Event retrospective – The connected workplace
On Thursday 19 March, IT managers and specialists gathered at The Connected Workplace event in the Midden Nederland Hallen. The focus wasn’t just on what’s trendy, but on what is actually happening right now. Whether you missed the event or want to revisit the highlights, here’s what stood out.
The day opened with coffee and a warm welcome from our host, followed by an inspiring keynote from Rico Bakker. His message set the tone off the bat—real innovation doesn’t start with better ideas, but with letting go of fixed ways of thinking. From there, we dove straight into the sessions. With two parallel tracks—Innovation and Optimisation—visitors shaped their own route through the event. Topics ranged from the modern workplace and Copilot agents to data sovereignty and hybrid IT infrastructures, all circling back to the same central question:
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Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is come up with a bad idea.
Rico Bakker, Keynote speaker on innovation and creativity
True innovation starts when you let go of fixed assumptions. Organisations that create space for experimentation—including “bad ideas”—build more innovative power than those focused solely on efficiency. Innovation doesn’t start by thinking harder, but by looking differently and stepping outside familiar patterns.
Tools such as Microsoft Copilot offer real potential for productivity and automation. But without clear processes, good data quality and solid governance, these tools deliver little value and may even introduce risks. And without knowing where your data lives and who can access it, AI becomes a risk rather than an opportunity. Data sovereignty and data quality aren’t “nice to have”—they’re essential prerequisites for any organisation.
Cloud and on‑premises will continue to coexist. The challenge isn’t the technology itself, but maintaining oversight and control. By viewing IT as one connected whole rather than separate silos, you make better, future‑proof decisions.
IT is no longer just about technology. Decisions about security, infrastructure and the workplace have a direct impact on your business. This calls for a strategic approach: less reacting, more steering—with clear priorities and long‑term choices that move your organisation forward.
“Copilot only becomes valuable when you link it to your processes. That’s where agents make the difference.”
In this session, Tim showed that the real value of AI doesn’t come from individual tools like Microsoft Copilot, but from using agents to automate processes. He shared specific examples, such as preparing and documenting meetings automatically or integrating with systems like CRM. He also highlighted that AI is never “free”; you pay with data or with licences. A key takeaway was that Copilot only becomes truly effective when you provide clear instructions and context, for example through agents that offer structured, critical feedback by default. Without that setup, Copilot remains superficial.
Ready to take the next step with Copilot? Have a look at Data fundamentals – Build a secure foundation for Copilot.
“The challenge is rarely the technology—it’s how we use it.”
Onno shared practical insights and best practices for creating meeting spaces that are reliable and easy to use. Think consistent setups, clear standards and solutions that simply work—for people in the room and for remote participants. He also addressed meeting etiquette and expectations. When is hybrid the better choice? And what does each format require from participants? The takeaway: successful hybrid meetings depend on more than technology alone. It’s the combination of tools, room setup and behaviour that makes the difference. If you align those elements well, you get far more value out of every meeting.
Experience AV solutions first-hand in our smart meeting rooms.
“Security should adapt to your organisation, not the other way around.”
Jules emphasised that security isn’t something you ‘tick off’, but an ongoing process. As workplaces become smarter and more connected, the focus shifts from control to insight. Attacks that once took months now happen within hours, yet many organisations still work from outdated assumptions. He argued for moving away from separate tools towards a platform approach, with visibility and risk‑based working at the centre. The key message: don’t start with technology. Start with your critical processes and risks. Security shouldn’t slow you down; it should be the foundation that enables innovation.
Want to dive deeper into Jules’ vision for future‑proof IT security? Read the blog here.
“Data grows faster than our ability to manage it—and that’s the risk.”
Gino addressed a challenge many organisations face—where is your data stored, and who has access to it? As data grows exponentially, geopolitical tension rises and AI becomes more widely used, this question is becoming increasingly urgent. He showed that many organisations still struggle to find the right balance between cloud and on‑premises environments—influenced by factors such as cost, complexity and changing regulations. A key point was that data sovereignty starts with insight as without data classification and clear governance, you cannot maintain control. His message was clear: don’t start with technology. Start with policies and visibility. Only then can you make choices that truly fit your organisation.
“The quality of your insights depends on the quality of your data.”
How do you use data and AI in a way that goes beyond experimentation? Rick and Mark from Advantive walked participants through the evolution of data‑driven work and the role of Microsoft Fabric. Where reporting once depended on IT departments and long turnaround times, users can now generate insights themselves with AI and integrated data solutions. They demonstrated how agents can retrieve, analyse and even transform data into formats such as a podcast or a written report. Microsoft Fabric makes working with data faster and more flexible, but it also requires clear frameworks and a well‑designed data environment.
Ready to get started with Microsoft Fabric?
“Start with a workload strategy rather than a cloud strategy”
On‑prem is making a comeback, but not in the way it used to be. Clemens emphasised that it’s not about choosing between cloud and on‑prem, but about dividing workloads in a smart way. Critical systems and sensitive data often remain on‑prem, while scalable applications are better suited to the cloud. A key challenge is avoiding silos. Organisations need to move towards an integrated model where all environments are managed centrally. By looking at data sensitivity and the required pace of innovation, a logical distribution emerges. The result is an IT infrastructure that is not only stable, but flexible enough to support future developments.
In this interview, Clemens shares the key trends and decisions IT managers are facing today.
We closed the day with a lively debate on innovation versus optimisation. Using thought-provoking statements—from the role of AI and data sovereignty to hybrid working and trust in technology—it became clear that there is never just one right answer. While some organisations primarily see opportunities in new technology, others emphasise the need for stability, control and manageability.
What stood out was the broad agreement on the potential of AI tools and the importance of making conscious choices around data and security. At the same time, topics such as data sovereignty and cloud strategies remain complex. The main conclusion? Progress doesn’t come from choosing either innovation or optimisation, but from making the right trade‑off at the right moment.
