As the year wraps up, so does an incredible run of conferences spotlighting the best in Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Copilot innovation. We’re thrilled to share that Amarender Peddamalku, Microsoft MVP and Practice Lead for Microsoft Modern Work at Perficient, will be speaking at the Microsoft 365, Power Platform & Copilot Conference in Dallas, November 3–7.

Amarender has been a featured speaker at every TechCon365, DataCon, and PWRCon event this year—and Dallas marks the final stop on this year’s tour. If you’ve missed him before, now’s your chance to catch his insights live!

With over 15 years of experience in Microsoft technologies and a deep focus on Power Platform, SharePoint, and employee experience, Amarender brings practical, hands-on expertise to every session. Here’s where you can find him in Dallas:

Workshops & Sessions

• Power Automate Bootcamp: From Basics to Brilliance
  Mon, Nov 3 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Room G6
  A full-day, hands-on workshop for Power Automate beginners.

• Power Automate Multi-Stage Approval Workflows
  Tue, Nov 4 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Room G2
  Wed, Nov 5 | 3:50 PM – 5:00 PM | Room G6
  Learn how to build dynamic, enterprise-ready approval workflows.

• Ask the Experts
  Wed, Nov 5 | 12:50 PM – 2:00 PM | Expo Hall
  Bring your questions and get real-time answers from Amarender and other experts.

• Build External-Facing Websites Using Power Pages
  Thu, Nov 6 | 1:00 PM – 2:10 PM | Room D
  Discover how to create secure, low-code websites with Power Pages.

• Automate Content Processing Using AI & SharePoint Premium
  Thu, Nov 6 | 4:20 PM – 5:30 PM | Room G6
  Explore how AI and SharePoint Premium (formerly Syntex) can transform content into knowledge.

Whether you’re just getting started with Power Platform or looking to scale your automation strategy, Amarender’s sessions will leave you inspired and equipped to take action.

Register now!

In any long-term enterprise AI deployment, you eventually hit a critical trade-off between model capability and operational performance. This was precisely the challenge we faced with Scarlett, Perficient ‘s internal chatbot that has been operating 24×7 for the better part of a decade. While leveraging a powerful model like GPT-5-mini provided the quality of responses we needed, the associated inference latency (peaking at nearly 20 seconds) was becoming a significant friction point for our users.

When you’re architecting a solution meant to increase productivity, a 20-second delay is more than an inconvenience; it’s a barrier to adoption. We needed a solution that could maintain response quality while drastically improving performance. This led us to test the preview of Microsoft Azure ‘s AI Foundry Model Router. Our goal was to see if this new orchestration layer could intelligently route traffic to mitigate our latency problem.

The Architectural Shift: From Single Endpoint to Intelligent Orchestration

Our previous architecture was straightforward: Scarlett’s application logic made calls directly to a provisioned Azure OpenAI gpt-5-mini endpoint. This is a standard pattern, but it means every single query, simple or complex, bears the full performance and cost overhead of that one large model.

The Model Router introduces a new abstraction layer. Instead of calling a specific model, we now direct all traffic to the Model Router’s single endpoint. Under the hood, the router analyzes the incoming prompt and routes it to the most appropriate model from a predefined pool.

The implementation was a simple change of endpoint, but the result was a fundamental shift in how our requests were processed. The data from the first few days of operation was compelling. We saw a dramatic and immediate reduction in end-user latency, from a volatile 10-20 seconds down to a stable 3-5 seconds.

This wasn’t just a marginal improvement; it was a greater than 50% reduction in average response time, which directly translates to a better user experience.

Analyzing the Routing Logic and Business Impact

Digging into the metrics, we could see the “how” behind this performance gain. Over thousands requests, the router distributed the load as follows:

• 85% of requests were routed to gpt-5-mini, confirming that most of our user queries still required a capable model.

• 15% of requests were offloaded to gpt-5-nano, a smaller and faster model, for simpler tasks that didn’t require the overhead of its larger counterpart.

This dynamic allocation is the key. By intelligently offloading 15% of the queries, the router frees up resources and reduces the overall system latency. This technical efficiency produced a tangible business outcome. We track a user satisfaction score for Scarlett, and in the days following the implementation, we saw a clear uptick in satisfaction and overall message volume. Employees were not only happier with the tool, they were using it more.

An Architect’s Perspective and Next Steps

The most significant takeaway from this test was that the primary benefit of the Model Router, in our case, was the dramatic improvement in performance, even more so than the potential for cost optimization. It effectively solved our latency problem without requiring complex, custom-built orchestration logic in our application.

However, its “black box” nature presents new questions for architects. While the results are excellent, we lack direct control or detailed documentation on the internal routing logic. Looking ahead, I am particularly interested in stress-testing its behavior with more complex scenarios, such as prompts containing very large system messages (+2,000 tokens) or those with extensive conversation histories (+10,000 tokens). Understanding how context size impacts the router’s model selection will be crucial for architecting the next generation of complex AI agents.

This implementation has proven to be a highly effective solution for a common enterprise challenge.

Perficient is proud to be included in the IDC ServiceScape: Worldwide and U.S. Microsoft Power Apps Low-Code/No-Code Custom Application Development Services, 2025 (Doc# US53748825 September 2025) report. We believe this inclusion highlights our commitment to helping enterprises accelerate innovation and streamline development through Microsoft Power Platform.

This IDC ServiceScape offers a comprehensive guide on the key capabilities of custom application development service providers using the Microsoft Power Apps low-code/no-code development platform, featuring services from companies including Perficient. The status of each service capability is categorized as fully supported, partially supported, partner provided, road map, or not supported, aiding services buyers in quickly identifying which vendors align with their changing requirements.

Powering Innovation with Microsoft Power Platform

As digital transformation accelerates, low-code/no-code platforms are becoming essential tools for agility and innovation. Perficient is proud to be included in this evolving landscape and remains committed to delivering solutions that drive real business outcomes.

“Our approach to Power Platform is rooted in strategy, scale, and speed. We’re not just building apps—we’re enabling transformation. By combining governance frameworks, multi-shore delivery, and AI-powered experiences, we help clients unlock the full potential of low-code development and drive meaningful business outcomes.” – Eric Schmitt, Director of Microsoft Business Applications.

Perficient offers a comprehensive suite of low-code/no-code services designed to accelerate transformation:

• App modernization programs to migrate legacy systems to Power Platform
• Intelligent automation and rapid RPA migration (e.g., UiPath to Power Automate Desktop)
• Custom Copilot envisioning workshops and enterprise app development
• Governance engagements including CoE setup and citizen developer enablement
• Process mining and lifecycle management
• Multi-shore delivery models with agile development pods and managed services

We’re also increasing investment in Copilot Studio Agents, helping clients build custom functionality and deploy agents within Power Platform environments. Our governance frameworks ensure scalable, secure adoption—whether you’re enabling citizen developers or launching enterprise-wide automation programs.

Learn more about our Power Platform capabilities: Power Platform / Perficient

Perficient is a global digital consultancy with over 7,000 colleagues worldwide, operating as one unified team across North America, LATAM, and India. With deep expertise in industries like Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Automotive, we deliver strategic technology solutions that drive measurable outcomes. Our Microsoft practice is backed by more than 25 years of experience and over 250 certified cloud consultants, with strong capabilities in Azure, M365, Dynamics CRM, and Power Platform.

Perficient differentiates through global delivery, scalability, and robust governance. With 95% of our business coming from repeat clients, we’re proud to be a trusted partner in building AI-first, low-code solutions that deliver real business value.

Ready to move from ambition to impact? Let’s define your low-code strategy and build the foundation to lead what’s next.

We’re proud to share that Perficient has been named to the 2025–2026 Microsoft AI Business Solutions Inner Circle—an elite group of strategic partners recognized for delivering transformative, AI-powered solutions that drive measurable business outcomes.

This recognition places Perficient among the top echelon of Microsoft’s global partner ecosystem, reflecting our deep expertise in Microsoft technologies and our commitment to helping clients embrace AI-first transformation. Through our AI Business Solutions practice, we empower organizations to boost productivity, accelerate decision-making, and improve business agility by embedding generative AI and Copilot experiences into everyday workflows.

Microsoft’s strategic focus in FY26 centers on enabling organizations to become Frontier Firms—those that operate with agility, scale rapidly, and generate value faster by leveraging hybrid teams of humans and AI agents. These firms are structured around on-demand intelligence and are reshaping how work gets done. Microsoft defines Frontier Firms as those that:

• Enrich employee experiences
• Reinvent customer engagement
• Reshape business processes
• Bend the curve on innovation

Perficient is proud to partner with Microsoft in helping our clients become Frontier Firms. By leveraging technologies like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Dynamics 365 Copilot, Power Platform, and Copilot Studio, we deliver integrated solutions that modernize operations and elevate the employee experience—unlocking new levels of efficiency, insight, and innovation.

Inclusion in the Inner Circle also provides Perficient with privileged access to Microsoft leadership, strategic insights, and early adoption opportunities. This access enables us to stay ahead of the curve and deliver future-ready solutions tailored to our clients’ unique needs.

Read more about this exciting recognition in our official press release.

Perficient is delighted to announce that Pradeep Jain, Senior Solution Architect, has been honored by Microsoft as a FastTrack Recognized Solution Architect for Power Automate—a distinction reserved for only a select group of global experts.

This recognition, conferred by the Microsoft Power Platform product engineering team, celebrates architects who deliver high-quality, enterprise-scale Power Platform solutions with consistency and architectural excellence. Pradeep is one of only 31 architects worldwide to currently hold this title for Power Automate.

Pradeep’s distinction is built on an impressive track record:

• 15+ enterprise-scale implementations across industries including customer service, retail, technology, and oil & gas.
• Expertise spanning Power Automate, Power Apps, and Dynamics 365, with AI capabilities seamlessly embedded into solutions.
• Solutions that streamline operations, empower frontline teams, and generate measurable business value.
• A commitment to governance, scalable architecture, and human-centered design.

Over his 13 years as a solution architect, Pradeep has become a trusted advisor to clients, guiding them through their digital maturity journey and ensuring technology investments deliver real-world impact. Beyond delivering transformative projects, he’s known for mentoring emerging architects, contributing to centers of excellence, and fostering high-performing teams across Perficient.

Being named a Microsoft FastTrack Recognized Solution Architect is not just a title—it’s validation from Microsoft’s own engineering leaders that Pradeep consistently operates at the highest level of architectural excellence. It places him among an elite global community of experts who help shape the future of Microsoft Power Platform.

Perficient’s Power Platform Impact

Pradeep’s recognition also reflects the depth of expertise within Perficient’s Power Platform practice. Our team helps organizations accelerate innovation and maximize their Microsoft investments by combining Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI, and Copilot Studio with enterprise-ready governance and integration across Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Azure, and other business systems. From strategy and proof-of-value engagements to full-scale deployments, we focus on delivering secure, scalable, and AI-enabled solutions that streamline processes, empower teams, and drive measurable outcomes.

Congratulations, Pradeep! Your leadership, innovation, and dedication to empowering clients with intelligent, scalable solutions embody the best of Perficient’s commitment to digital transformation.

Learn more about Microsoft’s FastTrack Recognized Solution Architect program here and read more about Perficient’s Power Platform practice here.

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered programming assistant that assists developers by generating code based on their comments and existing code. Now natively integrated into Visual Studio 2022, it supports multiple languages, including C#.

Steps to Set Up GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio 2022

Prerequisites

• Visual Studio 2022 – Version 17.10 or later
• .NET Desktop Development workload installed
• GitHub Account – With an active Copilot subscription
• GitHub Copilot Extension – Installed via Visual Studio Installer
• Local Git Repository – Ensure your C# project is under Git version control

After installation, sign in with your GitHub account that has Copilot access. You’ll see a GitHub Copilot icon in the top-right corner of the IDE indicating its status.

Activating GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio

If GitHub Copilot is installed but in an inactive state, it may be because:

• You’re not yet signed into Visual Studio with a GitHub account

To Activate Copilot

1. Click the Copilot status icon in the Visual Studio toolbar,
2. From the dropdown menu, choose Sign in.
3. Sign in with a GitHub account that has an active Copilot subscription.
   • Don’t have a subscription? You can purchase one at: https://github.com/pricing

Or…

1. Select Open Chat Window
2. Choose:
   • Sign up for Copilot Free to sign up for Copilot Free
   • Sign in if you already have a Copilot-enabled account.

Once signed in, the Copilot status icon will change to indicate it’s active.

Using GitHub Copilot to Generate C# Methods

1. Generating Simple Code with Copilot

   Step 1: Add a comment, e.g.

   // Prompt: Write a method to calculate the factorial of a number using recursion

   Step 2: GitHub Copilot will suggest code based on your comment after a few seconds.

   Step 3: Accept or Modify

   • Press Tab to accept.
   • Use Alt +] or Alt + [ to cycle through suggestions.
   • Modify as needed.

   Please watch the video below which helps us to use GitHub Copilot in C#

   

   You can even prompt GitHub Copilot to generate unit tests:

   // Unit test for Factorial method using MSTest

   GitHub Copilot will suggest

   [TestMethod]
   public void TestFactorial()
   {
       var calc = new Calculator();
       Assert.AreEqual(120, calc.Factorial(5));
   }

2. Generating Complex Code with Copilot

   If we need the list of customers from the database with some filters, then we can prompt like

   // Method to get active customers from a specific city using DbContext

   GitHub Copilot will generate like below sample code

   public class CustomerService
   {
       private readonly AppDbContext _context;
   
       public CustomerService(AppDbContext context)
       {
           _context = context;
       }
   
       public async Task<List<Customer>> GetActiveCustomersByCityAsync(string cityName)
       {
           return await _context.Customers
               .Where(c => c.IsActive && c.City == cityName)
               .OrderBy(c => c.LastName)
               .ToListAsync();
       }
   }

Benefits of Using GitHub Copilot

• Speeds up development by generating boilerplate and repetitive code.
• Understands your intent through comments and method names.
• Reduces manual errors in common data access patterns.
• Supports clean architecture by suggesting service-layer methods.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Always review the code for correctness and performance.
• Copilot doesn’t know your business logic, so suggestions may need tweaking.
• Security and validation are your responsibility.
• Suggestions can vary, so results may not always be consistent.
• Over-reliance can hinder learning if used without understanding the code.

Conclusion

For C# developers, GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio 2022 is revolutionary. It decreases complexity and increases productivity in everything from creating methods to writing tests. Experience the future of AI-assisted development by giving it a try.

Reference:  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/visual-studio-github-copilot-extension?view=vs-2022

With thousands of skilled strategists and technologists worldwide, Perficient harnesses a collaborative spirit that delivers real results through the power of technology. We combine our deep industry expertise with trusted partnerships alongside leading technology innovators to transform some of the world’s biggest brands.  

Perficient’s vision is to be the place where great minds and great companies converge to boldly advance business. We fulfill this through our mission to Shatter Boundaries, Obsess Over Outcomes, and Forge the Future. In this final blog of our series celebrating Perficient’s recognition as a 2025 USA Today Top Workplace, we spotlight how our award-winning partnerships and diverse expertise fuel innovation and client success. Watch the video below to see how Perficient reimagines and revolutionizes digital transformation through collaboration with our clients and partners.  

Perficient’s Award-Winning Technology Partnerships 

Our broad partnerships with industry-leading technology innovators empower us to deliver customized, scalable solutions across industries and platforms that drive long-term growth. With an industry-first approach, we keep our solutions flexible and adaptable to evolving client needs. This versatility allows us to tailor each solution with the best-fit technologies, addressing unique industry challenges with greater personalization and enhancing client outcomes. 

“I see a lot of potential in Perficient in continuing to accelerate by tapping into the deep knowledge of our talent in the company and continuing to invest in some of the technologies and partners that we’re working with today.” – Gugu Mabuza, Director, App Modernization

By leveraging our world-class expertise and strategic partnerships, we design and implement award-winning solutions that transform how our clients connect with their customers and grow their business. Our partner network’s tradeshows are also great opportunities to connect, engage, and learn. Perficient colleagues regularly attend these events, showcasing their expertise and deepening their knowledge of our partners’ technology stacks. 

“When we think about being partners with big companies like Adobe and Salesforce—that have a lot of knowledge that could bring us more knowledge and clients—we need to be working closely with them on a high level. We need to take advantage of that to be working together as a team.” – Lina Jaramillo, General Manager, Colombia 

Although we maintain many strategic alliances, our largest partnerships with leading technology innovators are some of the most impactful. Let’s explore these key partnerships and how our expertise delivers exceptional value through high-impact solutions. 

Adobe 

As an Adobe Platinum Partner with more than 300 certifications, we deliver top-tier expertise that reimagines customer experiences and accelerates business velocity for the world’s biggest brands. Our end-to-end marketing solutions on Adobe Experience Cloud empower clients to build deeper customer connections through smarter engagement, enhanced personalization, and data-driven insights.  

We proudly stand as Adobe’s leading digital experience partner, having successfully completed more than 800 engagements across Adobe, Marketo, and Adobe Commerce platforms. As an award-winning Adobe Specialized Partner, we hold seven Adobe specializations—Experience Manager Sites, Experience Manager Run and Operate, Analytics, Commerce, Marketo Engage, Target, and Customer Journey Analytics—demonstrating our proven track record of successful implementations. 

READ MORE: How Sunbelt Rentals Used First-Party Data to Convert Millions in Revenue  

At the forefront of digital marketing innovation, our Adobe experts led the first large-scale customer deployment to Adobe Experience Manager as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS) and became the first globally to earn the Marketo Engage specialization. Powered by GenStudio and Sensei, our Adobe Generative AI (GenAI) solutions transform marketing by accelerating content creation, streamlining omnichannel campaigns, and enabling precise customer behavior forecasting to maximize personalization and ROI.   

Amazon Web Services 

In addition to our valued Adobe partnership, we are proud to be an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advanced Services Partner. With over 15 years of experience and more than 150 successful AWS implementations, our deep expertise in cloud and enterprise applications helps clients optimize infrastructure, streamline operations, and enhance data analytics.  

By combining AWS’s cross-industry flexibility with our broad industry expertise, we develop tailored cloud transformation strategies aligned to each client’s unique objectives. This adaptable approach drives innovation and collaboration across our partner ecosystem, consistently delivering high-value, measurable business outcomes.  

Our AWS solutions address critical business needs such as cloud migration, cost optimization, application modernization, product development, and advanced data capabilities—empowering organizations to improve operational efficiency, scalability, security, and speed to market. We also lead in AI-driven AWS solutions, leveraging Amazon Q Developer, Amazon Q Business, AWS Transform, Bedrock, and SageMaker to build and scale GenAI applications, accelerate product development, and deliver personalized, data-rich customer experiences. 

LEARN MORE: Revolutionizing Patient Journeys With Amazon Connect 

Our longstanding AWS partnership and highly specialized solutions have earned us multiple key competencies and service delivery designations, including: 

• AWS DevOps Competency—excellence in delivering DevSecOps solutions 

• AWS Healthcare Services Competency—transformative healthcare cloud solutions 

• AWS Migration and Modernization Competency—efficient, automated application migration and modernization journeys 

• AWS Glue Service Delivery Designation—scalable, cost-effective data integration, transformation, and analytics 

• Amazon Connect Service Delivery Designation—customer service solutions and expertise 

Salesforce 

As a leading Salesforce consulting partner, we deliver intelligent, data-driven solutions that enhance efficiency, collaboration, personalization, and actionable insights. With deep expertise across Data Cloud, Agentforce, Marketing Cloud, and Experience Cloud, we have successfully completed more than 3,000 Salesforce implementations. Our end-to-end solutions span customer service, digital marketing, communities, automation, commerce, platforms, and MuleSoft—enabling seamless digital experiences and personalized customer journeys. 

Harnessing Agentforce and Data Cloud, we drive AI–powered engagement to elevate sales, customer service, and marketing performance. As a member of the Agentforce Partner Network, we lead in building and deploying third-party AI agents that boost customer engagement and operational efficiency.  

By uniting our Salesforce expertise with cross-industry knowledge, we accelerate transformation across manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and insurance sectors.  

• Manufacturing: Automate marketing, optimize partner management, and drive connected customer experiences with data insights.  

• Healthcare: Use Salesforce Health Cloud to unify care ecosystems, streamline operations, and improve patient experiences. 

• Financial Services: Trusted by more than 50 leading public financial services companies, we enable cross-channel personalization, real-time engagement, and smarter business intelligence with Salesforce Financial Services Cloud.  

• Insurance: Our Salesforce Digital Direct solution scales operating models, accelerates time to market, centralizes customer data, and delivers personalized experiences. 

READ MORE: Strengthening Provider Relationship Management with Salesforce CRM 

Microsoft 

Recognized as a Microsoft Solutions Partner with over 20 years of experience, we accelerate business growth by enhancing internal productivity and collaboration, while elevating customer service, sales, and marketing through personalized, connected experiences.  

Our transformative Microsoft Cloud solutions empower clients to build modern workplaces by leveraging our award-winning expertise in app modernization, cloud-native development, intelligent business applications, and employee experience platforms. With extensive capabilities across Microsoft Azure, Dynamics, Modern Work, and Power Platform, we are proud to be one of only 40 Microsoft ESI (Enterprise & Strategic Industry) Managed Partners globally—a designation reserved for elite partners trusted to deliver large-scale, industry-focused digital transformation. This exclusive status gives Perficient and our clients priority access to Microsoft innovations, enhanced support, and joint go-to-market opportunities. 

Perficient holds five of the six Microsoft Solutions Partner designations in Data and AI, Digital and App Innovation, Business Applications, Security, and Modern Work. As a result of our technical prowess and outstanding performance, we have also attained Microsoft Specializations in the following areas: 

• Adoption and Change Management 

• Advanced Custom Teams Solutions  

• Low-Code Application Development 

• Migrate Enterprise Apps to Azure 

• AI Platform on Azure 

• Intelligent Automation 

Our technical experts deliver integrated Microsoft AI solutions across industries and job functions, leveraging technologies such as Copilot and Azure to drive productivity, intelligent task automation, and actionable data insights for our clients. We also transform the healthcare and life sciences and manufacturing industries using Microsoft AI technologies to improve patient care, centralize data, optimize operations, and enhance supply chain efficiency. 

LEARN MORE: Architecting a Blueprint for Application Innovation at Builders FirstSource  

Our unwavering dedication to collaboration and innovation drives award-winning solutions that are reshaping the digital consulting landscape. By forging long-term partnerships with leading technology innovators and harnessing cutting-edge technologies, we boldly advance business alongside our clients. This final blog in our series not only celebrates Perficient’s recognition as a top workplace but also reaffirms our vision to empower clients and accelerate business growth. If you’re new to the series, we invite you to explore our earlier blogs to discover how our mission brings this vision to life. 

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER?  

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, TikTok, and Instagram.  

In today’s world, the Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing industries across the globe by connecting devices, systems, and people in ways that were once unimaginable. From smart homes to advanced manufacturing, IoT is creating new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making. At the forefront of this transformation is Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing platform that has become a powerhouse for IoT operations.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the essentials of Azure IoT operations, how it simplifies and optimizes IoT workflows, and the key features that make it the go-to solution for businesses looking to scale their IoT systems.

What is Azure IoT?

Azure IoT is a set of services, solutions, and tools from Microsoft that allow businesses to securely connect, monitor, and control IoT devices across various environments. Azure IoT offers comprehensive capabilities for deploying IoT solutions, managing the entire device lifecycle, and providing data-driven insights that enhance decision-making processes.

At the core of Azure IoT is the ability to integrate IoT devices with cloud-based analytics, machine learning, and data processing tools, enabling businesses to leverage real-time data for more informed decisions.

Why Azure for IoT Operations?

Microsoft Azure is one of the leading cloud platforms that offer robust, scalable, and secure solutions for managing IoT operations. It is built on a foundation of powerful infrastructure that allows organizations to quickly deploy IoT systems and scale them based on evolving business needs. Here’s why businesses choose Azure for their IoT operations:

Scalability

Azure IoT can support millions of devices, allowing businesses to scale their IoT systems from a handful of devices to a vast ecosystem of connected devices across different locations. This scalability ensures that companies can grow their IoT initiatives without being limited by infrastructure constraints.

Security

Security is a major concern when managing IoT devices, as these devices are often vulnerable to cyberattacks. Azure IoT integrates comprehensive security measures, including device identity management, encryption, secure data transmission, and compliance with industry standards. This ensures that IoT operations are protected from potential threats.

Data Analytics and Insights

Azure provides a suite of analytics tools, including Azure Machine Learning, Power BI, and Azure Stream Analytics, that enable businesses to analyze data generated by their IoT devices in real-time. This enables predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision-making, ultimately improving operational efficiency.

Integration with Other Microsoft Services

Azure IoT seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft tools and services, such as Office 365, Microsoft Teams, and Azure Active Directory. This enables businesses to seamlessly integrate IoT data into their existing workflows and processes, fostering collaboration and facilitating more informed business operations.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Azure IoT supports a wide variety of devices, operating systems, and protocols, making it a versatile solution that can integrate with existing IoT deployments, regardless of the technology stack. This interoperability allows businesses to get the most out of their IoT investments.

Key Components of Azure IoT Operations

Azure IoT comprises various tools and services that address different aspects of IoT operations, ranging from device connectivity to data processing and analytics. Let’s explore some of the key components:

Azure IoT Hub

At the heart of Azure IoT operations is Azure IoT Hub, a fully managed service that enables secure and reliable communication between IoT devices and the cloud. It allows businesses to connect, monitor, and control millions of IoT devices from a single platform.

The IoT Hub provides two-way communication, allowing devices to send data to the cloud while also receiving commands. This bi-directional communication is crucial for remote monitoring, updating device configurations, and managing device health in real-time.

Azure Digital Twins

Azure Digital Twins is an advanced service that enables businesses to create digital models of physical environments. These models are used to visualize and analyze IoT data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of how devices and systems interact in the real world.

By utilizing Azure Digital Twins, organizations can optimize their operations, enhance asset management, and simulate scenarios for predictive maintenance and improved energy efficiency.

Azure IoT Edge

Azure IoT Edge enables businesses to run Azure services, including machine learning, analytics, and AI, directly on IoT devices at the edge of the network. This reduces latency and enables faster decision-making by processing data locally, rather than relying solely on cloud-based processing.

IoT Edge is ideal for scenarios where real-time data processing is critical, such as autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, or remote monitoring of remote assets.

Azure IoT Central

Azure IoT Central is a fully managed IoT SaaS (Software as a Service) solution that simplifies the deployment, management, and monitoring of IoT applications. With IoT Central, businesses can quickly deploy IoT solutions without requiring deep technical expertise in cloud infrastructure.

It offers an intuitive interface for managing devices, setting up dashboards, and creating alerts. IoT Central significantly reduces the complexity and time required to deploy IoT systems.

Azure Time Series Insights

Azure Time Series Insights is a fully managed analytics and storage service for time-series data. It is specifically designed for handling large volumes of data generated by IoT devices, such as sensor data, telemetry data, and event logs.

Time Series Insights offers powerful visualization and querying capabilities, enabling businesses to uncover trends and patterns in their IoT data. This is especially useful for monitoring long-term performance, detecting anomalies, and optimizing processes.

Optimizing IoT Operations with Azure

Azure IoT operations can be further optimized by integrating advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). These technologies enable businesses to collect and store IoT data, as well as derive actionable insights from it.

Predictive Maintenance

By analyzing IoT data, Azure IoT can predict equipment failures before they occur. Using machine learning algorithms, businesses can identify patterns that indicate potential breakdowns and perform maintenance only when necessary, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

Smart Automation

Azure IoT enables businesses to automate processes based on real-time data. For example, in smart factories, devices can automatically adjust production lines based on environmental conditions, inventory levels, or supply chain disruptions, increasing efficiency and reducing human error.

Energy Management

Azure IoT can help businesses optimize energy usage by continuously monitoring energy consumption and adjusting operations accordingly. Smart building solutions, for example, can automatically control lighting, heating, and cooling systems to reduce energy waste and lower costs.

Use Case

Azure IoT Operations Configuration Example: A Step-by-Step Guide

When configuring Azure IoT operations, you’re setting up a system where devices can securely connect to the cloud, send telemetry data, and receive commands for actions. Let’s walk through a practical configuration example using Azure IoT Hub, a key service in Azure IoT operations by following below link.

Tutorial: Send telemetry from an IoT Plug and Play device to Azure IoT Hub

Conclusion

Azure IoT operations are transforming how businesses leverage the Internet of Things to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and unlock new revenue streams. With its powerful cloud infrastructure, end-to-end solutions, and integration with Microsoft’s suite of tools, Azure is a leading choice for businesses looking to capitalize on the potential of IoT.

By deploying Azure IoT, companies can connect their devices, analyze real-time data, optimize operations, and make data-driven decisions that enhance their bottom line. Whether you’re starting small with a few connected devices or deploying large-scale, enterprise-wide IoT solutions, Azure provides the tools, security, and scalability needed to succeed in the world of connected technology.

As IoT continues to evolve, Azure will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of this exciting and transformative field, helping businesses drive innovation and stay competitive in an increasingly connected world.

Automation is transforming the way businesses operate, streamline workflows, and drive productivity. As organizations continue to adopt modern technologies, the need to harness the power of automation has never been more critical. At TechCon365 PWRCON, Microsoft MVP Amarender Peddamalku is offering two back-to-back hands-on workshops to help attendees master the art of automation with Microsoft Power Automate.

Session 1: Power Automate Bootcamp – From Basics to Brilliance | June 23 | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Are you new to automation? Do you want to start your journey with Power Automate? This Power Automate Bootcamp is designed specifically for beginners, offering a deep dive into the core concepts of Power Automate. This session will provide you with the skills and knowledge to confidently build and manage automated workflows, making you an automation pro in no time.

Key Highlights:

• Introduction to Power Automate: Gain a solid understanding of what Power Automate is and how it can simplify your workflows.
• Creating Your First Flow: Step-by-step guidance on building your first automated workflow, utilizing templates to quickly get started.
• Working with Connectors: Learn how to connect Power Automate to various data sources and services, including SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook.
• Building Advanced Flows: Go beyond the basics with conditions, loops, and variables, and integrate your flows with other Microsoft services.
• Error Handling and Troubleshooting: Learn how to monitor and troubleshoot flows, ensuring smooth operations.
• Best Practices and Governance: Understand best practices for building efficient and maintainable flows, and get to grips with governance and security considerations.

This session will include hands-on labs and exercises where you’ll have the chance to create and refine your own flows in real-world scenarios.

Session 2: Power Automate Multi-Stage Approval Workflows | June 24 | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Are you looking to design complex approval workflows that meet your organization’s unique needs? This Multi-Stage Approval Workflows workshop is perfect for users who are ready to take their automation skills to the next level. In this session, Amarender will guide you through the intricacies of building robust, multi-step approval workflows that include dynamic approvers, escalations, and advanced features.

Key Highlights:

• Designing Multi-Stage Workflows: Learn how to build workflows that move back and forth between stages, incorporating dynamic approvers and flexible stages.
• Escalations and Reminders: Understand how to automate escalations, reminders, and timeout features to keep workflows on track and ensure timely approvals.
• Advanced Workflow Features: Implement automated reminders, design workflows that can restart from any given stage, and log workflow history beyond the standard Power Automate functionality.
• Integration with SharePoint: Learn how to trigger workflows from SharePoint libraries/lists and optimize workflows to meet your specific business needs.

This session is an excellent opportunity to take your approval workflows to the next level, automating complex approval scenarios that drive efficiency and compliance across your organization.

Why Attend?

Both of these hands-on workshops offer an incredible opportunity to deepen your understanding of automation and learn directly from an industry expert. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your existing automation skills, Amarender’s workshops are tailored to help you succeed. By the end of these sessions, you’ll be empowered to build powerful, automated workflows that drive business transformation.

Reserve Your Seat Today!

Don’t miss out on these exciting sessions at TechCon365 PWRCON. Seats are limited, so make sure to reserve yours today!

Tickets

Want more? In addition to the workshops, Amarender is also presenting several shorter sessions throughout the week, covering topics like Power Pages, SharePoint Premium, and a condensed version of the Multi-Stage Approval Workflows. Stay tuned for a separate post highlighting these insightful talks!

Microsoft 365 offers several types of groups; each designed for different collaboration and communication needs:

1. Microsoft 365 Groups (M365): These are used for collaboration between users both inside and outside your organization. They include a shared mailbox, calendar, SharePoint site, Microsoft Teams and more.
2. Distribution Groups: These are used for sending email notifications to a group of people. They are ideal for broadcasting information to a set group of people.
3. Security Groups: These are used for granting access to resources such as SharePoint sites. They help manage permissions and access control.
4. Mail-enabled Security Groups: These combine the features of security groups and distribution groups, allowing you to grant access to resources and send email notifications to the group members.
5. Dynamic Distribution Groups: A Dynamic Distribution List (or DDL) is created to expedite the mass sending of email messages and other information to a set of people. As the name suggests, it does not mean to have static members, and the recipient criteria is defined by the set of filters and conditions that are put on it.

Out of the above group we are interested to know about Microsoft 365 or formerly known as Office 365 group. Let’s start with the following:

How to Create a Microsoft 365 group (M365 group)?

Creating a Microsoft 365 Group can be done in several ways, depending on your role and the tools you have access to. Here are the main methods:

1. Using the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
2. Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center.
3. Expand Groups and select Active groups.
4. Click on +Add a Microsoft 365 group.
5. Fill in the group details, such as name, description, and privacy settings.
6. Add owners and members to the group.
7. Review your settings and click Create group.

Outlook on the Web

1. Open Outlook on the web.
2. In the left pane, select Go to Group >> New mail drops down as shown below:
3. Enter the group name, description, and privacy settings.
4. Add members and click Create.

Outlook Desktop App

1. Open Outlook.
2. Go to the Home tab and select New Group.
3. Enter the group name, description, and privacy settings.
4. Add members and click Create.

Using Microsoft Teams

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Click on Teams in the left sidebar.
3. Select Join or create a team at the bottom of the Teams list.
4. Choose Create a team and then from scratch.
5. Select Private or Public and enter the team’s name and description.
6. Add members and click Create.

Using PowerShell

For more advanced users, you can use PowerShell to create a Microsoft 365 Group:

1. Open PowerShell and connect to your Microsoft 365 account.
2. Use the New-UnifiedGroup cmdlet to create the group. For example:

• Manage Microsoft 365 group using PowerShell:

Add-UnifiedGroupLinks (ExchangePowerShell) | Microsoft Learn

Collaboration Features of M365 Group:

Microsoft 365 Groups offer a variety of collaboration features designed to enhance teamwork and productivity. Here are some of the key features:

1. Shared Mailbox: Each group gets a shared inbox in Outlook where group conversations are stored. This makes it easy to keep track of discussions and ensures everyone stays in the loop.
2. Shared Calendar: Groups have a shared calendar for scheduling and managing events. This helps coordinate meetings and deadlines.
3. SharePoint Document Library: A SharePoint site is created for each group, providing a central location for storing and sharing files. This ensures that all members have access to the latest documents
4. Planner: Microsoft Planner is integrated with groups, allowing members to create, assign, and track tasks. This helps in managing projects and ensuring that tasks are completed on time
5. OneNote Notebook: Each group gets a shared OneNote notebook for taking and organizing notes. This is useful for brainstorming sessions, meeting notes, and more
6. Microsoft Teams Integration: Groups can be connected to Microsoft Teams, providing a hub for chat, video meetings, and collaboration. This integration enhances real-time communication and teamwork
7. Power BI: Groups can use Power BI to create and share dashboards and reports, making it easier to visualize and analyze data
8. Viva Engage (formerly Yammer): If the group was created from Viva Engage, members can engage in social networking and community discussions
   1. : Groups can share and manage video content using Microsoft Stream, making it easy to distribute training videos, presentations, and other multimedia content
9. Project for the Web: If you have Project for the web, groups can use Roadmap to plan and track project progress

These features collectively provide a comprehensive suite of tools to support collaboration, communication, and project management within your organization.

Why Do We Need to Add and Verify a Domain in Microsoft 365 (M365)?

1. Establishing Professional Identity

• By adding your custom domain, you can create email addresses (e.g., you@yourcompany.com) that align with your business name. This adds professionalism and credibility to your communications.

2. Personalizing Services

• Verifying your domain allows you to customize services like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive to reflect your organization’s identity, making collaboration more consistent and branded.

3. Email Delivery and Routing

• To ensure emails sent to your custom domain are routed correctly to Microsoft 365, adding and verifying your domain is critical. This involves setting up DNS records like MX, SPF, and CNAME.

4. Securing Your Domain

• Verifying your domain protects it from unauthorized use. Only verified owners can manage the domain within Microsoft 365.

Add a Domain

1. Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center.
2. Go to the Settings > Domains page.
3. Select Add domain.

1. Enter the name of the domain you want to add, then select Next.

1. Choose how you want to verify that you own the domain.

1. If your domain registrar uses Domain Connect, Microsoft will set up your records automatically by having you sign in to your registrar and confirm the connection to Microsoft 365.
2. We can use a TXT record to verify your domain.

1. Once domain is verified, we can go ahead and add other Exchange online record like TXT, MX and CNAME record.

2. Please find the below recording for above mentioned steps.

Add new domain

Refer: Add a domain to Microsoft 365 – Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn

Add and Verify the Exchange Online Record

1. TXT Record Verification

• Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
• Navigate to Settings > Domains and select your domain.
• Add a TXT record to your DNS hosting provider with the following details:
  • Host/Name: @
  • TXT Value: MS=msXXXXXXXX (unique ID provided in the admin center)
  • TTL: 3600 seconds (or default value)
• Save the record and return to the Admin Center to click Verify.

2. MX Record Verification

• If TXT verification isn’t supported, use an MX record instead.
• Add an MX record to your DNS hosting provider:
  • Host/Name: @
  • Points to Address: Domain-com.mail.protection.outlook.com
  • Priority: 0
  • TTL: 3600 seconds
• Save the record and verify it in the Admin Center.

3. CNAME Record Verification

• Add a CNAME record for services like Autodiscover:
  • Alias/Name: Autodiscover
  • Target: Autodiscover.outlook.com
  • TTL: 3600 seconds
• Save the record and ensure it’s correctly configured.

Refer: Add DNS records to connect your domain – Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn

Why Are TXT, MX, and CNAME Records Important for Exchange Online?

TXT, MX, and CNAME records play crucial roles in ensuring that your domain is correctly configured for Exchange Online and that your email and services work smoothly. Here’s why they matter:

TXT Records

TXT records are used to verify domain ownership and secure email systems.

• Domain Verification: When adding your custom domain to Microsoft 365, a TXT record proves that you own the domain.
• Email Security: TXT records support SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance), which prevent email spoofing and improve deliverability by ensuring only authorized servers can send emails on behalf of your domain.

MX (Mail Exchange) Records

MX records are critical for routing emails to the correct servers.

• They direct incoming emails for your domain to the Microsoft 365/Exchange Online mail servers.
• A misconfigured MX record can cause email delivery issues, so having it set up correctly is essential.

CNAME Records

CNAME records are used for service configuration.

• For Exchange Online, CNAME records like Autodiscover ensure that users can seamlessly connect their email clients (like Outlook) to Exchange Online without manually entering settings.
• They simplify and automate the connection process for end-users.

Together, these DNS records form the backbone of your domain’s email configuration, ensuring that everything from verification to email delivery and client connectivity operates effectively. Without these properly configured records, you might encounter issues like failed email delivery or difficulties in connecting to Exchange Online.

The global business landscape is complex, and responsible design has emerged as a critical imperative for organizations across sectors. It represents a fundamental shift from viewing design merely as a creative output to recognizing it as an ethical responsibility embedded within institutional structures and processes

True transformation toward responsible design practices cannot be achieved through superficial initiatives or isolated projects. Rather, it requires deep institutional commitment—reshaping governance frameworks, decision-making processes, and organizational cultures to prioritize human dignity, social equity, and environmental stewardship.

This framework explores how institutions can move beyond performative gestures toward authentic integration of responsible design principles throughout their operations, creating systems that consistently produce outcomes aligned with broader societal values and planetary boundaries.

The Institutional Imperative

What is Responsible Design?

Responsible design is the deliberate creation of products, services, and systems that prioritize human wellbeing, social equity, and environmental sustainability. While individual designers often champion ethical approaches, meaningful and lasting change requires institutional transformation. This framework explores how organizations can systematically embed responsible design principles into their core structures, cultures, and everyday practices.

Why Institutions Matter

The imperative for responsible design within institutions stems from their unique position of influence. Institutions have extensive reach, making their design choices impactful at scale. They establish standards and expectations for design professionals, effectively shaping the future direction of the field. Moreover, integrating responsible design practices yields tangible benefits: enhanced reputation, stronger stakeholder relationships, and significantly reduced ethical and operational risks.

Purpose of This Framework

This article examines the essential components of responsible design, showcases institutions that have successfully implemented ethical design practices, and provides practical strategies for navigating the challenges of organizational transformation. By addressing these dimensions systematically, organizations can transcend isolated ethical initiatives to build environments where responsible design becomes the institutional default—creating cultures where ethical considerations are woven into every decision rather than treated as exceptional concerns.

Defining Responsible Design

Responsible design encompasses four interconnected dimensions: ethical consideration, inclusivity, sustainability, and accountability. These dimensions form a comprehensive framework for evaluating the ethical, social, and environmental implications of design decisions, ultimately ensuring that design practices contribute to a more just and sustainable world.

Interconnected Dimensions

These four dimensions function not as isolated concepts but as integrated facets of a holistic approach to responsible design. Ethical consideration must guide inclusive practices to ensure diverse stakeholder perspectives are genuinely valued and incorporated. Sustainability principles should drive robust accountability measures that minimize environmental harm while maximizing social benefit. By weaving these dimensions together throughout the design process, institutions can cultivate a design culture that authentically champions human wellbeing, social equity, and environmental stewardship in every project.

A Framework for the Future

This framework serves as both compass and blueprint, guiding institutions toward design practices that meaningfully contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. When organizations fully embrace these dimensions of responsible design, they align their creative outputs with their deepest values, enhance their societal impact, and participate in addressing our most pressing collective challenges. The result is design that not only serves immediate business goals but also advances the greater good across communities and generations.

Ethical Consideration

Understanding Ethical Design

Ethical consideration: A thoughtful evaluation of implications across diverse stakeholders. This process demands a comprehensive assessment of how design decisions might impact various communities, particularly those who are vulnerable or historically overlooked. Responsible designers must look beyond intended outcomes to anticipate potential unintended consequences that could emerge from their work.

Creating Positive Social Impact

Beyond harm prevention, ethical consideration actively pursues opportunities for positive social impact. This might involve designing solutions that address pressing social challenges or leveraging design to foster inclusion and community empowerment. When institutions weave ethical considerations throughout their design process, they position themselves to contribute meaningfully to social equity and justice through their creations.

Implementation Strategies

Organizations can embed ethical consideration into their practices through several concrete approaches: establishing dedicated ethical review panels, conducting thorough stakeholder engagement sessions, and developing robust ethical design frameworks. By placing ethics at the center of design decision-making, institutions ensure their work not only reflects their core values but also advances collective wellbeing across society.

Inclusive Practices

Understanding Inclusive Design

Inclusive practices: Creating designs that meaningfully serve and represent all populations, particularly those historically marginalized. This approach demands that designers actively seek diverse perspectives, challenge their inherent biases, and develop solutions that transcend physical, cognitive, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers. By centering previously excluded voices, inclusive design creates more robust and universally beneficial outcomes.

Empowering Marginalized Communities

True inclusive design transcends mere accommodation—it fundamentally shifts power dynamics by elevating marginalized communities from subjects to co-creators. This transformation might involve establishing paid consulting opportunities for community experts, creating accessible design workshops in underserved neighborhoods, or forming equitable partnerships where decision-making authority is genuinely shared. When institutions embrace these collaborative approaches, they produce designs that authentically address community needs while building lasting relationships based on mutual respect and shared purpose.

Implementation Strategies

Organizations can systematically embed inclusive practices by recruiting design teams that reflect diverse lived experiences, conducting immersive community-based research with appropriate compensation for participants, and establishing measurable inclusive design standards with accountability mechanisms. By integrating these approaches throughout their processes, institutions not only create more accessible and equitable designs but also contribute to dismantling systemic barriers that have historically limited full participation in society.

Sustainability

Definition and Core Principles

Sustainability: Minimizing environmental impact and resource consumption across the entire design lifecycle. This comprehensive approach spans from raw material sourcing through to end-of-life disposal, challenging designers to eliminate waste, preserve natural resources, and significantly reduce pollution. Sustainable design necessitates careful consideration of long-term environmental consequences, including addressing critical challenges like climate change, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss.

Beyond Harm Reduction

True sustainability transcends mere harm reduction to actively generate positive environmental outcomes. This transformative approach creates products and services that harness renewable energy, conserve vital water resources, or restore damaged ecosystems. When institutions fully embrace sustainability principles, they contribute meaningfully to environmental resilience and help foster regenerative systems that benefit both present and future generations.

Implementation Strategies

Organizations can embed sustainability through strategic, measurable approaches including rigorous lifecycle assessments, integrated eco-design methodologies, and significant investments in renewable energy infrastructure and waste reduction technologies. By elevating sustainability to a core organizational value, institutions can dramatically reduce their ecological footprint while simultaneously driving innovation and contributing to planetary health and wellbeing.

Accountability

Definition and Core Principles

Accountability: Taking ownership of both intended and unintended outcomes of design decisions. This principle demands establishing robust systems for monitoring and evaluating design impacts, along with mechanisms for corrective action when necessary. Accountable designers maintain transparency throughout their process, actively seek stakeholder feedback, and acknowledge responsibility for any negative consequences, even those that were unforeseen. This foundation of responsibility ensures designs serve their intended purpose while minimizing potential harm.

Learning and Growth

True accountability transcends mere acknowledgment of errors—it transforms mistakes into catalysts for improvement. This transformative process involves critically examining design failures, implementing process refinements, enhancing designer training, and establishing more comprehensive ethical frameworks. When institutions embrace accountability as a pathway to excellence rather than just a response to failure, they cultivate stakeholder trust while continuously elevating the quality and integrity of their design practices.

Implementation Strategies

Organizations can foster a culture of accountability by establishing well-defined responsibility chains, implementing comprehensive monitoring systems, and creating accessible channels for feedback and remediation. Effective implementation includes regular ethical audits, transparent reporting practices, and systematic incorporation of lessons learned. By prioritizing accountability at every organizational level, institutions ensure their designs consistently uphold ethical standards, promote inclusivity, and advance sustainability goals.

Case Study: Patagonia’s Environmental Responsibility

• Environmental Integration in Design: Patagonia has revolutionized responsible design by weaving environmental considerations into the fabric of its product development process. The company’s groundbreaking “Worn Wear” program—which actively encourages repair and reuse over replacement—emerged organically from the organization’s core values rather than as a response to market trends. Patagonia’s governance structure reinforces this commitment through rigorous environmental impact assessments at every design stage, ensuring sustainability remains central rather than peripheral to innovation.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Patagonia demonstrates unwavering environmental responsibility through comprehensive initiatives that permeate all aspects of their operations. The company has pioneered the use of recycled and organic materials in outdoor apparel, dramatically reduced water consumption through innovative manufacturing processes, and committed to donating 1% of sales to grassroots environmental organizations, a pledge that has generated over $140 million in grants to date. These initiatives represent the concrete manifestation of Patagonia’s mission rather than superficial corporate social responsibility efforts.
• Environmental Leadership as a Competitive Advantage: 
  Patagonia’s remarkable business success powerfully illustrates how environmental responsibility can create lasting competitive advantage in the marketplace. By elevating environmental considerations from afterthought to guiding principle, the company has cultivated a fiercely loyal customer base willing to pay premium prices for products aligned with their values. Patagonia’s approach has redefined industry standards for sustainable business practices, serving as a compelling case study for organizations seeking to integrate responsible design into their operational DNA while achieving exceptional business results.

Case Study: IDEO’s Human-Centered Evolution

• Organizational Restructuring: IDEO transformed from a traditional product design firm into a responsible design leader through deliberate organizational change. The company revolutionized its project teams by integrating ethicists and community representatives alongside designers, ensuring diverse perspectives influence every creation. Their acclaimed “Little Book of Design Ethics” now serves as the foundational document guiding all projects, while their established ethics review board rigorously evaluates proposals against comprehensive responsible design criteria before approval.
• Ethical Integration in Design Process: IDEO’s evolution exemplifies the critical importance of embedding ethical considerations throughout the design process. By incorporating ethicists and community advocates directly into project teams, the company ensures that marginalized voices are heard, and ethical principles shape all design decisions from conception to implementation. The “Little Book of Design Ethics” functions not simply as a reference manual but as a living framework that empowers designers to navigate complex ethical challenges with confidence and integrity.
• Cultural Transformation: IDEO’s remarkable journey demonstrates that responsible design demands a fundamental cultural shift within organizations. The company has cultivated an environment where ethical awareness and accountability are celebrated as core values rather than compliance requirements. By prioritizing human impact alongside business outcomes, IDEO has established itself as the preeminent leader in genuinely human-centered design. Their case offers actionable insights for institutions seeking to implement responsible design practices while maintaining innovation and market leadership.

Addressing Resistance to Change

Institutional transformation inevitably encounters resistance. Change disrupts established routines and challenges comfort zones, often triggering reactions ranging from subtle hesitation to outright opposition. Overcoming this resistance requires thoughtful planning, transparent communication, and meaningful stakeholder engagement throughout the process.

Why People Resist Change.

Resistance typically stems from several key factors:

• Fear of the unknown and potential failure
• Perceived threats to job security, status, or expertise
• Skepticism about the benefits compared to required effort
• Attachment to established processes and organizational identity
• Past negative experiences with change initiatives

Effective Strategies for Change Management

• Phased implementation with clearly defined pilot projects that demonstrate value
• Identifying and empowering internal champions across departments to model and advocate for new approaches
• Creating safe spaces for constructive critique of existing practices without blame
• Developing narratives that connect responsible design to institutional identity and core values

Keys to Successful Transformation

By implementing these strategies, institutions can cultivate an environment that embraces rather than resists change. Transparent communication creates trust, active stakeholder engagement fosters ownership, and focusing on shared values helps align diverse perspectives. When people understand both the rationale for change and their role in the transformation process, resistance diminishes and the foundation for responsible design practices strengthens.

Balancing Competing Priorities

The complex tension between profit motives and ethical considerations demands sophisticated strategic approaches. Modern institutions navigate a challenging landscape of competing demands: maximizing shareholder value, meeting evolving customer needs, and fulfilling expanding social and environmental responsibilities. Successfully balancing these interconnected priorities requires thoughtful deliberation and strategic decision-making that acknowledges their interdependence.

Tensions in Modern Organizations

These inherent tensions can be effectively managed through:

• Developing comprehensive metrics that capture long-term value creation beyond quarterly financial results, including social impact assessments and sustainability indicators
• Identifying and prioritizing “win-win” opportunities where responsible design enhances market position, builds brand loyalty, and creates competitive advantages

Strategic Decision Frameworks

Creating robust decision frameworks that explicitly weigh ethical considerations alongside financial metrics, allowing for transparent evaluation of tradeoffs. Building compelling business cases that demonstrate how responsible design significantly reduces long-term risks related to regulation, reputation, and resource scarcity.

Long-term Value Integration

By thoughtfully integrating ethical considerations into core decision-making processes and developing nuanced metrics that capture multidimensional long-term value creation, institutions can successfully reconcile profit motives with responsible design principles. This strategic approach enables organizations to achieve sustainable financial success while meaningfully contributing to a more just, equitable, and environmentally sustainable world.

Beyond Token Inclusion

Meaningful participation requires addressing deep-rooted power imbalances in institutional structures. Too often, inclusion is reduced to superficial gestures—inviting representatives from marginalized communities to consultations while denying them genuine influence over outcomes and decisions that affect their lives.

The Challenge of Meaningful Participation

To achieve authentic participation, institutions must confront and transform these entrenched power dynamics. This means moving beyond symbolic representation to creating spaces where traditionally excluded voices carry substantial weight in shaping both processes and outcomes.

Key Requirements for True Inclusion:

• Redistributing decision-making authority through participatory governance structures that give community members voting rights on critical decisions
• Providing fair financial compensation for community members’ time, expertise, and design contributions—recognizing their input as valuable professional consultation
• Implementing responsive feedback mechanisms with sufficient authority to pause, redirect, or fundamentally reshape projects when community concerns arise
• Establishing community oversight boards with substantive veto power and resources to monitor implementation

Building Equity Through Empowerment

By fundamentally redistributing decision-making authority and genuinely empowering marginalized communities, institutions can transform design processes from extractive exercises to collaborative partnerships. This shift ensures that design benefits flow equitably to all community members, not just those with pre-existing privilege. Such transformation demands more than good intentions—it requires concrete commitments to equity, justice, and collective accountability.

Case Study: The Microsoft Inclusive Design Transformation

• Restructuring Design Hierarchy: Microsoft fundamentally transformed its design process by establishing direct reporting channels between accessibility teams and executive leadership. This strategic restructuring ensured inclusive design considerations could not be sidelined or overridden by product managers focused solely on deadlines or feature development. Additionally, they created a protected budget specifically for community engagement that was safeguarded from reallocation to other priorities—even during tight financial cycles.
• Elevating Accessibility Teams: This structural change demonstrates a commitment to inclusive design that transcends corporate rhetoric. By elevating accessibility specialists to positions with genuine organizational influence and providing them with unfiltered access to executive leadership, Microsoft ensures that inclusive design principles are embedded in strategic decisions at the highest levels of the organization. This repositioning signals to the entire company that accessibility is a core business value, not an optional consideration.
• Dedicated Community Engagement: The protected budget for community engagement reinforces this commitment through tangible resource allocation. By dedicating specific funding for meaningful partnerships with marginalized communities, Microsoft ensures diverse voices directly influence product development from conception through launch. This approach has yielded measurable improvements in product accessibility and market reach, demonstrating how institutional transformation of design processes can simultaneously advance inclusion, equity, and business outcomes.

Regulatory Alignment

Anticipating Regulatory Changes

Visionary institutions position themselves ahead of regulatory evolution rather than merely reacting to it. As global regulations on environmental sustainability, accessibility, and data privacy grow increasingly stringent, organizations that proactively integrate these considerations into their design processes create significant competitive advantages while minimizing disruption.

Case Study: Proactive Compliance

• European medical device leader Ottobock established a specialized regulatory forecasting team that maps emerging accessibility requirements across global market. Their “compliance plus” philosophy ensures designs exceed current standards by 20-30%, virtually eliminating costly redesigns when regulations tighten
• Benefits of Forward-Thinking Regulation Strategy: Proactive regulatory alignment transforms compliance from a burden into a strategic asset. Organizations that embrace this approach not only mitigate financial and reputational risks but also establish themselves as industry leaders in responsible design. This strategic positioning requires continuous environmental scanning and a genuine commitment to ethical design principles that transcend minimum requirements.

Market Differentiation

Rising Consumer Expectations

The evolving landscape of consumer expectations presents strategic opportunities to harmonize responsible design with market advantage. Today’s consumers are not merely preferring but actively demanding products and services that demonstrate ethical production standards, environmental sustainability practices, and social responsibility commitments. Organizations that authentically meet these heightened expectations can secure significant competitive advantages and cultivate deeply loyal customer relationships.

Real-World Success Stories

Consider these compelling examples:

• Herman Miller revolutionized the furniture industry through circular design principles, exemplified by their groundbreaking Aeron chair remanufacturing program
• This innovative initiative established a premium market position while substantially reducing material consumption and environmental impact

Creating Win-Win Outcomes

When organizations strategically align responsible design principles with market opportunities, they forge powerful win-win scenarios that simultaneously benefit business objectives and societal wellbeing. Success in this approach demands both nuanced understanding of evolving consumer expectations and unwavering commitment to developing innovative solutions that address these expectations while advancing sustainability goals.

Beyond Good Intentions

Concrete measurement systems are essential for true accountability. While noble intentions set the direction, only robust metrics can verify real progress in responsible design. Organizations must implement comprehensive measurement frameworks to track outcomes, identify improvement opportunities, and demonstrate genuine commitment.

Effective Measurement Systems

Leading examples include:

• IBM’s Responsible Design Dashboard, which provides quantifiable metrics across diverse product lines
• Google’s HEART framework (Happiness, Engagement, Adoption, Retention, Task success) that seamlessly integrates ethical dimensions into standard performance indicators
• Transparent annual responsible design audits with publicly accessible results that foster organizational accountability

Benefits of Implementation

By embracing data-driven measurement systems, organizations transform aspirational goals into verifiable outcomes. This approach demonstrates an authentic commitment to responsible design principles while creating a foundation for continuous improvement. The willingness to measure and transparently share both successes and challenges distinguishes truly responsible organizations from those with merely good intentions.

Incentive Restructuring

The Power of Aligned Incentives

Human behavior is fundamentally shaped by incentives. To foster responsible design practices, institutions must strategically align rewards systems with desired ethical outcomes. When designers and stakeholders are recognized and compensated for responsible design initiatives, they naturally prioritize these values in their work.

Implementation Strategies

Organizations are achieving this alignment through concrete approaches:

• Salesforce has integrated diversity and inclusion metrics directly into executive compensation packages, ensuring leadership accountability
• Leading firms like Frog Design have embedded responsible design outcomes as key criteria in employee performance reviews
• Structured recognition programs celebrate and amplify exemplary responsible design practices, increasing visibility and adoption

Creating a Culture of Responsible Design

Thoughtfully restructured incentives transform organizational culture by signaling what truly matters. When ethical, inclusive, and sustainable practices are rewarded, they become embedded in institutional values rather than treated as optional considerations. This transformation requires rigorous assessment of current incentive frameworks and bold leadership willing to realign reward systems with responsible design principles.

Institutional Culture and Learning Systems

Responsible design flourishes within robust learning ecosystems. Rather than a one-time achievement, responsible design represents an ongoing journey of discovery, adaptation, and refinement. Organizations must establish comprehensive learning infrastructures that nurture this evolutionary process and ensure design practices remain ethically sound, inclusive, and forward-thinking.

Key Components of Learning Infrastructure

An effective learning infrastructure incorporates:

• Rigorous post-implementation reviews that critically assess ethical outcomes and user impact
• Vibrant communities of practice that facilitate knowledge exchange and cross-pollination across departments
• Strategic partnerships with academic institutions to integrate cutting-edge ethical frameworks and research
• Diverse external advisory boards that provide constructive critique and alternative perspectives

Benefits of Learning Systems

By investing in robust learning infrastructure, organizations cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and adaptive excellence. These systems ensure responsible design practices evolve in response to emerging challenges, technological shifts, and evolving societal expectations. Success requires unwavering institutional commitment to evidence-based learning, collaborative problem-solving, and transparent communication across all levels of the organization.

Case Study: The Philips Healthcare Example

• The Responsibility Lab Initiative: Philips Healthcare established a groundbreaking “Responsibility Lab” where designers regularly rotate through immersive experiences with diverse users from various backgrounds and abilities. This innovative rotation system ensures that responsible design knowledge becomes deeply embedded across the organization rather than remaining isolated within a specialized team.
• Benefits of Experiential Learning: This approach powerfully demonstrates how experiential learning catalyzes responsible design practices. By immersing designers directly in the lived experiences of diverse users, Philips enables them to develop profound insights into the ethical, social, and environmental implications of their design decisions—insights that could not be gained through traditional research methods alone.
• Organizational Knowledge Distribution: The strategic rotation system ensures that valuable ethical design principles flow throughout the organization, transforming responsible design from a specialized function into a shared organizational capability. This case study exemplifies how institutions can build effective learning systems that not only foster a culture of responsible design but also make it an integral part of their operational DNA.

The Institutional Journey

A Continuous Transformation

Institutionalizing responsible design is not a destination but a dynamic journey of continuous evolution. It demands skillful navigation through competing priorities, entrenched power dynamics, and ever-shifting external pressures. Forward-thinking institutions recognize that responsible design is not merely adjacent to their core mission—it is fundamental to their long-term viability, relevance, and social license to operate in an increasingly conscientious marketplace.

Beyond Sporadic Initiatives

By addressing these dimensions systematically and holistically, organizations transcend fragmentary ethical initiatives to achieve truly institutionalized responsible design. This transformation creates environments where ethical considerations and responsible practices become the natural default—woven into the organizational DNA—rather than exceptional efforts requiring special attention or resources.

Embrace the Journey of Continuous Growth

Immerse yourself in a transformative journey that thrives on continuous learning, adaptive thinking, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This mindset unlocks the potential for design practices that fuel a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. By embracing this profound shift, institutions can drive real change.

Achieving this radical transformation requires visionary leadership, ethical conduct, and an innovative culture. It demands the united courage to challenge outdated norms and champion a brighter future. When institutions embody this ethos, they become beacons of progress, inspiring others to follow suit.

The path forward is not without obstacles, but the rewards are immense. Institutions that lead with this mindset will not only transform their own practices but also catalyze systemic change across industries. They will set new standards, reshape markets, and pave the way for a more responsible, inclusive, and sustain.