HSO Advance 2026
Agenda 12th March 2026
Grant Bean
Managed Services Service Line Director, HSO
Grant Bean, Managed Services Service Line Director at HSO, is co‑hosting this year’s Customer Day alongside Jane Forsyth and will also deliver a dedicated presentation during the event. With 15+ years’ experience in managed services and digital operations, Grant specialises in helping organisations achieve continuous improvement through proactive service models, intelligent optimisation, and strong customer partnerships. His focus on operational excellence and evolving support strategies ensures customers maximise the long‑term value of their Microsoft investments. At Customer Day 2026, Grant will share practical insights on building resilient, data‑driven service frameworks that adapt, mature, and deliver sustained performance.
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Jane Forsyth
Service Line Director - CE, HSO
Jane Forsyth, Service Line Director for Customer Engagement at HSO, is co‑hosting this year’s Customer Day alongside Grant Bean. With a career spanning CRM leadership, cloud transformation, and operational excellence, Jane is known for driving impactful customer outcomes through continuous improvement and collaborative innovation. She leads the CE organisation with a sharp focus on evolving customer engagement strategies and delivering measurable value. At Customer Day 2026, Jane will guide the day’s discussions, bringing her perspective on how constant refinement of processes, technology, and teamwork empowers organisations to adapt, innovate, and build stronger, more resilient customer relationships.
LinkedIn
Grant Bean
Managed Services Service Line Director, HSO
Grant Bean, Managed Services Service Line Director at HSO, is co‑hosting this year’s Customer Day alongside Jane Forsyth and will also deliver a dedicated presentation during the event. With 15+ years’ experience in managed services and digital operations, Grant specialises in helping organisations achieve continuous improvement through proactive service models, intelligent optimisation, and strong customer partnerships. His focus on operational excellence and evolving support strategies ensures customers maximise the long‑term value of their Microsoft investments. At Customer Day 2026, Grant will share practical insights on building resilient, data‑driven service frameworks that adapt, mature, and deliver sustained performance.
LinkedIn
Jane Forsyth
Service Line Director - CE, HSO
Jane Forsyth, Service Line Director for Customer Engagement at HSO, is co‑hosting this year’s Customer Day alongside Grant Bean. With a career spanning CRM leadership, cloud transformation, and operational excellence, Jane is known for driving impactful customer outcomes through continuous improvement and collaborative innovation. She leads the CE organisation with a sharp focus on evolving customer engagement strategies and delivering measurable value. At Customer Day 2026, Jane will guide the day’s discussions, bringing her perspective on how constant refinement of processes, technology, and teamwork empowers organisations to adapt, innovate, and build stronger, more resilient customer relationships.
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David Little, Managing
Director at HSO, is joined on stage by Bain Group, HSO’s investor, to share a
forward‑looking view of the organisation’s strategic direction and long‑term
ambition.
Together, they will discuss how customer ambition, strategic
investment, and HSO’s deep partnership with Microsoft are shaping the next
phase of growth—driving innovation at scale and creating sustainable, long‑term
value for customers.
David Little
Managing Director, HSO
David is a long‑standing champion of driving value through continuous improvement. With decades of leadership experience in digital transformation and customer‑centric innovation, David has helped organisations adopt Microsoft Dynamics 365 to evolve, adapt, and perform at their best. His strategic approach focuses on incremental, measurable enhancements that compound into lasting competitive advantage. At Customer Day 2026, David will explore how continuous improvement empowers organisations to stay resilient, innovate with purpose, and unlock sustained performance in a rapidly changing landscape.
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Right on the back of Microsoft's prestigious AI tour in London, Elliot will share Microsoft's perspective on what it takes to become a true Frontier Firm, and how organisations can turn today’s AI opportunity into meaningful, measurable outcomes.
Speaker(s):
Elliot Howells
AI Business Process Sales Director, Microsoft UK & Ireland
Joining us from Microsoft at this year's event is Elliot Howells. Elliot leads Microsoft's AI Business Process team across the UK & Ireland, focused on AI-fuelled transformation with Microsoft's Power Platform, Dynamics 365 and Copilot solutions. Elliot has spent the last decade in Microsoft UK, most recently as Chief of Staff for the UK Enterprise Sales organisation, with first-hand experience of Microsoft's own ambition to be "customer zero" in this era of agentic AI transformation. Right on the back of Microsoft's prestigious AI tour in London, Elliot will share Microsoft's perspective on what it takes to become a true Frontier Firm, and how organisations can turn today’s AI opportunity into meaningful, measurable outcomes.
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Touseef Zafar brings deep expertise in cloud, data, and solution architecture—and has spent the past year helping customers accelerate real‑world adoption of AI. As part of Customer Day 2026, Touseef will share insights from one year of AI in action: the learnings, industry trends, successes, and challenges shaping how organisations evolve their digital capabilities. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, he helps businesses optimise their platforms and modernise responsibly. His session will offer practical guidance on using AI to drive operational efficiency, unlock value, and build resilience in a rapidly changing landscape.
Speaker(s):
Touseef Zafar
Technology Director & Global AI Lead, HSO
Touseef Zafar, Technology Director & Global AI Lead at HSO, is a highly experienced technology leader specialising in Microsoft cloud and Dynamics 365. He has delivered transformative digital solutions across retail, manufacturing & distribution, professional services, finance, and the public sector, driving modernisation, efficiency, business value, and continuous innovation through advanced digital solutions.
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Elliot Howells
AI Business Process Sales Director, Microsoft UK & Ireland
Joining us from Microsoft at this year's event is Elliot Howells. Elliot leads Microsoft's AI Business Process team across the UK & Ireland, focused on AI-fuelled transformation with Microsoft's Power Platform, Dynamics 365 and Copilot solutions. Elliot has spent the last decade in Microsoft UK, most recently as Chief of Staff for the UK Enterprise Sales organisation, with first-hand experience of Microsoft's own ambition to be "customer zero" in this era of agentic AI transformation. Right on the back of Microsoft's prestigious AI tour in London, Elliot will share Microsoft's perspective on what it takes to become a true Frontier Firm, and how organisations can turn today’s AI opportunity into meaningful, measurable outcomes.
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Explore a series of expert-led sessions from our partner sponsors, each designed to provide deeper understanding, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways tailored to today's industry challenges.
Title: Staying Ahead of Change: Continuous Innovation in Global VAT & E-Invoicing
Speaker: Heather Wight, Senior Sales Executive
Synopsis: Continuous innovation isn't just about AI and automation; it's about keeping critical processes aligned with constant change. Tax is one of the most complex and rapidly evolving areas impacting finance teams today, as governments move toward real-time reporting, digital controls, and expanding e-invoicing mandates.
In this session, we'll explore how you can enhance Microsoft Dynamics with real-time tax calculation, more streamlined VAT reporting, and scalable e-invoicing capabilities that adapt as regulations evolve - helping organisations reduce risk, ease operational burden, and stay ahead of change as they grow.
Title: Innovation-ready: Enable your Dynamics Users with AI-powered guidance
Speaker: Mark Olesen, Head of Sales & Partner Management, EMEA Sales, Peter Højlund Løvskov, Sr. Customer Solution Architect
Synopsis: Innovation fails without user adoption. New releases, new features, new UI - and suddenly yesterday's software training no longer fits today's reality.
In this session, we'll show how Dynamics teams can prepare for change and future-proof user adoption by automating the creation, updating, and delivery of training content. You'll see how authors stay effective across releases. At the same time, end-users get AI-powered in-app guidance that adapts automatically, so every update or release becomes a smooth transition, not a disruption.
We'll demonstrate how you shorten time-to-value, lower support costs, and accelerate the creation of up-to-date training. Walk away with knowledge on how you can apply this immediately across business units and tech stacks to drive high user adoption – even with more frequent releases.
Title: Less Time Quoting. More Time Selling with Experlogix CPQ. Discover the Power of Experlogix CPQ and unlock the future of sales efficiency.
Speaker: Jen Oughton, Sales Manager
Synopsis: Discover the Power of Experlogix CPQ and unlock the future of sales efficiency. Looking to streamline your quoting process, boost accuracy, and maximise profitability? This is your opportunity to see firsthand how Experlogix CPQ improves the way you sell.
Why?
Imagine seamlessly streamlining your quoting process while boosting sales efficiency. With Experlogix CPQ, you can:
- Configure complex products and services with speed, accuracy, and stunning visualisations.
- Price solutions dynamically with built-in cross-sell/up-sell recommendations for all sales channels.
- Quote customers seamlessly with professional, automated documents.
Discover the Key Benefits of Experlogix CPQ
- Speed: Quote it fast, sell it right.
- Visualisation: See your product come to life.
- Accuracy: Eliminate costly mistakes.
- Increase Profit Margins: Upsell and cross-sell with ease.
- Consistency: A single CPQ solution for all sales channels.
- Build-to-Order: Sales-to-Manufacturing BOMs and Routes.
Integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365
Experlogix CPQ offers seamless out-of-the-box integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE, BC, and F&SCM.
Title: Reimagining Business Documents in the Digital Era
Speakers: Nathan Gould, Senior Business Solutions Consultant, Stefan Kristiansen, Dynamics Solutions Consultant
Synopsis: Data and documents sit at the heart of every business transformation. In this session, we'll explore how Lasernet enables organisations to modernise document management by simplifying the design, automation, control, and distribution of mission-critical documents across multiple formats and channels.
Discover how Lasernet drives measurable financial and operational gains while enhancing customer engagement, improving satisfaction, and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
Join this session to:
- Understand what Lasernet is and how it addresses key business needs, including branding, personalisation, extensibility, multi-language support, and complex distribution requirements
- Explore flexible, scalable deployment options
- Review real-world customer use cases
- Experience a live demonstration of how Lasernet integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and other source systems
Title: AI-Powered FP&A for Dynamics 365/ AX
Speaker: Mandy Rai, UK Sales Manager
Synopsis: AI is changing how finance teams plan, forecast and analyse performance – when it's applied in practical, transparent ways.
In this session, we'll show how Solver extends Dynamics 365 Finance with AI-powered financial planning and analysis, helping organisations streamline budgeting and forecasting, improve forecast accuracy and respond faster to change. Learn how finance teams can leverage integrated data, familiar Excel based tools and AI supported insights to make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions.
Title: Finance Automation Suite for D365 F&O – AP, E-Invoicing & Banking Automation
Speakers: Richard Haywood & Patrik Telland
Synopsis: Finance Automation Suite for D365 F&O – AP, E-Invoicing & Banking Automation
Discover the Truvio Finance Automation Suite. AP Automation, E-Invoicing, and Banking Automation powered by ExFlow and SKsoft in one seamless, native F&O experience, without external integrations.
Automatically import and reconcile bank statements and Direct Debits, through to handling intercompany loans and interest, all embedded within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. The solution brings together AP Automation, E-Invoicing, and Banking Automation in one seamless, native F&O experience.
Learn how organizations can streamline key finance tasks to ensure compliant and secure bank communication and payments, and strengthen financial control while reducing manual effort and operational risk.
Grant Bean
Managed Services Service Line Director, HSO
Grant Bean, Managed Services Service Line Director at HSO, is co‑hosting this year’s Customer Day alongside Jane Forsyth and will also deliver a dedicated presentation during the event. With 15+ years’ experience in managed services and digital operations, Grant specialises in helping organisations achieve continuous improvement through proactive service models, intelligent optimisation, and strong customer partnerships. His focus on operational excellence and evolving support strategies ensures customers maximise the long‑term value of their Microsoft investments. At Customer Day 2026, Grant will share practical insights on building resilient, data‑driven service frameworks that adapt, mature, and deliver sustained performance.
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Julian Smith
UO Service Line Director, HSO
Julian brings more than 25 years of experience delivering digital transformation through Microsoft technologies. Known for his people‑first leadership and focus on driving real business value, Julian specialises in helping organisations continuously improve their operations through strategic alignment, thoughtful technology adoption, and measurable outcomes. At Customer Day 2026, Julian will host the panel discussion, guiding conversations on how continuous improvement shapes successful ERP, supply chain, and business transformation journeys. His perspective blends practical insight, industry experience, and a passion for empowering teams to innovate, evolve, and achieve sustained performance in a rapidly changing landscape.
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Enjoy refreshments while meeting fellow attendees and visiting our partner stands to learn more about the technologies and expertise showcased today.
Jo Salter MBE
Britain’s First Fast Jet Pilot and Strategic Leadership Advisor
Dr Jo Salter MBE is a pioneering leader whose career spans aviation, business and transformative leadership. Best known as Britain’s first female fast jet pilot, she flew Tornado GR1s with the RAF and later served as a Qualified Tactics Instructor. Jo also supported the Air Cadets, flying them on Air Experience Flights for over a decade. Her journey from the cockpit to boardrooms has made her a sought-after speaker, leadership coach and advisor known for her grounded approach to resilience, inclusion and change.
After leaving the RAF, Jo held senior roles at PwC including Director of Global Transformative Leadership and Global Advisory Lead for GenAI, shaping digital and cultural transformation for more than 270,000 employees. Through her consultancy, Saltin Ltd, she delivers coaching and strategic programmes that help leaders and teams perform with confidence and clarity.
Voted London’s top inspirational speaker in a recent LondonlovesBusiness poll and named one of Harpers & Queen’s 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World, Jo is recognised for her authenticity and impact. A Trustee of Ripples Charity, Ambassador for Global Angels and Livery Member of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, she continues to champion leadership that is courageous, inclusive and grounded in purpose.
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This session recognises a customer who exemplifies forward‑thinking innovation. Through their story, we explore how creativity, leadership, and transformative technology come together to create meaningful change.
Grant Bean
Managed Services Service Line Director, HSO
Grant Bean, Managed Services Service Line Director at HSO, is co‑hosting this year’s Customer Day alongside Jane Forsyth and will also deliver a dedicated presentation during the event. With 15+ years’ experience in managed services and digital operations, Grant specialises in helping organisations achieve continuous improvement through proactive service models, intelligent optimisation, and strong customer partnerships. His focus on operational excellence and evolving support strategies ensures customers maximise the long‑term value of their Microsoft investments. At Customer Day 2026, Grant will share practical insights on building resilient, data‑driven service frameworks that adapt, mature, and deliver sustained performance.
LinkedIn
Jane Forsyth
Service Line Director - CE, HSO
Jane Forsyth, Service Line Director for Customer Engagement at HSO, is co‑hosting this year’s Customer Day alongside Grant Bean. With a career spanning CRM leadership, cloud transformation, and operational excellence, Jane is known for driving impactful customer outcomes through continuous improvement and collaborative innovation. She leads the CE organisation with a sharp focus on evolving customer engagement strategies and delivering measurable value. At Customer Day 2026, Jane will guide the day’s discussions, bringing her perspective on how constant refinement of processes, technology, and teamwork empowers organisations to adapt, innovate, and build stronger, more resilient customer relationships.
LinkedIn
Please note that the agenda topics and timings may change at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances.
