Beyond the Hype: How ESW's New Program Aims to Bridge the AI Skills Gap

NEW YORK, NY – January 13, 2026 – As enterprises pour billions into generative AI tools, a critical disconnect is emerging between technological investment and tangible returns. Microsoft Copilot, a flagship productivity tool, is at the center of this paradox, with many organizations struggling to move beyond pilot programs and justify steep licensing costs. Addressing this challenge head-on, Microsoft partner ESW today launched Copilot Ascend™, a training program designed to tackle the AI skills gap and transform workforce capability.

The announcement comes as the enterprise AI market is projected to surge past $200 billion by 2030, yet industry reports reveal a stark reality: over 90% of global enterprises are expected to face critical AI skills shortages by 2026. This gap between AI potential and human readiness is where ESW aims to make its mark, betting that the solution lies not in the technology alone, but in empowering the people who use it.

From Experimentation to Everyday Productivity

For many organizations, the journey with tools like Microsoft Copilot has been fraught with challenges. The enterprise licensing model, which can increase Microsoft 365 costs by as much as 83%, has put immense pressure on IT and business leaders to demonstrate a clear return on investment. However, adoption rates have often fallen short of expectations. Research from industry analysts like Gartner indicates that without structured enablement, employee adoption of generative AI tools can plummet by as much as 60%.

This is the gap ESW’s Copilot Ascend™ program is built to fill. It moves beyond simply deploying the software, focusing instead on what happens next. “AI does not create value on its own,” stated Russell Kommer, CEO of ESW, in the company's announcement. “People do. Copilot Ascend was built to help organizations move past experimentation and into confident, consistent use of Microsoft Copilot across their teams.”

The program's structure is rooted in practical application. Delivered by Microsoft Certified Trainers either remotely or on-site, it combines instructor-led sessions with hands-on workshops. The curriculum is designed to integrate Copilot directly into the daily Microsoft 365 workflows that employees already use, including Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. By focusing on real-world tasks and role-based instruction, the program aims to demystify AI and demonstrate its immediate value in drafting documents, analyzing data, summarizing meetings, and managing communications.

The Human Factor in the AI Revolution

Beneath the technical and financial hurdles of AI adoption lies a significant human element. Employee resistance, fueled by fears of job displacement and a reluctance to abandon established routines, remains a primary barrier. While surveys show that nearly half of employees are eager for more formal AI training, more than a fifth report receiving little to no support from their organizations. This lack of guidance can lead to underutilization of powerful tools and fosters a culture of uncertainty.

ESW’s program is explicitly designed to address these human factors by supporting multiple stakeholders. For HR leaders, it offers a structured path to upskill the workforce, a critical component for engagement and retention in an AI-driven economy. For executives, it provides clarity on how AI can translate into measurable productivity gains and improved decision-making. And for IT teams, it offers a strategy to drive adoption without creating an overwhelming support burden.

By tailoring instruction to different roles—from staff to managers and executives—Copilot Ascend acknowledges that AI's value is not one-size-fits-all. An executive's use of Copilot for strategic analysis is fundamentally different from a project manager's need to streamline team collaboration in Microsoft Teams. This targeted approach helps build confidence and ensures that employees see the tool as a personal productivity enhancer rather than an impersonal corporate mandate. Without such sanctioned and structured training, organizations also face the growing risk of "shadow AI," where employees turn to unauthorized and potentially insecure third-party tools to fill the gap, creating data governance and security vulnerabilities.

Carving a Niche in a Burgeoning Market

The market for enterprise AI training is rapidly becoming crowded. Global consulting giants like Accenture and Deloitte offer comprehensive AI transformation services, while a host of specialized providers and online learning platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning provide a wide array of courses. Microsoft itself offers extensive resources through its Microsoft Learn platform.

In this competitive landscape, ESW is positioning itself as a specialized expert. As a Microsoft partner with a stated focus on Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Power Platform, the company leverages its deep ecosystem knowledge to offer more than generic AI principles. The emphasis on training delivered by Microsoft Certified Trainers and centered on real Microsoft 365 workflows is a key differentiator, promising a level of depth and practical relevance that broader platforms may not match.

This strategy targets a specific and urgent need: helping companies maximize their significant investment in the Microsoft ecosystem. While large consultancies manage massive, enterprise-wide transformations, and online platforms offer scalable, self-directed learning, ESW’s Copilot Ascend™ occupies a crucial middle ground. It provides a structured, hands-on, and expert-led solution focused squarely on turning a specific, powerful technology into a source of consistent business value. By focusing on people and process alongside the technology, ESW is helping organizations ensure their investment in AI is not just an expense, but a durable capability.