Since TrueNorth IT was founded in 2014, we’ve witnessed extraordinary progress in technology, reshaping the way we work and the systems we create for our clients. To mark our first decade in business, we’ve created a round-up of five technological advances that have made a significant impact to the world in the last ten years. And – because we specialise in digital transformation using Microsoft tools – we’ve added five advances in the Microsoft ecosystem on which our business is built.
1. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has evolved rapidly, transforming industries from healthcare to manufacturing. One of the most popular and innovative tools, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, was launched with little fanfare in November 2022. Now, models such as the GPT series continue to provide breakthroughs in natural language processing, enabling human-like communication. AI’s integration into predictive analytics, autonomous systems and customer service has reshaped how businesses operate.
2. Blockchain Technology
Blockchain’s first real-world application was in 2009 with the launch of Bitcoin. However, in 2015, blockchain found broader application when Blockchain 2.0 was launched. Version 2.0 addresses issues such as lack of scalability and difficulties in limiting the amount of information shared. By 2016, Fortune magazine estimated that around 15% of all banks were using blockchain technology in some capacity. The technology has subsequently boosted efficiency in areas including supply chain, healthcare, insurance, transport, contract management and more. The next development is expected to be blockchain scaling, which will accelerate processing time without sacrificing security.
3. 5G Connectivity
The rollout of 5G networks since 2019 has ushered in a new era of mobile connectivity. It offers faster speeds, higher capacity, lower latency, increased flexibility and increased reliability of connections. Due to these benefits, 5G has enabled advancements in the internet of things, augmented reality and applications requiring real-time processing, such as autonomous vehicles.
4. Quantum Computing
Quantum computing has moved from theoretical research to early practical applications. In 2016, IBM made quantum computing commercially available. Google then claimed quantum supremacy, the point at which quantum systems could perform tasks better than classical computers. It is predicted that the first applications could be available between 2035 to 2040, opening up possibilities in chemistry and physics, such as the study of quantum physics itself. This may seem theoretical, but could lead to the discovery of new chemicals and processes, such as new pharmaceuticals.
5. Renewable Energy
Advancements in renewable energy technologies tend to be incremental, but together are making renewable sources more efficient and cost-effective. Among the most impactful have been wind and solar technologies, leading to a very rapid drop in the production costs of green electricity. Innovations range from more efficient perovskite solar cells to predictive analytics that optimise the performance of wind turbines. There have also been significant Innovations in energy storage and grid management, such as Tesla’s Powerwall systems, first launched in 2015.
These technological advances highlight the progress made over the past decade. As these innovations continue to evolve, they promise to reshape the future in many diverse ways. But closer to home, what have we seen in our work with the Microsoft stack in the last ten years?
Since our company was founded in 2014, Microsoft has introduced a series of innovations across its product lines, enhancing productivity, accessibility and connectivity for users worldwide. These advances reflect the company’s vision of empowering individuals and organizations through cutting-edge technology. Here are five notable Microsoft innovations since 2014:
6. Copilot
Various AI-driven assistance apps have multiplied rapidly across industry, but Copilot has the advantage of being enmeshed within the Microsoft ecosystem. This has driven its rapid adoption from beta to mainstream in a little more than a year. Microsoft has shared a selection of use cases in this article, ranging from analysing complex research data more thoroughly to generating visuals more quickly.
7. Teams
It can be hard to imagine office life without it, but Microsoft Teams was launched just seven years ago, in 2017. The platform quickly became a cornerstone of workplace collaboration. It integrates chat, video meetings, file sharing and multiple app integrations in one place. Alongside video applications such as Zoom, Teams became particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting remote work and education.
8. Windows
The original Windows 1 was innovative because it required the use of a mouse before it was a common device. Then Microsoft Word and Excel made their first appearances on Windows 2. But not all innovations work. Windows 8 was largely criticised for its focus on touchscreen users, at a time when touchscreens were very much a minority technology. Windows 10, released in 2015, rebalanced the user interface in favour of traditional mouse and keyboard users, and is also notable for introducing the Microsoft Edge browser. In 2021, Windows 11 brought users a redesigned interface, better security and improved gaming performance, and Windows 10, once seen as a welcome return to usability, will cease to be supported next year. This article has some great screenshots of the early operating systems.
9. Azure
Windows Azure, as it was known then, became commercially available in 2010. It was positioned as an alternative to Amazon EC2 and Google App Engine. A change of strategy, driven by the increasing popularity of open-source software and the success of the Amazon offering, led to an emphasis on running Linux software. 2014 therefore saw Microsoft partner with Red Hat, Oracle, SUSE and Canonical, with the aim of making Azure the best place to run Linux. Since then, innovation has centred around trends such as AI, big data and the internet of things. In 2018, for instance, Azure became one of the first cloud platforms to publicly offer a visual designer, Azure ML Studio, for training and deploying machine learning models. As innovations continue, its scalability and tools have positioned Azure as our team’s preferred option for cloud computing.
10. Power Platform
Launched in stages from 2015, Microsoft’s Power Platform, which includes Power BI, Power Apps and Power Automate, enables users to analyse data, build custom applications and automate workflows with minimal coding. Power BI was the first Power Platform service delivered, entering preview in January 2015. It was followed by PowerApps and Power Automate (originally named Flow), apps designed to make Power BI’s insights actionable. The platform has evolved with Microsoft Dataverse, a secure and scalable database, and AI functions. The capabilities of Power Platform have aided implementations for our clients across multiple industries.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s innovations since 2014 demonstrate its ability to adapt to changing technologies and shifts in user needs. This 49-year old company has shown that, with the right strategy and execution, it’s possible to stay relevant in the ever-changing technological landscape. That’s why its products are our go-to toolkit for delivering systems for our customers. Contact us to find out how we can deploy the Microsoft ecosystem to help your business innovate.
