Northern Azure user group April 2025 Meetup

Its the NAUG April Meetup already and we are hosted as usual by ECOM at their office in Manchester City Centre.

This month we will be diving into the world of AI in Retail and turning challenges with Landing zones into opportunities for Innovation!

Meetup location what3words:///daisy.coffee.awards

Session Details

Session 1 - Michael Royster - AI in Retail

Session description
Explore real-world examples of how retailers are leveraging AI to enhance their digital presence and improve customer engagement. This session covers key AI use cases in retail, such as AI-powered search, personalized shopping experiences, improved efficiency for employees, and tailored content.

Come and learn how Carrefour, ASOS, Vodafone, and CarMax are using AI today.

The session includes demos of the underlying AI technology that retailers are using. We are all users of retail, and seeing how AI is used in retail allows you to quickly visualize where it can be applied in other industries.

A bit about Michael
Michael Royster is a Principal Technical Specialist helping Microsoft’s largest enterprise customers architect for or migrate to the Azure platform.

Working in the Azure business since 2009, he has helped a number of leading global organisations adopt the Azure platform from global retailers and consumer goods companies to some of the world’s leading engineering companies.

Since joining the company in 2001, Michael has worked in several solution architect and development consultant roles in Microsoft Services specializing in application development prior to his current role.

Session 2
James Complin and Luke Taylor - Transforming Azure Landing Zone Challenges into Opportunities

Session description
In this session, we will explore how to turn the common challenges faced when implementing Azure Landing Zones into strategic opportunities for growth and innovation.

Azure Landing Zones provide a foundational architecture for deploying and managing cloud environments, but they often come with their own set of complexities and hurdles
Expect some Demos on Modular conditional code and what this provides, and CalVer making releases easier and more understandable to all.

Agenda:
5:30 - 6:30 - Welcome & networking
6:30 - 7:15 - Michael Royster
7:15 - 7:45 - Food,drinks and networking
7:45 - 8:30 - James Complin and Luke Taylor
8:30-whenever - Drinks and networking

Location Details
what3words:///daisy.coffee.awards
Address:18 Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4AP.

ECOM are based in a renovated space called the Bonded Warehouse which sits on the same site as the Old-Granada studio tour.

The entrance to the bonded warehouse can be reached from Lower Byrom street just next to the Museum of Science and Industry, the building entrance is on the right hand side across from the crystal maze. Google and apple maps may attempt to direct you to the rear of the building, if in doubt use the what3words location and look for the Crystal Maze too.

what3words:///daisy.coffee.awards