Want to accelerate innovation? Empower your dev teams with cloud-native AI tools
In today’s digital economy, agility and time-to-market are key to staying competitive. And for organisations hoping to lead in this environment, the best place to start is by empowering your developer (dev) teams with cutting-edge, cloud-native AI tools that help them innovate at scale.
Unlike server-bound tools, cloud-native solutions aren’t tied to specific teams, offices or regions. They can be quickly and easily embedded into platforms like GitHub and Azure DevOps, then made available across your organisation.
In addition, because vendors constantly update these solutions, your dev teams gain instant access to the latest AI capabilities and benefit from economies of scale. They also ensure your people always work within a secure, tested infrastructure that keeps pace with an ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
Supercharging output – and imagination
Take GitHub Copilot agents, for example, which can now handle tasks from automated documentation to app creation. I recently tested one to build an app from scratch – it took just seven minutes.
The productivity gains are real. Some organisations have seen developer output increase by 25–50%. A senior technology executive at a global bank told me: “I can deliver a 30% productivity improvement for the price of three cups of coffee a month per developer”. Another said their business can now serve 100 times more customers with only twice the staff. The maths adds up.
But this isn’t just about efficiency. Cloud-native tools can spark a culture of creativity and problem-solving. Freed from routine tasks, devs gain more time to tackle deep-rooted issues like legacy tech debt – or to drive entirely new ideas. For example, at Mercedes-Benz, engineers used GitHub Copilot to automate repetitive coding, freeing them to focus on developing new in-car experiences and intelligent mobility solutions.
Even decades-old mainframe code can now be untangled with AI, helping teams unlock new opportunities faster than ever.
New talent, new expectations
There’s a vital talent angle, too. Today’s developers expect workplace tools that match the AI they use in everyday life. This is driving organisations to modernise their AI stacks not just to boost productivity but to attract and retain top talent.
The next generation of devs wants to innovate constantly, using tools that enhance creativity, not hold it back. No surprise that more companies now highlight their use of AI solutions like Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot in recruitment.
Governance is still king
What about risk? Some business leaders worry AI could generate flawed or unsafe code. But this misunderstands how software development works.
No one pushes code straight to production without checks, whether it’s written by a human or a machine. AI just gets you there faster, often with better code. Tools like GitHub Advanced Security add extra security with threat scanning, secret detection and compliance at every stage – and with GitHub’s free secret scanning, you can check your organisation’s exposure to leaked secrets today. These are the same tools Microsoft uses to secure its own platforms.
Executive sponsorship also matters. Organisations with strong C-suite backing move fastest. Many see success where CIOs commit to regular reviews of adoption and KPIs. Success comes not just from the tools but from leadership that prioritises innovation and encourages everyone to contribute.
Don’t get left behind
Cloud-native AI is reshaping software development – a shift that could prove as profound as the original computing revolution. With the right tools and a culture of innovation, dev teams can do better, more creative work at greater speed and scale, all within a secure, collaborative environment.
And this is just the beginning. Agentic AI will soon help teams build multi-role agents and turn skilled developers into super-developers capable of transforming how business gets done.
For leaders, now is the time to act. Unlock productivity, energise your developers, increase agility and accelerate innovation. And if you’re not using these cloud-native tools yet, there’s a good chance your competitors are. Try them – then try them again. You’ll wonder how your dev teams ever worked without them.
Find out more
Get the latest dev updates at the Microsoft Build website
Read the e-book: How to modernise your apps: unlock the potential of AI with Azure
About the author
Santosh Takoor is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of global leadership experience across digital innovation, enterprise sales, and customer success. Currently serving as Head of Cloud & AI Platform for Public Sector at Microsoft UK, Santosh has held senior roles at Roambee, Salesforce, SAP, and KPMG. He is known for driving transformative growth, scaling enterprise businesses, and championing customer-centric innovation across EMEA and beyond. A Chartered Accountant and MBA graduate from Warwick Business School, Santosh combines strategic insight with operational excellence to deliver impactful business outcomes.
