🔎At a glance

• International law firm
• Specialist expertise in technology, infrastructure and finance
• Global workforce

🚨The challenge

The firm wanted to explore how AI could support employee productivity while ensuring secure integration with existing systems and processes.

The organisation needed to:

• Evaluate the practical benefits of AI tools
• Ensure secure data access and governance
• Integrate AI with internal systems such as NetDocuments

💡The approach

Advania worked closely with the firm to pilot and scale Microsoft 365 Copilot.

The engagement included:

• Initial pilot for 150 employees
• Expansion to 600 Copilot licences
• Exploration of Copilot Studio for custom integrations
• Development of API connections to key systems
• Security and governance planning with Microsoft Purview

☑️The outcome

• 95% of employees reported productivity improvements
• 67% reported positive wellbeing impact
• Average 22 minutes saved per user per day
• Estimated $15k annual cost saving per partner

⚡️Why this matters

AI tools are rapidly transforming professional services. When implemented securely and thoughtfully, generative AI can significantly improve productivity while enhancing employee experience.

More details on the event itself at the end of this post. We'll have a big presence there and would love to see you - either on the Advania stand, at our headline breakout session, or both!

Our talk - "Case Study: A Frontier Firm and Partner in Motion"

Our session is a real case study on becoming a “frontier firm” with AI – what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised us along the way. Whether you like Microsoft's new label of "frontier" firm or not (personally, I'm mixed on it to be honest), it does signify how organisations getting real returns from AI today have approached it.

We’ll cover themes like:

• Copilot beyond individual productivity
• Agents vs. SaaS (and why that conversation is heating up)
• The importance of tailoring AI to your people, data and workflows
• Why expertise and coherence matter more than the latest model release

As the title conveys, this is actually two case studies in one - our work to drive real transformation and ROI in one of clients with fairly holistic AI (not just one tool or approach), and how we've transformed some of our processes at Advania with agents.

To bring things to life, we'll demo some of the high value AI agents and solutions we've built and explain the measurable returns they're driving.

If you’re wrestling with AI strategy, adoption, ROI, or scaling responsibly, it should be a useful conversation.

We'd love to see you there! See our earlier post with how to attend:

https://community.advania.co.uk/events/28-join-advania-at-the-microsoft-ai-tour

As a final word, here's the official session abstract for our talk if you want to understand more of our key messages:

Bold organisations succeed with a clear view of AI value creation and a team delivering holistically – which could span Microsoft 365 Copilot to transform productivity, targeted agents for high‑value processes, and bespoke solutions on Microsoft Foundry for complex data. With real-world demos and compelling data, we share how – in different ways - Microsoft AI is transforming a global law firm (including an RFP agent saving 400 days per year) and the partner delivering it.

Our focus: Algorithm vs Message

We're sponsoring the event with a campaign that's sparking conversation: Algorithm vs Message.

As AI agents increasingly become the interface between your content and your employees, we're asking: what happens to internal communications when discovery is mediated by algorithms rather than channels? When employees interact with AI assistants instead of navigating your carefully structured intranet?

These aren't hypothetical questions, they're challenges that internal comms and digital workplace teams are starting to face right now.

Leadership roundtable: The Employee Attention Recession

Fresh Product Director David Bowman will be hosting a roundtable for senior IC leaders exploring what he's calling "The Employee Attention Recession" – examining how attention scarcity, AI-mediated content consumption, and changing workplace dynamics are reshaping internal communications.

Topics include where traditional channel strategies break down, where human judgment still matters most, and what content can (or should) be mediated by AI versus what needs to remain explicit and structured.

Why this matters

At Fresh, we're constantly thinking about how intranets need to evolve – not just to keep pace with technology, but to genuinely serve the needs of internal communicators and the employees they're trying to reach.

If these topics resonate with challenges you're facing in your organisation, we'd love to hear from you. What's your take on algorithm vs message?

In this post, we break down the key announcements around Windows 365, explore practical use cases, and explain why these innovations matter for IT leaders and businesses worldwide.

1. Windows 365 Reserve – Temporary Cloud PCs for Agile IT

What’s New?
Windows 365 Reserve is now generally available, enabling IT teams to provision time-bound Cloud PCs quickly and securely via Microsoft Intune. Once the set duration expires, access is automatically revoked—eliminating orphaned endpoints and strengthening compliance.

Highlights:

• Bulk deployment and revocation through automation workflows.
• Customisable notifications for IT and end users.
• Usage analytics for resource optimisation.

Use Cases:

• Rapid onboarding for contractors and seasonal staff.
• Business continuity during device loss or ransomware incidents.
• Short-term projects requiring isolated, policy-controlled environments.

Why It Matters:
Windows 365 Reserve delivers agility and compliance, reducing operational overhead while ensuring secure, policy-driven access.

2. Windows 365 Cloud Apps – Application Streaming Without the Desktop Overhead

What’s New?
Stream individual apps—rather than full desktops—from Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs. This granular approach simplifies management and optimises resource use.

Highlights:

• Support for legacy and modern apps.
• App-level security controls and conditional access.
• Optimised performance for high-concurrency environments.

Use Cases:

• Secure access to specialist apps on unmanaged devices.
• Cost-effective support for task-based workers.
• BYOD enablement with isolated app streaming.

Why It Matters:
Cloud Apps meet users where they are, delivering essential tools securely and efficiently.

3. User Experience Sync – Consistency Across Shared Cloud PCs

What’s New?
Preserve user-specific settings across sessions and devices in shared environments. From desktop backgrounds to accessibility preferences, personalisation now follows the user.

Highlights:

• Automatic sync of layouts and language settings.
• Seamless roaming across global offices.
• Reduced IT support burden.

Use Cases:

• Hot-desking in retail, healthcare, and manufacturing.
• Consistent environments for students in labs.
• Frontline workers and global mobility scenarios.

Why It Matters:
Personalisation drives productivity and satisfaction, even in shared device scenarios.

4. Windows 365 for Agents – A Platform for AI-Powered Automation

What’s New?
A secure foundation for deploying AI agents within Windows and Linux Cloud PCs, integrated with Microsoft Copilot Studio.

Highlights:

• Custom agent development and deployment.
• Isolation of sensitive workloads for compliance.
• Advanced monitoring and analytics.

Use Cases:

• Automating repetitive tasks like ticket triage.
• Secure data processing and testing.
• Developer enablement for AI prototypes.
• Conversational AI for customer service.

Why It Matters:
Windows 365 for Agents accelerates AI adoption while maintaining governance and security.

5. AI-Enabled Cloud PCs – Intelligence Embedded at the Core

What’s New?
AI features such as Semantic Windows Search and Click to Do bring intuitive, context-aware interactions to the desktop.

Highlights:

• Real-time suggestions and insights.
• Adaptive interfaces tailored to user behaviour.
• Accessibility enhancements powered by AI.

Use Cases:

• Faster document discovery for knowledge workers.
• Simplified workflows for data-intensive roles.
• Inclusive experiences for diverse user needs.

Why It Matters:
Embedding AI at the desktop level transforms productivity and accessibility.

6. Security and Sustainability Enhancements – Building for a Safer, Greener Future

What’s New?
Microsoft introduced updates that strengthen security and advance sustainability goals.

Highlights:

• External identity support for secure B2B collaboration.
• Windows Cloud I/O Protection (Preview) against advanced threats.
• Sustainability gains validated by WSP USA studies.

Use Cases:

• Secure partner access without increasing risk.
• Compliance with industry mandates.
• ESG alignment through reduced carbon footprint.

Why It Matters:
Security and sustainability are business imperatives. Windows 365 addresses both with robust controls and measurable environmental impact.

Conclusion

From on-demand Cloud PCs and slimline app delivery to AI-powered automation and sustainability gains, Windows 365 is no longer just a virtual desktop solution—it’s a strategic platform for secure, adaptive, and intelligent workplaces.

Windows 365 Frontline updates and Cloud Apps general availability - Windows IT Pro Blog
Windows 365 Link - What's new for the first Cloud PC device -Windows IT Pro Blog
What is Windows 365 Reserve? | Microsoft Learn
Experience next-gen productivity with Windows 365 AI-enabled Cloud PCs - Windows IT Pro Blog
Windows 365 for Agents unlocks secured, scalable AI automation - Windows IT Pro Blog

So if you're stuck with SharePoint, we help you make the most of it and our hosts, David Bowman, Fresh Product Director, and Jarbas Horst, Fresh Senior Product Manager, are back for Season 2 . Kicking things off with sharp insights and honest commentary on SharePoint, Microsoft’s evolving ecosystem, and the realities of intranet innovation.

In this season opener, they cover:

🔄 Microsoft’s page template rollback: A redesign buried custom templates and sparked community backlash, highlighting the power of user feedback.

🤖 AI quick actions & integration challenges: A new floating Copilot button offers quick access to AI tools but raises questions about third-party compatibility. David sees potential for Fresh to extend the experience.

🧠 ChatGPT-5 simplifies the AI landscape: Now integrated into both ChatGPT and Copilot, GPT-5 adapts to user prompts automatically, making AI more intuitive than ever.

💼 Advania UK’s recent successful acquisitions: A major milestone, with Fresh playing a key role in the group’s commercial strategy.

📣 SharePoint’s reputation & room for growth: Jarbas shares feedback from a recent conference… SharePoint still frustrates users but there’s growing interest in improving the experience.

🎯 Season 2 focus is balanced, real-world perspectives: David and Jarbas aim to bridge the gap between overly technical content and negative takes, sharing client stories that reflect both challenges and possibilities.

Upcoming episodes feature guests from our clients TD Bank and DLA Piper, exploring people-first intranet strategies and storytelling beyond migration.

🎙️ Listen to Episode 1 now and join the conversation - The reality of SharePoint intranets: Season 1 Wrapped