COSMO CONSULT Named to the Microsoft Inner Circle for AI Business Solutions Again

COSMO CONSULT has once again been named to the Microsoft Inner Circle for AI Business Solutions — marking the 14th consecutive year the digital transformation specialist ranks among Microsoft's most strategically important partners worldwide. 

"Fourteen consecutive years in the Inner Circle is a tremendous honor," says Uwe Bergmann, CEO of the COSMO CONSULT Group. "It reflects years of close collaboration with our customers to build solutions that work in practice and deliver lasting value. At the same time, we don't see this recognition as an end in itself. It motivates us to keep listening closely, take ownership, and bring our experience to the table as we help shape the future of Microsoft solutions." 

The focus isn't on individual products or licenses — it's on solutions that make a real difference in day-to-day business: more efficient workflows, better decisions, secure digital infrastructure, and partnerships built to last. 

The Microsoft Inner Circle has evolved significantly over the past few years. Today, it's less about products and more about how partners guide companies through digital transformation, deploy new technologies responsibly, and translate them into real value for customers. This shift aligns closely with COSMO CONSULT's own approach. The digital transformation specialist never looks at technology in isolation — it always starts from the perspective of the specific industry and business at hand. 

Microsoft calls its most forward-thinking partners "Frontier Firms" — companies that treat artificial intelligence and digital technology not as add-on products, but as a gateway to fundamentally reshaping business models and organizational structures. 

COSMO CONSULT is currently working toward the Frontier Transformation Engineer Badge, a qualification that demonstrates the ability to design, implement, and reliably integrate Microsoft Frontier AI solutions into existing business environments. "The Frontier Transformation Engineer Badge is a natural next step in our AI-first strategy," says Uwe Bergmann. "We don't just want to get companies excited about new technology — we want to help them turn it into real, lasting value. That takes technical expertise, a solid understanding of business processes, and the ability to drive change together with the people inside these organizations." 

Technology alone doesn't create value. What matters is whether it fits into everyday workflows, whether employees embrace it, and whether it delivers measurable improvements. That's why COSMO CONSULT puts much of this to the test in-house first. 

As its own "Customer Zero," COSMO CONSULT rolls out new technologies internally first to see how they perform under real-world conditions. Using Microsoft Copilot Studio, the company has deployed generative AI across its own operations, and the lessons learned flow directly into how it advises and implements solutions for customers. Microsoft has documented this initiative in a case study. 

"If you want to advise companies credibly, you need to have experienced new technologies yourself," says Peter Dibbern, Chief Marketing Officer at COSMO CONSULT. "That's how we get a real sense of what works in daily operations, what changes are needed, and where a solution still falls short. That kind of transparency is essential for building trust with our customers." 

For customers, this experience translates into greater confidence during implementation. Proven industry standards and standardized extensions help projects move faster, with less effort and lower long-term operating costs. In many projects, this reduces the share of custom development to under 20 percent. 

With more than 100 certified extensions for manufacturing and service companies available on the Microsoft Marketplace, COSMO CONSULT offers a growing portfolio of standardized solutions. These modules are tested, documented, and built around the typical requirements of specific industries. They provide a solid foundation that can be tailored to a company's individual processes whenever needed. 

The consultants who implement these solutions with customers hold matching certifications — for example, in Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Copilot, and AI agents. These include credentials such as Agentic AI Business Solution Architect and Cloud and AI Security Engineer. 

The value for customers isn't just the number of certifications — it's the combination of technical expertise, industry knowledge, and hands-on project experience. Customers can rely on a partner who doesn't just master the technology, but also understands its impact on processes, organizations, and teams. 

As AI agents become more widespread, the requirements for data protection, security, and governance grow right along with them. Companies need to ensure these new digital assistants are deployed responsibly, access rights stay transparent, and sensitive information remains protected. 

COSMO CONSULT already meets the relevant ISO standards and is also developing a governance and enterprise security package. This addresses the growing need for clear, reliable frameworks around the use of AI and cloud-based technologies. 

"For us, new possibilities and responsible use go hand in hand," says Peter Dibbern. "Our customers should be able to embrace innovation without compromising on security or compliance. That's why we address both from day one." 

Membership in the Microsoft Inner Circle for AI Business Solutions gives COSMO CONSULT a seat at the table for strategic discussions, product roadmaps, and international exchange with Microsoft and other partners. This allows the company to stay ahead of emerging developments and bring real-world experience from customer projects directly into its dialogue with Microsoft. 

This exchange is especially valuable when industry requirements shift. Real-world feedback helps align solutions more closely with what companies actually need. In turn, COSMO CONSULT can evaluate new capabilities early and work with customers to determine if and when they make sense for their business. 

"We see our role in the Inner Circle first and foremost as a responsibility to our customers," says Uwe Bergmann. "We want to bring their needs and expectations into our conversations with Microsoft, and translate new developments into concrete opportunities." 

This 14th consecutive membership reflects both continuity and a readiness to evolve. It honors years of collaboration with customers and Microsoft alike, and it reaffirms COSMO CONSULT's commitment to building digital solutions with sound judgment, accountability, and a clear focus on real business value.