Digital Transformation using Emerging Technologies

Digital Transformation has become the mantra for many businesses big and small in the last few years with the Covid19 pandemic accelerating such transformations for many organizations. Competitive pressures, higher customer expectations, and prospects of revenue growth are the key drivers for many of these digital initiatives. Various emerging technologies such as Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain are key contributors to these digital transformations.

If you are in a CxO role (CIO, CTO. CDO, et. al) for an organization and are responsible for the Digital Transformation of your organization, then this book is for you. This book can be used as a reference guide by the CxO to understand the basic concepts of Digital Transformation along with the fundamentals of various key emerging technologies. The book provides examples of services and tools from Microsoft Azure Cloud to help you harness these technologies to enable your digital transformation scenarios. Throughout the book we have also included industry statistics, expert opinions, business use cases, and customer stories.

The book is organized into the following chapters to help you learn in a systematic way:

Chapter 1: Digital Transformation
This chapter provides an introduction and overview of Digital Transformation including the What, Why, Who and the How of transformation via digital technologies. We also outline of the best practices for successful execution of your transformation initiatives, review key challenges, and reasons for digital transformation failures.

Chapter 2: Cloud Computing
This chapter outlines Cloud Computing history, core concepts and benefits. Cloud deployment and service models are introduced and discussed in detail. Considerations for transforming legacy IT to Cloud are discussed along with challenges and outlook of Cloud computing.

Chapter 3: Azure Cloud Services
This chapter dives specifically into Microsoft Azure Cloud and outlines the key services and tools it offers. Basic Azure IaaS, PaaS and DBaaS services are introduced and discussed. Key and emerging Cloud services including serverless, containers and hybrid Cloud are described along with their benefits and business use cases.

Chapter 4: Machine Learning
Machine learning is introduced along with its core concepts around data, algorithms, models, training, and deployment. Azure Machine Learning tools and services are discussed to help you understand how you can use them to realize your Machine learning scenarios. This chapter concludes with an overview at the challenges and the future of Machine learning.

Chapter 5: Artificial Intelligence
This chapter explores Artificial Intelligence, it benefits and business use cases. Azure AI platform services available are explored such as Azure Cognitive services, Bot services, Cognitive Search services and Databricks services. AI challenges section looks at primary business and AI domain specific hurdles and issues. Chapter concludes with an outlook of AI with discussion around AI governance, Responsible AI, and Technical Advancements in AI.

Chapter 6: Internet of Things
This chapter reviews the basics of Internet of Things (IoT), core components, business value, use cases, along with usage across consumer, industrial and commercial landscapes. Various Azure IoT offerings, both no-code SaaS and customized solutions, are discussed and compared. Chapter concludes with IoT challenges and the future of this technology.

Chapter 7: Blockchain
Overview of Blockchain and its business uses for various industries. Enterprise Blockchain is discussed in detail and Azure Blockchain services are introduced and how they can be used for enterprise scenarios. Chapter also explores various challenges this technology faces along with where this technology is heading in the future.