Getting Real ROI from Microsoft Teams and AI in 2026 | ft. Tom Arbuthnot

Are you actually getting value from Microsoft Teams and AI, or just paying for the licenses? In episode 2 of Cloud UC, NUWAVE’s Sara sits down with Tom Arbuthnot, Microsoft MVP and founder of Empowering Cloud, to have an honest conversation about where unified communications really stands in 2026. Tom's been in the UC space for over 15 years, from the Microsoft Lync and Skype for Business days all the way through to Teams and the AI era. And he’s not here to sell you on the hype; Tom gives it to you straight on what’s worth your attention and what you can safely ignore. Here's what you’ll take away from this episode: 🔹 Why 26 million Teams Phone users still aren’t getting the most out of what they’ve already paid for 🔹 The real difference between free Copilot and M365 Copilot, and which one actually makes sense for your users 🔹 What “ambient AI” means and why it’s about to change how we think about meetings and collaboration 🔹 Why smaller organizations are actually in a better position to win with AI right now 🔹 The data privacy questions every partner and admin should be asking before jumping into new AI tools 🔹 What the sharpest partners are doing differently in 2026 🔹 The one mindset shift that new partners need to stop leaving money on the table Whether you’re a partner building your UC practice or an IT leader evaluating your Microsoft investment, this episode will push you to think differently about AI readiness, adoption gaps, and where the real opportunity is hiding. Connect with Tom Arbuthnot: Empowering Cloud: https://empoweringcloud.com LinkedIn:   / tomarbuthnot   Connect with NUWAVE: Website: https://nuwave.com LinkedIn:   / nuwave-communications   🎙 About Cloud UC Podcast Cloud UC is where communications professionals come to figure out what’s actually working in the shift to cloud UC. Every episode, we bring on someone who’s actually building, selling, or scaling UCaaS and just let the conversation go where it needs to go. Real insights, no filler. You’ll walk away with something useful every time. New episodes drop regularly. Hit subscribe so you never miss one!