SkyBill at Microsoft Directions conference – Poznań: AI, Copilots, Coffee, Partners, and an excellent after-party this time.

Contents

1. The Journey Begins – Riga to Poznań
2. Conference Day 1 – Finding the Gate, Finding the Rhythm
3. Conference Day 2 – Smarter, Funnier, and Slightly Louder
4. Conference Day 3 – The Final Day (and a Slightly Delayed Departure)
5. Reflections

1. The Journey Begins – Riga to Poznań

It’s early November 2025, the 3rd, to be exact, and our SkyBill team of five is heading from Riga to Poznań for the big Directions EMEA conference. SkyBill at Microsoft Directions conference. Poland isn’t that far from Latvia, right? Well, far enough that driving was quickly voted “the fastest way to ruin friendships and backs alike.” Someone would probably end up exhausted, someone else angry, and someone might even get sent home mid-route. So, we took the civilized option: flying.

Of course, there’s no direct flight from Riga to Poznań (that would be too easy), so our route took us via Warsaw, a short layover, a bit of waiting, nothing dramatic. We all managed to gather at the airport, like ants to sugar, everyone on time, caffeinated, and with boarding passes in hand. Security went smoothly, no drama, no forgotten liquids, and not even a line to complain about. A rare miracle.

Naturally, the moment we passed security, the ritual began: buy overpriced airport water (€3 for half a bottle, liquid gold), grab “reading material” we’d never actually open, and a sandwich, just in case the small intestine challenges the large one mid-flight. By then, we were perfectly prepared for adventure. The flight to Warsaw was short, about 50 minutes, just long enough for jokes, coffee, and the illusion of productivity. Spirits were high, jokes were bad, and optimism was dangerously strong.

A quick stop in Warsaw, a snack, and we were on the next plane. One more hour later, hello, Poznań! A friendly taxi driver took us to our apartments. At first, it didn’t look like five people could possibly fit in the car, but somehow, thanks to one brave volunteer (Baiba, we owe you), we managed. She got the kid seat. We promised to free her once we arrived, and we did.

The apartments were small but cozy, and best of all, only a 10-minute walk from the conference center. Perfect. Getting in, however, was an IQ test. Somewhere in the booking app (which, naturally, I hadn’t checked properly), there were about four different codes and instructions. After 30 minutes of trial and error, we all finally got inside. Success, and minor finger cramps from pressing buttons.

With luggage dropped off, we decided to register for the event that evening to avoid the massive queues the next morning. Finding the right gate was a mini-adventure in itself. One guard waved us left, another right. For a moment, we considered climbing the fence, but eventually, we found a gate that didn’t reject us. And there it was, the big “Directions EMEA” sign, shining like a beacon of tech optimism. We hurried inside, checked in (no issues, all QR codes worked), and finally, first drinks, first snacks, first familiar faces. Yes ,Germantas Gaurilčikas  from Companial was already there, polite and welcoming and as always ready to help. By the time we headed back to the apartments, arms full of breakfast supplies, coffee, cheese, and bread, the mood was perfect.

SkyBill at Microsoft Directions conference

The first day was done, spirits high, and we were ready for the real conference to begin.

2. Conference Day 1 – Finding the Gate, Finding the Rhythm

We wake up like responsible adults: breakfast, coffee, tea, and a firm decision to postpone any stronger beverages until a much later (possibly hypothetical) hour. Spirits high, we gear up in our “battle uniforms”, company T-shirts, and head out as a five-person mix: developers, consultants, and management. The logic is simple: with this lineup, we should be able to cover every topic, answer every question, and if not… we’ll bring even more people next year.

It’s a 10-minute walk to the expo halls, so we leave 20 minutes early. Yesterday’s route is already muscle memory. We arrive at the same gate, and are immediately met by a very decisive security guard who says: absolutely not through here. Try the other side. Or the other other side. Depends on how you look at it. We’re not the only confused ones. A couple of taxis pull up; folks with the same “Directions” badges jump out… and also get turned around. So we march. What looked like “just around this building” turns into a tour of what felt like 20–30 buildings. Left, right, loop, repeat. And then we realize we’ve basically walked the same distance back, only to discover we had been on the wrong side of the whole complex all along.

There are signs! In Polish. We decode the word “Directions” because it says “Directions,” but the rest remains a linguistic mystery. Not the warmest welcome first thing in the morning, but hey, optimism holds.  Finally, we make it to the right entrance. Cloakroom, check-in, badges, all smooth. We bump into a few familiar faces; our partner booth is right up front. We swap quick “what’s new?” jokes (no one knows yet), and head for the keynotes.

SkyBill at Microsoft Directions conference

Grand Opening Directions 2025

We expected an amphitheater; we got a flat hall with lots of screens.  In practice, it worked, you could see and hear everything fine. Unsurprisingly, the big themes: AI, Copilot, agents, and more AI. Microsoft announced Business Central now serves around 50,000 customers, up from 30,000 just two years ago. That’s growth, and for those of us building solutions on top of BC, it’s good news. SkyBill doesn’t sell “Business Central + SkyBill.”  We sell SkyBill, our utility billing solution + BC, BC is the platform that makes it work and comes as bonus, but not all clients use BC, some use only SkyBill extension and integrate it in Oracle, SAP or other ERP.

After the keynotes, we dive into sessions, grab coffee, and compare notes. Lunch is the real test, but this year’s organization shines. Lines are short, food is solid (Cod, chicken, salads), and everything runs efficiently. We rate it a confident 8 out of 10.

Later that evening, the organizers surprise everyone with a generous reception: wine, beer, snacks, and lively networking. It’s basically an afterparty disguised as “end of day one.” We toast, chat, and eventually call it a night, satisfied, slightly tired, and ready for day two.

3. Conference Day 2 – Smarter, Funnier, and Slightly Louder

By now, we were seasoned professionals, we knew which gate to use, which guards to smile at, and which ones to avoid. At least getting out was easy, same gates, fewer complications. We considered taking the tram (since our badges gave free public transport), but by the time we found the right stop, we’d already walked halfway there. Exercise wins again.

The morning keynote came with a surprise. On every seat sat a small plush toy, penguins, frogs, and various creatures with Microsoft Business Central partner tags. At first, we thought someone had left their kids’ toys behind. Then we realized: marketing genius. Hundreds of professionals sitting among hundreds of plush animals, it looked like a corporate zoo, and everyone loved it. Our female colleagues happily collected souvenirs for their kids back home.

The sessions that day were packed and productive. We caught up with partners and friends, Didzis Simis from Hortus, Reinis Sparans  from Elva,

Ray Dilsons  from Garage Hive, Inga Sartauskaite  as always smiling  and Kris Zielinski who is helping us with documentation, He was very kind and welcoming and showed us around the city, as he is local. Can’t name all whom we met as then I would need to write quite a long list. The day flew by meetings, presentations, coffee, and laughter.

Then came the afterparty, the one everyone talks about. Hosted right next to the conference venue (great logistics again), it had everything: games, food, drinks, and live music. The band was great, the DJ even better, real songs for real adults. Even the 50+ crowd was dancing like it was 1995. Beer and wine flowed freely, the atmosphere was electric, and everyone had a blast. Poznań, you outdid Lyon this time. We eventually made our way home, with a 15-minute “scenic” detour, still singing I’d give the afterparty a 9 out of 10, maybe even a full 10. Perhaps a midnight cake or something similar would have made it perfect, but that’s purely subjective, of course

4. Conference Day 3 – The Final Day (and a Slightly Delayed Departure)

The third and final conference day started strong, surprisingly strong, considering the previous night’s party. Attendance was high, coffee was stronger, and the organizers had a brilliant idea: soup for breakfast. Two kinds, creamy and tomato, both delicious. Local attendees confirmed: authentic Polish flavor. It was exactly what everyone needed. If photos could carry taste, this report would smell like soup.

Later sessions were thoughtful and varied. One talk focused on workplace generations, Gen Z, Gen AI, or whichever letter we’re on now. The speaker emphasized adapting workplaces for younger employees: flexible environments, unique motivators, tailored structures. Interesting theory, but honestly, when we started working, nobody built a “special environment” for us. You came, you worked, you learned, simple as that. We already do bonuses, events, and recognition; that’s plenty. Still, the younger crowd seemed to like it.

As the final sessions wrapped up around 4 p.m., we started thinking about our flight. That’s when we noticed a small issue: five people, four assigned seats. Someone was missing from the list. Radoslaw Dudziak from Companial as good friend of ours, even offered us a place to stay for the night if we couldn’t find a way to solve this problem.

After a few laughs and theories about who’d drawn the short straw, we decided to show up early at the airport to fix it. Fortunately, everything was resolved smoothly, all five of us boarded safely and made it home via Warsaw, tired but happy.

5. Reflections

Directions EMEA 2025 in Poznań was a great success, perfectly organized, full of energy, and packed with useful content. The SkyBill team gained insights, strengthened partnerships, and had plenty of laughs along the way. Every year brings new updates, new trends, and new reasons to join, and this one was no exception. We’ll be back next year, ready for more sessions, more coffee, and probably another round of getting lost on day one.