From Excel to AI: Automating at Enterprise Scale

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM 

👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/757

Discover how automation and AI are reshaping enterprise operations through the Microsoft Power Platform. Joe Leo shares real-world use cases, lessons from scaling automation across 10,000+ users, and insights into integrating RPA, Power BI, and AI for smarter business processes.

🎙️ What you’ll learn     

• Build scalable automation using Power Platform tools 
• Replace manual checklists with real-time digital workflows 
• Use canvas apps to improve data quality and reduce maintenance 
• Integrate RPA with model-driven apps for centralised control 
• Navigate career shifts and personal branding in a competitive tech market 

✅ Highlights   

• “Macros were the way to automate work before Power Platform.” 
• “We had over 10,000 licenses… scaling to 100,000 users.” 
• “Cleaning logs on a clipboard became a canvas app with photo uploads.” 
• “200 Excel files emailed weekly—now replaced by a single app.” 
• “We deployed to 1,000 users in two weeks during COVID.” 
• “We created a model-driven app as a control station for automation.” 
• “Instead of inbox triggers, we used canvas apps to cleanse data.” 
• “Maintenance is the hidden cost—bots went offline mid-process.” 
• “Power apps are agile—changes deployed during a single call.” 
• “LinkedIn job posts get 100+ applicants in 15 minutes.” 
• “You’ve got to articulate your brand in a few minutes.” 
• “You can’t just build, deploy and forget—maintenance is ongoing.” 

🧰 Mentioned   

• Microsoft Power Platform - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform 
• UI Path - https://www.uipath.com/  
• Excel Macros - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/quick-start-create-a-macro-741130ca-080d-49f5-9471-1e5fb3d581a8  
• Canvas Apps - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/  

✅ Keywords   
automation, power platform, canvas apps, model-driven apps, power automate, rpa, ai integration, business process, power bi, data quality, career branding, enterprise tech 

Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoption

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith