11 ANDY CLAYTON-SMITH: EXECUTIVE EDITOR With recruitment and retention of staff proving difficult in many regions and sectors, enterprise leaders are exploring how best to satisfy their workforces. Some of the most effective ways to maximise the performance of employees, while at the same time offering a broader spectrum of individual working practices and career progression opportunities, come from the cloud. Investing in new ideas and technology solutions is not without risk. However, the early results have been encouraging for many, with almost two-fifths of those surveyed in a poll by the UK’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development saying that home or hybrid working has increased their organisation’s productivity and efficiency. This number rises to nearly half in the public or voluntary sectors. In our cover story starting on page 36, we take a closer look at ways in which Microsoft’s industry cloud platforms can actively assist business leaders to innovate at speed. It explores how these technologies are expanding the potential for employees to work securely from multiple locations, while connecting more effectively with colleagues and customers in ways that resonate more meaningfully with their newly found philosophies of the work/life balance. Unsurprisingly, a significant element within this story is the continued rise of artificial intelligence as a transformative tool, with examples of the technology powering everything from research to supply chains, product manufacture to after care and repeat sales. We are all making our way through times of great change; however, in this issue of the magazine, we aim to demonstrate that change can be good – both in terms of corporate successes and individual growth and well-being. I hope you enjoy the read. Modernising the workforce WELCOME: SUMMER 2023
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