ESPC22 Event Preview: What to expect from Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint leaders

ESPC22 returns on November 28 for four days of education on Azure, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365. As a media sponsor of the event, MSCloudNews asked the organizing team for their perspective on building out an event experience and agenda as the community continues to evolve and Microsoft is rapidly expanding its enterprise software story, from cloud services to productivity and application development.

The event kicks off with full-day education sessions on the first day and then moves into a conference agenda with tracks for IT professionals, developers, end users, and business leaders. The event keeps some priorities in place based on attendee feedback, but has also adapted based on changing products, Microsoft's own event schedule, and changes in attendees' interests.

MSCN: As Microsoft's product lineup has evolved, what has the event team done to adapt the planning of the program?

ESPC: We have divided out the programme based on feedback from our audiences over the last 11 years. We have a blend of content that still applies to our core audience with some really exciting SharePoint sessions, along with a host of sessions on the rest of the M365 stack (Teams, Viva, Power Platform), and Azure.  We are always keeping an eye on news from Ignite and work closely with the Microsoft product team to introduce we have sessions covering the latest announcements. A few weeks to go and we are still adding some exciting fresh content to the programme.

What types of professionals are best suited to get value from ESPC22?

Our audience is made up of IT Professionals, Developers and Business Decision Makers from across industries, both consultants and customers. We have a great representation of partners and independent consultants looking for answers to their customers needs and customers (both from the private and public sector) looking to inform and educate themselves on the products and solution providers they need. We cater for levels 100 – 400 so there is learning for people at all stages of their career.

What new features of the event this year will attendees enjoy?

Well, at ESPC our tagline is Learn, Connect and Be Inspired. On the learning front we have so many new features for the delegates to enjoy. Aside from an action-packed programme, we have an “Ask The Experts Area”, Diversity and Inclusion Sessions, Microsoft Ask Me Anything & SharePint – this will be a particular highlight where delegates can bring all of their questions for the Microsoft Product Team led by Jeff Teper himself. On the connection side we have introduced a networking quiz on the Monday evening, we have our Expo drinks on Tuesday and of course the famous ESPC party being held in Wallman’s Circus on the Wednesday night. We hope that through the entire experience delegates will be inspired in their future work.

What kind of experience will attendees have at the venue when they attend sessions, visit the expo hall, and experience other elements of the event?