Discover AI skill building with Microsoft Training Services Partners

Microsoft

Oct 23, 2024

To fully realize the benefits that AI can bring to your organization, your workforce needs to know how to use AI-powered tools and services and how to integrate them into existing workflows. As the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs 2023 report explains, “Training workers to utilize AI and big data ranks third among company skills training priorities in the next five years and will be prioritized by 42% of surveyed companies.” Whether you have a well-established training framework for your employees or you’re just starting to set up your skill-building processes, validating that your training programs are up to date with the latest technical skills can be a challenge.

Microsoft Training Services Partners (TSPs) can help your workforce quickly build these cutting-edge skills. TSPs teach IT skills that directly transfer from the classroom to the workplace, and they offer:

Deep technical expertise and experience in Microsoft's AI apps and services.

Skills assessments and customized training plans, based on your organization’s needs and objectives.

In-depth training solutions taught by Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) and centered around Microsoft Official Courseware and Microsoft Credentials, using content from Microsoft Learn.

Self-paced and instructor-led courses, virtually and in person, making the most of local market expertise, videos, interactive labs, and Microsoft Certification preparation resources.

Prioritizing AI training is essential

TSPs around the world have helped employees in countless organizations build their skills in AI and other Microsoft technologies. Check out the following stories from Skillsoft and Sulava to find out how TSPs are helping learners' skill up on AI.

Skillsoft: A global presence for AI skills training

TSP Skillsoft has a global presence, serving over 60% of the Fortune 1000, with customers across 160 countries or regions. In conjunction with Microsoft, Skillsoft developed the AI Skill Accelerator program, a combined curriculum and training approach to prepare workers to take advantage of AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service. As a Copilot “customer zero,” Skillsoft trainers know well how to help customers skill up since they’ve built their own skills by going through the same learning experiences.

This comprehensive program is aimed at accelerating your organization’s ability to integrate AI capabilities into the business and enabling your employees to develop practical AI skills that can be applied directly to their work. It includes a generative AI tool for the business customer, Skillsoft CAISY™ Conversation AI Simulator, Skills Benchmark assessments, and customizable content. Skillsoft can upskill your entire organization on Microsoft’s AI apps and solutions, including Copilot and Azure AI.

"We recently adopted Microsoft Copilot at Skillsoft and launched a multi-step Copilot Enablement Program to help all team members build familiarity with Copilot and understand how the technology can increase their daily productivity. As we advance our AI transformation, we are leveraging our AI Skill Accelerator program to upskill our team, which is validating the importance of a structured enablement program to take full advantage of Copilot capabilities and other emerging GenAI tools."

—Orla Daly, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Skillsoft

Get more information about how Skillsoft can accelerate AI skill building across your organization.

Sulava: A pioneer in AI skill building

Finland-based Sulava, a leading TSP, is a pioneer in helping organizations adopt AI. In its collaboration with Indutrade, a technology and industrial company, Sulava provides ongoing training sessions for Indutrade employees. Over a six-year period, Sulava has conducted more than 180 of these sessions, covering topics such as Microsoft's AI apps and services, Office 365 apps, and Microsoft Power Platform, taking advantage of modern work methods and tools, and cybersecurity. The training sessions address current skilling needs, leading to improved efficiency, job satisfaction, and reduced support ticket volumes.

More recently, the collaboration has expanded to include Sulava’s Copilot Adoption Service, facilitating the implementation of Microsoft 365 Copilot and providing ongoing training to ensure that Indutrade and its subsidiaries can effectively use AI and work more efficiently.

"I think it’s very important that we chose Sulava for this service because it’s too much to expect people to figure out using AI on their own. The transition of work requires a lot of effort, and it needs support and training."

—Jarmo Kaijanen, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Indutrade

Read all the details in Indutrade Develops Skills from AI to Cybersecurity.

These are just two of the inspiring stories that illustrate how TSPs can assist your organization with AI skill building. If you and your teams are ready to skill up with the experts, find a TSP near you.

Coming next: Get AI ready: Empowering developers in the era of AI

Stay tuned for the next post in our “Get AI ready” blog series, as we shine the spotlight on ways to empower developers in the era of AI. Even as AI ushers in new opportunities, helping you to improve your productivity, security, and creativity as a software developer, it also brings some challenges, like staying current with the latest technology. In this post, we explore the wealth of Microsoft Learn skill-building resources and offerings that can help you learn to develop with AI, build AI applications, simplify your toolchain, incorporate security best practices, and make the most of tools like GitHub Copilot.