Shakey's Upgraded: Digital Makeover by Microsoft Philippines

For us Pinoys, pizza is always synonymous with Shakey’s as the pioneer pizza parlor in the Philippines. For years, it provided venues for hanging out, band music, children’s party or simply just pigging out. With the increase number of competitors through the years, Shakey’s is still in operation.

Mr. Cian O’Neill, COO and CMO of Microsoft Philippines

Mauch Franco, Shakey’s Philippines, CIO

Jorge Concepcion, Shakey’s Philippines, GM.  

But there is a new phase that needs to be done. Now that the world has gone digital, there are concerns and demands than needs to be attended. In order for Shakey’s to accommodate the demands of the millennial guests, Shakey’s need to adapt to the change.

This is where Microsoft Philippines cues in. In my previous posts about Microsoft, I keep mentioning about Data Privacy Act and the Cloud Management and now, here is one practical example. The data guests key in is assured that it is all secured especially when they input personal data for identification using Microsoft Azure.

There are no changes with the pizza or their services. The only thing that changed was their operating system in the Cloud to make it more accessible and easy. It is Microsoft's mission to help businesses adapt for the digital age. For more tech stories, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

My Personal Insights about Data Privacy Act

Ever since the world has gone digital with the advent of internet, our lives are never the same. Our lifestyle is already hooked online. Since information is also considered an investment, we also need to secure our data since there are already threats in cyberspace because of hackers. There are already incidents of websites and information hacked from biggest companies that we never imagined. We only thought that this only happen in the movies like Hackers back in the 90’s.

 

Microsoft's Herns Hermida presents solutions for data prrivacy

The government is also concerned about this which is why the Digital Privacy Act was implemented and with coordination of IT companies like Microsoft Philippines will aim to provide solutions to the threat. During the briefing I attended, I was also concerned because if this can happen to big companies and institutions, what can some smaller scale companies and websites can do.

As a small scale consumer, it also disturbs me that because everything is digital. Microsoft makes this their commitment to the consumers. They suggested that we should go put everything in the cloud. Microsoft has their own Cyber Ops Center and servers spread all over the globe.

The tools is already available since almost all already have Windows 10, businesses can rely on Microsoft products like Office 365 and Azure to help secure information privacy. For more tech insights, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Filipino students nationwide join the three million virtual mile goal for Microsoft’s Global Skype-a-Thon

Press release

Educators around the Philippines collaborate to help celebrate learning without borders

(Makati City, Philippines) (December 5, 2016) – Educators around the world were invited to participate in Microsoft’s annual two-day Skype-a-Thon on November 29 to 30, where thousands of students have joined the goal to travel three million virtual miles.  The event connected classrooms in over 47 countries, including the Philippines, to showcase how technology can be used to enhance the learning experience and promote global citizenship.

Experts from Microsoft Philippines and guest speakers spoke to students from all over the country.  45 classrooms from around the Philippines joined the Global Skype-a-Thon to travel 145,000 miles combined. 

For this year’s global Skype-a-Thon, several lecturers from Microsoft and educators shared motivational stories to the students. Each one got to virtually experience each other’s cultures through Skype. As classrooms are now borderless and learning is beyond any four corners in the world, indeed, there’s no distance that learning cannot conquer.

On photo collage are as follows:

·         Clarissa Segismundo, Microsoft Philippines Education Programs Lead with Grade 10 Students of Kapitolyo High School,

·         Cian O`Neill, Microsoft Philippines Chief Operating and Marketing Officer skypes with National University (NU) students on the other end

·         Ferdie Saputil, Microsoft Philippines Public Sector Director skypes with Pangasinan National High School students

·         Jomari Mercado, Microsoft Philippines National Technology Officer skypes with De La Salle University, Dasmariñas

·         Virna Venturanza, Microsoft Philippines Communications Lead skypes with students of Atty. Orlando S. Rimando National High School, Compostela Valley, Mindanao

·         Joel Garcia, Microsoft Philippines DX Director speaks to senior high school students of Ateneo de Manila

Microsoft Cloud Summit helps ISV partners bring innovative and disruptive solutions to the Philippine market

Press release

(Makati City, Philippines) (November 23, 2016) – As businesses in the Philippines are embracing the cloud to make them highly competitive, Microsoft and its independent software vendor (ISV) partners have staged cloud application solutions for various industries during the Cloud Solutions Summit at the Blue Leaf Filipinas, Parañaque City.

 

Herns Hermida, Microsoft Philippines Cloud & Enterprise Business Lead moderates the panel discussion at the Cloud Solutions Summit with (left to right): Brian Perry Ortañez, Systems Engineer, Fortinet; Dr. Ryan Bañez, Chief Medical Informatics Officer of Health Informatics; Dindo Fernando, Senior Channel Manager, Microsoft Philippines; Lars Jeppesen, CEO and co-founder Tech One Global and David Mould, Chief Digital Advisor, Microsoft Consulting Services

The Cloud Solutions Summit has helped executives and business owners discover how embracing the hybrid cloud model can help IT manage increasing security and complexity in line with changing business needs.  This event followed Microsoft’s recent general availability of Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 in the Philippines, which are directed at helping enterprises accelerate moves to the highly secure hybrid cloud. 

At the event, Microsoft and its ISV partners showcased cloud application solutions for manufacturing, retail, banking, healthcare and small & medium enterprise (SME) sectors for businesses to jumpstart their digital transformation journey.   Participating ISVs presented their cloud app pitches similar to the “Shark Tank” reality TV show, with My-Checkpoints emerging as winner. My-Checkpoints (https://www.my-checkpoints.com/help/aboutus.html) is a performance and rewards platform developed for BPO companies designed to provide fun incentives and rewards to their employees. 

Excel World Championship

Press release

Microsoft is excited to announce the Excel World Championship competition! There are millions of people who rely on Excel to get things done faster and make their lives easier.  We want to meet all Filipino Excel lovers and see what you can do.

Excel fans can show their skills and creativity as they work through questions focusing on:

·       data management,

·       data visualization, and

·       formula writing.

From October 2016 to November 2016, Microsoft will run four rounds of Excel tests for residents of select countries.  Only the top competitors in each round will make it through to the next, until ultimately there is one Excel Champ from each country!  Prizes for the country competitions vary.

In Early 2017, the country champions and our International winner will compete against one another for the title of Excel World Champ and our Grand Prize of a trip to Seattle, USA and a meeting with Excel Product Leads to provide feedback on the next features added to Excel.

Round 1 begins October 3^rd!  For more details on the competition rules, eligible countries, and registration check out http://aka.ms/ExcelChampPH

In the meantime, check out some surprising things you didn’t know about Microsoft Excel with this simple tips and tricks story.

Thank you to all the fans who have supported us over 30 years!  We look forward to seeing how you Excel! 

Co-Work Space: The New Working Lifestyle in this Digital Millennium

The workplace varies now because of today’s technological mobility and communication. I remember a TV plug years ago that shows this example. Two guys hanging out on a beach when they suddenly had a call from their mobile phone and suddenly they shifted to work mode.  It was revealed that they were consulted and answered an inquiry and they also have their laptops with them. After the inquiry, they are back to relaxation.

Left to Right: Penbrothers Operations Manager Eshna Esu, Business Development Manager for Dell Phils. Michelle Juliano, IT Trainer John Irwin Magno, Microsoft Phils. Innovative Enterprises Lead Tovia Va'aelua and Commercial Marketing Lead Frank Rich

You may not find it a suitable workplace but it is not far from happening. The business office are now getting smaller than you imagine not just in office space but also There are co-working spaces where you can see that different kind of businesses are operating under one roof. Don’t be surprise if one table occupies different services offered.

Co-working Spaces enables an entrepreneur operates in a minimal working space like a desk or shared tables but with wide contacts around the same room. If an entrepreneur is offered a project, the amount of resources may be just across the room or within a mobile phone call away. One example of a co-working space is Pen Brothers in Makati.

Microsoft recently introduced Office 365 and it shows how practical it is and ideal to co-working spaces like Pen Brothers. The idea of co-working spaces is suitable with the Office 365 that is why together with Dell Philippines, partnerships like these are very convenient.

What I appreciate about co-working spaces is the mobility of working even if you are alone in the business. All you just need is a space to work on, a computer, mobile connection and you are set but it also helps deliver the services rendered to the client.

I was oriented and briefed about Pen Brothers and how Office 365 can do wonders for the co-working space environment in this millennium. For more updates, follow this blog and like the L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Microsoft Philippines Introduces the Office 365 E5

Almost all computer users if not all are using the Microsoft Office and who doesn’t?  The Office you enjoy can be integrated with the Cloud but you can still be assured for the security measures regarding connecting online.

Yvette Watson - Technology Solutions Professional of Microsoft Philippines

The Office 365 E5 offers analytics which means it gives you stats how much you spend online reading your e-mails. If you are worried about security breach and hacking, Office 365 also offers protection for your important data you saved in the cloud.

What impresses me with 365 is the integration of your online data with your mobile devices. Despite the digital devices, we still can’t stop using the LAN line phones because it is still useful in the office. But what happens if you are waiting for a LAN line call and you are still out and offline?

Yvette Watson of Microsoft demonstrates that you can still accommodate your calls via Skype for Business. When your office LAN phone receives a call, it is forwarded to your mobile phone with no extra charges. You can also call via mobile phones with Skype for Business.

The Office 365 E5 is available in three packages: Personal, Consumer and Enterprise packages. For more updates about Microsoft, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Microsoft Philippines #UpGradeYourWorld by building house for Gawad Kalinga

I've been volunteering building houses for Habitat For Humanity for many years when I was decades younger. I find this fulfilling because it makes me feel good about myself especially when I got to help other people building their new home.

Now, I got to do it again years later in my older self. This time at a Gawad Kalinga site in Nueva Ecija. I was invited to volunteer with Microsoft Philippines at the same time when the Windows 10 was released recently. Microsoft has many global outreach programs but it is only Microsoft Philippines that supports a community housing project like Gawad Kalinga.

When we got there, the community already has one phase of units occupied. But there are more houses that are in progress. We were divided in three groups on different tasks. Some ladies were painting the walls while the rest will do a relay of passing hollow blocks for makeshift road in a vacant area while some ladies were straining rocks and sand for the cement mix.

While this is ongoing, the Microsoft ambassadors are instructing the teachers in the nearby school how to use Windows 10 in the donated computers. In between breaks, I got to ask some of the residents about them, where they come from and how they got to approved at GK and how it benefited them.

But the best part of the community building that made it worthwhile is the budol fight where you can eat in a communal manner and enjoy the camaraderie. I am glad I was still able to do this even for my age and I would like to do it again.

For more events, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.