In this issue:

• Ace Aviator of the Month
• News from our product group
• News from our community

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Ace Aviator of the Month

April’s Ace Aviator: Andrew Wilson

Andrew Wilson - Chief Consulting Officer (CCO) at Black Marble

What's your role and title? What are your responsibilities?

I am the Chief Consultancy Officer at Black Marble, a multi-award-winning software company with a big focus on the Microsoft stack.

I work with a talented team of consultants to help our customers get the most out of Azure. My role is all about enabling organisations to modernise, integrate, and optimise their systems, always with an eye on DevOps best practices.

I’m involved across most of the software development lifecycle, but my focus tends to lean toward consultations, gathering requirements, and architecting solutions that solve real-world problems.

 I work across a range of areas including application modernisation, BizTalk to Azure Integration Services (AIS) migrations, system integrations, and cloud optimisation. Over time, I've developed a strong focus on Azure, especially around AIS.

In short, I help bridge the gap between technical possibilities and business needs, making sure the solutions we design are both practical and future-ready.

Can you give us some insights into your day-to-day activities and what a typical day in your role looks like?

No two days are quite the same which keeps things interesting! I usually kick things off with a quick plan for the day (and a bit of reshuffling for the week ahead) to make sure we’re focused on what matters most for both customers and the team.

My time is a mix of customer-facing work, sales conversations with new prospects, and supporting existing clients, whether that’s through solution design, quick fixes, or hands-on consultancy. I’m often reviewing or writing proposals and architectures, and jumping in to support the team on delivery when needed.

There’s always some active learning in the mix too, reading, experimenting, or spinning up quick ideas to explore better ways of doing things.

We don’t work in silos at Black Marble, so I’ll often jump in where I can add value, whether or not I’m directly on the project. It’s a real team effort, and that collaboration is a big part of what makes the role so rewarding.

What motivates and inspires you to be an active member of the Aviators/Microsoft community?

I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of bringing systems and applications together, there’s something really satisfying about seeing everything click into place and knowing it’s driving real business value

What makes the Aviators and wider Microsoft community special is that everyone shares that same excitement. It’s a group of people who genuinely care about solving problems, pushing technology forward, and learning from one another.

Being part of that kind of community is motivating in itself, we’re all collaborating, sharing ideas, and helping shape a better, more connected future. It’s hard not to be inspired when you’re surrounded by people who are just as passionate about the work as you are.

Looking back, what advice do you wish you had been given earlier that you'd now share with those looking to get into STEM/technology?

Stay curious, always ask “why,” and don’t be afraid to get things wrong, because you will, and that’s how you learn. Some of the best breakthroughs come after a few missteps (and maybe a bit of head-scratching).

It’s easy to look around and feel like others have it all figured out, don’t let that discourage you. Everyone’s journey is different, and what looks effortless on the outside often has a lot of trial and error behind it.

One of the best things about STEM is its diversity, there are so many different roles, paths, and people in this space. Whether you’re hands-on with code, designing systems, or solving data challenges, there’s a place for you. It’s not a one-size-fits-all, and that’s what makes it exciting.

Most importantly, share what you learn. Even if something’s been “done,” your take on it might be exactly what someone else needs to see to help them get started.

And yes, imposter syndrome is real, but don’t let it silence you. You belong here just as much as anyone else.

What has helped you grow professionally?

A big part of my growth has come from simply committing to continuous learning, whether that’s diving into new tech, attending conferences like Integrate, or being part of user groups where ideas (and challenges) get shared openly.

I’ve also learned to say yes to opportunities, even when they’ve felt a bit daunting at first. Pushing through the unknown, especially with the support of a great team and community, has led to some of my most rewarding experiences.

And finally, I try to approach everything with the mindset that I’m someone others can count on. That sense of responsibility has helped me stay focused, accountable, and constantly improving.

If you had a magic wand that could create a feature in Logic Apps, what would it be and why?

Wow, what an exciting question! If I had a magic wand, the first thing I’d add is having the option to throw exceptions that can be caught by try-catch scope blocks, this would bring much-needed clarity and flexibility to error handling. It’s a feature that would really help build more resilient and maintainable solutions.

Then, the ability to break or continue loops, sometimes you need that fine-tuned control to keep your workflows running smoothly without extra workarounds.

And lastly, full GA support for unit and integration testing, because testing is the backbone of reliable software, and having that baked in would save so much time and stress down the line.

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News from our product group

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News from our community

Agentic AI – A Potential Black Swan Moment in System Integration

Video by Ahmed Bayoumy

Discover how Agentic Logic Apps are revolutionizing system integration with AI-driven workflows. Learn how this innovative approach transforms business processes by understanding goals, deciding actions, and using predefined tools for smart orchestration.

Microsoft Build: Behind the Scenes with Agent Loop Workflow A New Phase in AI Evolution

Video by Ahmed Bayoumy

Explore how Agent Loop brings “human in the loop” control to enterprise workflows, on this video by Ahmed, sharing insights directly from Microsoft Build 2025, in a chat with Kent Weare and Divya Swarnkar.

Microsoft Build 2025: Azure Logic Apps is Now Your AI Agent Superpower!

Post by Sagar Sharma

Discover how Azure Logic Apps is transforming AI agent development with new capabilities unveiled at Microsoft Build 2025. Learn about Agent Loop, AI Foundry integration, Document Indexer, and more for intelligent, adaptive workflows.

Everyone is talking about AI Agents — Here’s how to actually build one that works

Post by Mateusz Partyka

Learn how to build effective AI agents with practical strategies and insights. Discover tips on choosing the right tech stack, prototyping fast, managing model costs, and prompt engineering for optimal results.

Agent Loop | Azure Logic Apps Just Got Smarter

Post by Andrew Wilson

Discover Agent Loop in Azure Logic Apps – now in preview - a revolutionary AI-powered integration feature. Enhance workflows with advanced decision-making, context retention, and adaptive actions for smarter automation.

Step-by-Step Guide to Azure Logic Apps Agent Loop

Post by Stephen W. Thomas

Dive into the step-by-step guide for creating AI Agents with Azure Logic Apps Agent Loop – now in preview. Learn to leverage 1300+ connectors, set up OpenAI models, and build intelligent workflows with no-code integration. You can also follow Stephen’s video tutorial

Confessions of a Control Freak: How I Learned to Love Low Code (with Logic Apps)

Post by Peter Mugisha

Discover how a self-confessed control freak learned to embrace low-code development with Azure Logic Apps. From skepticism to advocacy, explore the journey of efficient integration and streamlined workflows.

Logic Apps Standard vs. Large Files: Common Hurdles and How to Beat Them

Post by Şahin Özdemir

Learn how to overcome common hurdles when handling large files in Logic Apps Standard. Discover strategies for scaling, offloading memory-intensive operations, and optimizing performance for efficient integration.

There is a new-new Data Mapper for Logic App Standard

Post by Sandro Pereira

Discover the new Data Mapper for Logic App Standard, now in public preview. Enjoy a modern BizTalk-style mapper with code-first, schema-aware experience, supporting XSLT 3.0, XSD, and JSON schemas for efficient data mapping! A Friday Fact from Sandro Pereira.

The name of When a HTTP request is received trigger affects the workflow URL

Post by Sandro Pereira

Discover how the name of the "When a HTTP request is received" trigger affects the workflow URL in Azure Logic Apps. Learn best practices to avoid integration issues and ensure consistent endpoint paths.

Changing APIM Operations Doesn’t Update their PathTemplate

Post by Luis Rigueira

Learn how to handle PathTemplate issues in Azure Logic Apps Standard when switching APIM operations. Ensure correct endpoint paths to avoid misleading results and streamline your workflow. It is a Friday Fact, brought to you by Luis Rigueira!