enterprise data indexes and integrate AI capabilities into custom applications or workflows, with full compliance and governance.

How to Integrate Microsoft Copilot into Microsoft 365

Prerequisites

• Active Microsoft 365 subscription (E3/E5 or Business Standard/Premium).
• Microsoft Copilot license.
• Admin permissions for organizational deployment.

Integration Steps

1. Enable Copilot in Admin Center
   1. Go to Microsoft 365 Admin Center → Apps → Enable Copilot.
2. Assign Licenses
   1. Allocate Copilot licenses to users.
3. Configure Security & Compliance
   1. Ensure Conditional Access, MFA, and data governance policies are in place.
4. Deploy Across Apps
   1. Activate Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Where Copilot is Natively Embedded

• Word: Draft and edit documents.
• Excel: Analyze data and automate calculations.
• PowerPoint: Design presentations with AI.
• Outlook: Manage emails and calendars.
• Teams: Summarize meetings and manage tasks.
• OneNote: Organize notes and generate summaries.
• It also integrates with SharePoint, Planner, Project, and Power Platform for extended automation and data insights.

Why Microsoft Copilot is a Game-Changer

• By combining AI intelligence with enterprise data, Copilot transforms how businesses operate:
• Reduces manual effort.
• Improves decision-making.
• Enhances collaboration.
• Delivers measurable productivity gains across all departments.

Conclusion

In summary, Microsoft Copilot is not just a productivity tool—it’s a strategic AI partner that empowers professionals across industries. From automating mundane tasks to enhancing creativity and collaboration, Copilot is reshaping the future of work.

We’re proud to announce that we’ve earned our 8th Adobe specialization in Adobe’s Real-time Customer Data Platform. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional digital experiences and deepens our already robust Adobe partnership.

View our other specializations in the Adobe partner directory.

What is Adobe’s Real-time CDP?

Real-time Customer Data Platform is a powerful solution that enables organizations to unify customer data from multiple sources in real-time, creating actionable profiles that drive personalized, omnichannel experiences. As customer expectations continue to rise, Real-time CDP empowers brands to activate their data with precision, speed, and relevance.

Why This Specialization Matters

Achieving an Adobe specialization is no small feat. Adobe’s rigorous program evaluates partners on their technical expertise, successful implementations, and proven customer impact. This new Real-time CDP specialization validates Perficient’s ability to architect and deploy scalable data solutions that help clients unlock the full potential of their customer data.

Delivering Real-time Impact Across Industries

Our team has already helped leading brands across industries leverage Adobe’s Real-time CDP to:

• Break down data silos and unify fragmented customer information
• Build real-time, privacy-compliant customer profiles
• Activate audiences across channels for personalized engagement
• Drive measurable business outcomes through data-driven marketing

“This specialization is a testament to our team’s deep expertise in Adobe Experience Cloud and our ability to help clients harness real-time data to deliver meaningful customer experiences,” said Lynn Brading, Global Adobe Alliance Director at Perficient.

How We’re Innovating and Growing With Adobe

As we continue to expand our Adobe capabilities, this specialization reinforces our position as a trusted advisor for enterprise organizations seeking to modernize their digital ecosystems. Whether you’re just beginning your journey with Real-time CDP or looking to optimize an existing implementation, Perficient is ready to help.

Let’s Connect

Explore our Adobe partner page to learn more about our specializations, success stories, and how we can help you turn data into a strategic advantage.

At Perficient, we believe that championing innovation begins with the bold leaders who live it every day. Today, we’re proud to recognize Madhu Mohan Kommu, a key driver in our Databricks Center of Excellence (CoE), for being named a Databricks Champion, one of the most coveted recognitions in the Databricks ecosystem.

This honor represents more than technical mastery; it reflects strategic impact, thought leadership, and the power to drive transformation across industries through smart architecture and scalable data solutions. Achieving Databricks Champion status unlocks priority access to exclusive events, speaking engagements, and community collaboration. It’s a mark of excellence reserved for those shaping the future of data and AI, with Madhu as a stellar example.

The Journey Behind the Recognition

Earning Champion status was no small feat. Madhu’s five-month journey began with his first Databricks certification and culminated in a nomination based on real customer impact, platform leadership, and consistent contributions to Perficient’s Databricks CoE. The nomination process spotlighted Madhu’s technical depth, thought leadership, and innovation across enterprise engagements.

From Spark to Strategy: A Legacy of Impact

Since 2019, Madhu has led initiatives for our enterprise clients, delivering platform modernization, transformation frameworks, and cutting-edge data quality solutions. His expertise in the Spark Distributed Processing Framework, combined with deep knowledge of PySpark and Unity Catalog, has made him a cornerstone in delivering high-value, AI-powered outcomes across industries.

“Personally, it’s a proud and rewarding milestone I’ve always aspired to achieve. Professionally, it elevates my credibility and brings visibility to my work in the industry. Being recognized as a Champion validates years of dedication and impact.” – Madhu Mohan Kommu, Technical Architect

Strengthening Perficient’s Position

Madhu’s recognition significantly strengthens Perficient’s role as a strategic Databricks partner, expanding our influence across regions, deepening pre-sales and enablement capabilities, and empowering customer engagement at scale. His leadership amplifies our ability to serve clients with precision and purpose.

Looking Ahead: Agentic AI & Beyond

Next up? Madhu plans to lead Perficient’s charge in Agentic AI within Databricks pipelines, designing use cases that deliver measurable savings in time, cost, and process efficiency. These efforts will drive value for both existing and future clients, making AI innovation more accessible and impactful than ever.

Advice for Future Champions

Madhu’s advice for those on a similar path is to embrace continuous learning, collaborate across teams, and actively contribute to Perficient’s Databricks CoE.

What’s Hot in Databricks Innovation

From Lakehouse Federation to Mosaic AI and DBRX, Madhu stays at the forefront of game-changing trends. He sees these innovations not just as tools, but as catalysts for redefining business intelligence.

Madhu’s story is a powerful reflection of how Perficient continues to lead with purpose, vision, and excellence in the Databricks community.

Perficient + Databricks

Perficient is proud to be a trusted Databricks elite consulting partner with 100s of certified consultants. We specialize in delivering tailored data engineering, analytics, and AI solutions that unlock value and drive business transformation.

Learn more about our Databricks partnership.

We’re not only embracing the future at Perficient—we’re building it. As a global AI-first consultancy, we empower our people to lead with innovation, curiosity, and compassion. Our teams are helping the world’s most admired brands harness the power of generative AI to reimagine customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive meaningful transformation. At the heart of this is our people who play a vital role in shaping a collaborative culture that challenges convention and celebrates growth.

Sarah McDowell, a Director in our Salesforce Business Unit (BU), recently shared her journey into the technology industry, passion for solving complex problems, and how she’s helping shape the future of AI-powered experiences. Continue reading to learn how Sarah’s unconventional path, people-first mindset, and love for technology are making a difference at Perficient.

When did you join Perficient and what is your role? Describe a typical day in the life.

I’ve been with Perficient since 2020 and joined right as the pandemic shifted everything to remote work. I’ve loved every minute of the past five years. I’m a Director working with one of our larger accounts in the Salesforce BU. I’ve grown through several roles—starting as a Business Analyst, then Lead Business Analyst, Senior Solutions Architect, and now Director. Over the years, I’ve helped solve our clients’ problems through architecture design, workshops, calls, and troubleshooting. I work across four to five scrum teams with different product owners, spending much of my day designing for future development.

My favorite part is connecting with and empowering people. I helped build a more global team by onboarding new members from Latin America onto the account. A program manager and I flew to Colombia to launch a boot camp, forming strong relationships that continue to this day. I’ve also mentored a few team members on their own paths. The way we connect and build each other up is my favorite thing.

Why did you choose Perficient?

My story isn’t your typical ‘I got into software’ story. I thought I was destined for social work because I love people, building connections, and helping others solve problems. Fascinated by psychology, I worked at a crisis line after college where I learned to de-escalate situations and support people from all walks of life. That led to working with children and spending a few years working with Child Protective Services in Texas.

While rewarding, the work was emotionally taxing, especially once I started a family. I still wanted to solve problems and work with people, so I transitioned into the technology industry. During my time at an oil and gas company, I discovered they were using antiquated processes. I completely digitized the entire process and built a software tracking process for people to check documents in and out.

I dove into Salesforce, completed trailheads, and earned my first Marketing Cloud certification. That led to my first role as a Salesforce Marketing Cloud Admin at a healthcare company, where I spent a couple of years before finding Perficient. I immediately fell in love with Perficient’s culture, the people, and how we collaborate with clients to solve problems.

What are your proudest accomplishments, personally and professionally? Any milestone moments at Perficient?

Personally, I’m most proud of my family. I’m a mother of two boys who are 14 and 10 years old. My husband and I work hard to create a harmonious, united home built on love and compassion. He’s been incredibly supportive of my career change, always championing my growth and accomplishments.

Professionally, I’m proud of becoming the person I’ve always aspired to be. I still have my first Marketing Cloud certification on the wall. It symbolizes that transformation. I earned my first certification as a Marketing Cloud Email Specialist, where I learned how to build emails, journeys, queries, and automations—like the reminder emails you receive when you leave something in your online cart.

Then I earned the Einstein Prediction Builder certification, which is where AI comes in. You can program AI to predict things like, ‘What’s the likelihood Sarah will buy red shoes next quarter?’ If the likelihood is high, it will put her in a marketing journey. Tools like Prediction Builder and Einstein Analytics are targeting personalized emails for each person.

What I’m most excited about in the future is how AI can change the way we’re doing everything. The way we shop, the way we look at things, the way we do our work every day, how we build our stories, and how we create our emails. It’s a mindset shift that is exciting to be a part of.

Read More: Embrace Career Growth Through Perficient’s Growth for Everyone Initiative

How is your team using AI at Perficient?

Our Salesforce BU is looking at new AI tools, and our clients want to incorporate them into their marketing campaigns. It’s important to understand how AI works and think about the essential building blocks needed to get started. We’re finding that many clients want to use AI, but they can’t yet because their data or systems aren’t set up to support it. The first step is understanding their systems and preparing them for AI. If you implement tools without the prep work, it’s like shoving an engine on a go-kart—it’s not going anywhere. But if we get them ready, they can fully leverage the AI everyone’s excited about.

One of the projects I’m working on is a pilot with personalized marketing to set up the foundation for using AI tools. There are subtle ways that you can use AI when you’re building out an email or writing user stories. We’ve created a standardized template for all the business analysts, so everyone has a consistent experience. That’s what excites me about my daily work.

Read More: Learn How Perficient is Building an AI-First Enterprise

What challenges do you see with AI that we’ll need to navigate?

The biggest challenge is that every client is a little different in how we support them with AI and what tools will work. They may not be ready to ingest AI and might need help preparing their systems. A lot of people are excited about AI, but not many know how to implement it or set themselves up for success. That’s going to be the biggest hurdle in the next few years—helping clients get to a point where they can fully use AI in the best capacity to be successful. We’re seeing a lot of companies that implement AI too quickly. They don’t have things set up correctly, they fail, and then they don’t want to use the tools again.

Read More: Understand How Perficient Is Revolutionizing Engagement with Salesforce AI

How do you make a difference?

Getting involved in your local community can be a great way to give back. From a sociology standpoint, you have circles of impact with your family, community, and work. Then these circles expand from there. I’m most proud of the impact I’ve had on my family. They’re good and honest people. My kids are swimmers. I’m very passionate about swimming, and I am a part of the local community swim boards.

I also mentored high school students through the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp. These kids are amazing and very smart. It’s so fun because they bring in high school kids that are interested in AI and technology. They give them use cases, and they build prototypes. They show off their prototypes, and then, as mentors, we get to vote on which one we thought would have the biggest impact. It’s amazing to see what their ideas are and help guide them.

Read More: Perficient Partners with the Mark Cuban Foundation to Host AI Bootcamps

What advice would you give to someone starting their career at Perficient?

Speak up. If you want something, say it. I had a manager who asked where I wanted to be in five years and helped me build a plan to get there. I said I wanted to be a solutions architect, and she guided me every step of the way. It was my journey—she was just there to support it.

For someone new, the sky’s the limit. Talk about what you want and ask for help. Connecting with others and celebrating accomplishments together makes the work more enjoyable. I love seeing the shoutouts and people championing each other. It’s fun to read and makes me feel empowered. It builds the energy to come to work knowing that there are people out there working just as hard as I am, and they’re doing great things.

Read More: Learn About Perficient’s Award-Winning Culture

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I love archery—not hunting, just target practice. I also love supporting my kids. One is in theater and gymnastics and recently joined Descendants: The Musical. The other is in marching band and placed in the top ten at Nationals last year, playing the French horn and the Mellophone.

I try to have work-life balance, so I can be there for my kids and family. When I travel, I make sure I’m home on weekends for their performances and competitions. My husband is supportive—he even learned how to do eyeliner for my son in theater because I was away for a couple days. We’re all learning together.

SEE MORE PEOPLE OF PERFICIENT

It’s no secret our success is because of our people. No matter the technology or time zone, our colleagues are committed to delivering innovative, end-to-end digital solutions for the world’s biggest brands, and we bring a collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re always seeking the best and brightest to work with us. Join our team and experience a culture that challenges, champions, and celebrates our people.

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more!

Go inside Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram.