In a conversation at the Biz Apps Partner Executive Summit, Microsoft’s Fede Pacheco, Sr PMM, AI Business Solutions, led a panel of partners, including Geoff Ables of C5 Insight, Yuanming Chu of Alpha Variance Solutions, and Simran Chaudhry of Creospark, to discuss where AI is truly driving impact today and what still needs to mature.
The panel began by noting the difference between AI hype and practical uses. “There’s a lot of promise, but what’s actionable today is narrower than what people imagine,” said Ables. He underscored the importance of understanding real business pain points before adding in AI. “If you’re automating broken processes, you’re just making the mess faster.”
Chu explained that Alpha Variance Solutions is seeing the most success by focusing on process-level use cases. “Start small, be very specific,” she advised. One example she shared was automating document classification to save time and reduce errors. “It’s not flashy, but it delivers value immediately.”
Chaudhry added that for many of his clients, the learning curve is still steep. “Some are still figuring out what data they even have, let alone how to use it with AI,” he explained. That’s why education and change management remain top priorities. “AI isn’t just a tech problem, it’s a people problem.”
Ables echoed that sentiment, warning that without trust, AI adoption is haulted. “Trust in the data, trust in the process, and trust in the output. If any of those break down, users walk away.”
The panel also discussed Microsoft’s AI roadmap and how partners are responding. Chu noted strong interest in Copilot Studio but advised caution. “Everyone wants to build their own Copilot, but the readiness just isn’t there yet for a lot of clients.”
Chaudhry highlighted the importance of starting with what Microsoft has already built. “Leverage the out-of-the-box copilots before trying to build your own. You’ll learn more, and you’ll avoid wasting time.”
Pacheco led the conversation toward partner strategy, asking what’s helping firms stand out. Ables pointed to industry expertise. “If you don’t know your client’s business deeply, AI just becomes noise.” Chu agreed, saying, “That vertical focus lets you bring repeatable solutions, not just technology.”
To close, each panelist was asked for one piece of advice to partners navigating FY26. Ables was to the point: “Stop chasing shiny objects. Focus on what works.” Chu added, “Train your teams. It’s the best investment you can make right now.” Chaudhry closed with a reminder that “AI success comes from people, not just platforms. Build trust first.”
The discussion highlighted a consistent theme that AI is moving fast, but value comes from clarity, simplicity, and solving real problems.
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