Community Summit North America 2025: AI Takes Center Stage in Orlando

This year’s Community Summit North America brought the Microsoft ecosystem together under one roof at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, delivering an event that perfectly captured where business technology is headed. Across every session, roundtable, and casual hallway conversation, it was clear that AI had officially arrived.

A summit defined by Copilot

If there was one word that defined Summit 2025, it was Copilot. Artificial intelligence was woven into every track—from ERP and CRM to finance and supply chain. Many sessions focused on practical solutions, demonstrating how AI-driven copilots are accelerating report generation, automating data cleanup, guiding financial planning, and simplifying communication across teams. The message has shifted from “what AI can do” to “how we are using it.”

From strategy to hands-on learning

A defining feature of this year’s Summit was the balance between high-level strategy and practical takeaways. The general sessions offered insight into product direction and Microsoft’s vision for AI-enhanced business applications, while the “Tech Medic” desks and workshop tracks provided tangible problem-solving for real-world issues.

Many presentations went beyond theory. Rather than broad overviews or marketing-driven showcases, most sessions delivered concrete examples and live demonstrations—showing how solutions integrate with Excel, Power BI, or external data sources to deliver immediate value.

Community, connection, and shared insight

Summit’s “for-user, by-user” philosophy was evident across more than 600 sessions that balanced real-world problem solving with future-facing innovation. The event reaffirmed what makes the Microsoft user community unique: a willingness to collaborate, share lessons learned, and help others succeed.

There was energy on the expo floor, where customers, partners, and ISVs came together to exchange ideas and explore what’s next for the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform ecosystems. For many, this was a rare chance to connect face-to-face. Those in-person meetings—whether with customers, colleagues, or key ISV partners—proved invaluable for strengthening relationships and building new momentum heading into 2026.

Challenges and opportunities

As with any large-scale conference, the abundance of content came with a trade-off. With hundreds of sessions across multiple tracks, some participants noted the difficulty of choosing where to focus and following through on takeaways. Planning ahead was key to getting the most out of the week.

Navigating the expansive Gaylord Palms campus posed minor challenges, with long walks between sessions and a packed schedule. Still, attendees praised the event staff and on-site help hubs for keeping things organized and accessible.

Notable trends at this year’s event

Notable trends were evident at this year’s event, including:

• AI and automation as the new normal. AI is moving from concept to reality, helping organizations work faster and smarter. The focus is on embedding intelligence into core business processes rather than treating it as a separate initiative.
• Outcome-based delivery. Partners and ISVs are being challenged to demonstrate real ROI through repeatable frameworks and accelerators, rather than custom one-off projects.
• Cross-ecosystem collaboration. The lines between ERP, CRM, analytics, and low-code platforms continue to blur. Sessions that bridged disciplines—such as Business Central with Power BI or Fabric—drew some of the most enthusiastic audiences.
• The value of connection. Personal interaction still matters. Conversations over dinner or in hallway meetups often delivered more insight than formal presentations, reminding everyone that community remains at the heart of progress.

The expo experience

The exhibition hall was one of the busiest in recent memory. In addition to several of our employees hosting live sessions and workshops, we were able to have meaningful conversations with our customers and ISV providers. We are particularly grateful to have had the opportunity for one-on-one time with our customers at our Client Appreciation Dinner.

Next year, Summit North America will be at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, October 11 through October 15. Registration is now open.

Looking forward

For partners, consultants, and users, the key takeaway was clear: success in 2026 will depend on how effectively organizations can integrate AI-powered tools into their everyday operations. The technology is ready; now it’s about adoption, alignment, and accountability.

Contact ArcherPoint by Cherry Bekaert today to learn how we can help you translate Microsoft’s AI vision into tangible outcomes, whether through ERP modernization, Power Platform automation, or data-driven insights with Fabric.

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