Message from General Computer Development 

Fit IT into your Business Strategy for the New Year!

It’s a new year which means a time to sit down and look at your current cost and next strategy plan for your business. Don’t push aside your technology infrastructure! 

Whether you’re in a C-Suite role or a Finance manager, here are 8 tips for setting up your business' technology goals in 2025:

1.Recognize the importance of the goal-setting process.

Technology innovation is happening at an exponential pace. That means the payoff from using new technologies can be huge – a single new application, an upgrade to move email to the cloud, or a new use of mobile, can each have a massive positive impact.  

2. Do your business planning first.

Technology exists to accelerate your business goals.  Therefore, the more you can articulate your future goals and what is important to your business, the more accurate and focused your IT goals will be.

3. Engage your IT partners (Outsource or Internal) in the process.

It is necessary to meet with your technology partners once a year, at minimum, for the sheer purpose of reviewing where you are, and where you’re going. These IT experts’ insights are critical to setting the right goals for your business and its IT strategy.

4. Ask the right questions and focus on top priorities.

Technology doesn’t serve itself – it serves you and your staff.  Find out what priorities are important, and have they changed from last year? It must drive the important priorities – reduced cost, increased business, increased productivity, better security, more peace of mind, better edge over the competition, increased leverage of your resources, etc.

5. Review your current technology.

How’s it working? How are your systems, software, and support personnel functioning? Are you getting the forward-thinking strategy, solidity of infrastructure, and effective support that you need to achieve your goals?

6. Set goals for the year ahead.

Craft achievable goals with clear milestones and objectives, based on the priorities of the business.  These goals should be driven by a combination of addressing current challenges, leveraging new technologies, and keeping infrastructure within supportable, stable ranges.

7. Give your plan teeth.

Once you have clear goals, create an implementation plan to achieve them. This plan should provide clear action steps for the team members responsible to complete each task, including timelines or due dates.

8. Review quarterly.

Goals that are set and never reviewed are typically goals that are never met. Have consistent communication with your IT team and review goals at least quarterly.

Technology planning and goal setting can’t just be a one-time exercise; it must be ongoing and routine. If you follow these steps as you begin the new year and make them part of your business culture, you’ll be amazed by the outcomes in strengthening your IT infrastructure!

If you need assistance in reviewing your IT audits/technology/budget, let’s schedule some time to review them together and finalize a technology plan that will fit best for your needs!

Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot through 

Extensibility

Microsoft 365 Copilot extensibility is the next frontier of enterprise AI at Microsoft. By managing it effectively, M365 is giving their employees the power to revolutionize how they access data and accomplish tasks!

But how are they implementing this new framework?

By extending Copilot’s value in taking better advantage of Microsoft 365 Graph in more connected and efficient ways. As a result, Copilot extensions can connect with widely dispersed organizational information to help individuals find answers more effectively, work more efficiently, and think more creatively.

What is Microsoft 365 Copilot Extensibility?

Microsoft 365 Copilot extensibility enables users to enhance and customize Copilot’s capabilities by integrating external data sources, creating plugins, and developing agents. This framework helps organizations tailor Copilot to their specific needs, providing a more personalized and efficient user experience.

Here are some tips for getting started with Microsoft 365 Copilot extensibility at your company:

· Be curious. Don’t limit your imagination, because it’s a chance to redefine workflows.

· Have a strong change management program. No matter how wonderful the technology is, people need to see helpful use cases and real value.

· Use your existing investment, processes, governance, and management practices for Microsoft 365 and scale it out.

· Build a well-documented review process.

· Start with only allowing approved apps or enable guardrails for self-service to ensure IT maintains control and security, then grow from there.

· Think in terms of data—it’s about what data is you have, if it’s properly governed, where it’s being accessed, and what tenant boundaries it crosses.     

It’s all coming together to demonstrate the profound value Microsoft 365 Copilot can provide for businesses all around!

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