diff --git a/.github/workflows/platform_ci_python.yml b/.github/workflows/platform_ci_python.yml
index 37443d9..af31cb9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/platform_ci_python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/platform_ci_python.yml
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@
 
           - name: Check Azure CLI Availability
             run: |
+              python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+              pip install --upgrade -r requirements.txt
               echo "Current PATH: $PATH"
               which az
               ls -l $(which az) || echo "az not found in the expected directory"
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@
               NEWS_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME: ${{ vars.NEWS_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME }}
               FINANCIAL_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME: ${{ vars.FINANCIAL_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME }}
               REPORT_GENERATOR_MODEL_NAME: ${{ vars.REPORT_GENERATOR_MODEL_NAME }}
+              APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING: ${{secrets.APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING}}
             run: |
               echo "Verifying Python Path"
               which python
diff --git a/.github/workflows/platform_pr_python.yml b/.github/workflows/platform_pr_python.yml
index 5d1fe44..98c161a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/platform_pr_python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/platform_pr_python.yml
@@ -39,11 +39,14 @@
             uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
           - name: Check Azure CLI Availability
+            working-directory: python
             run: |
               echo "Current PATH: $PATH"
               which az
               ls -l $(which az) || echo "az not found in the expected directory"
               az --version
+              python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+              pip install --upgrade -r requirements.txt
 
           - name: Azure login
             uses: azure/login@v2
@@ -59,9 +62,11 @@
               NEWS_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME: ${{ vars.NEWS_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME }}
               FINANCIAL_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME: ${{ vars.FINANCIAL_ANALYST_MODEL_NAME }}
               REPORT_GENERATOR_MODEL_NAME: ${{ vars.REPORT_GENERATOR_MODEL_NAME }}
+              APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING: ${{secrets.APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING}}
             run: |
               echo "Verifying Python Path"
               which python
               echo "Installed Packages:"
+              echo APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING=${{ secrets.APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING}} >> $GITHUB_ENV
               pip list
               python -u -m sk_financial_analyst.executors.single_item_executor --logging_enabled
diff --git a/python/.env_sample b/python/.env_sample
index c1c11ad..25d3205 100644
--- a/python/.env_sample
+++ b/python/.env_sample
@@ -8,3 +8,15 @@ AML_RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME=
 AML_WORKSPACE_NAME=
 
 SEMANTICKERNEL_EXPERIMENTAL_GENAI_ENABLE_OTEL_DIAGNOSTICS_SENSITIVE=true
+OTEL_SERVICE_NAME="sk-financial-analyst-local"
+OTEL_LOGS_EXPORTER="otlp"
+OTEL_TRACES_EXPORTER="otlp"
+OTEL_PYTHON_LOGGING_AUTO_INSTRUMENTATION_ENABLED="true"
+OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_PROTOCOL="grpc"
+OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_INSECURE="true"
+OTEL_LOG_LEVEL="INFO"
+OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES="service.name=sk-financial-analyst-local"
+OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT="http://localhost:4317"
+OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_TRACES_ENDPOINT="http://localhost:4318"
+# application insights connection string is added if you prefer not using collector.
+APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING=
diff --git a/python/common/configurator/config_reader.py b/python/common/configurator/config_reader.py
index 3a6f650..f476873 100644
--- a/python/common/configurator/config_reader.py
+++ b/python/common/configurator/config_reader.py
@@ -3,12 +3,20 @@
 import os
 
 import yaml
+from azure.monitor.opentelemetry import configure_azure_monitor
+from common.configurator.otel import config_otel
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 
 def load_yaml(file_path):
     """Load a YAML file."""
     load_dotenv()
+    connection_string = os.environ.get("APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING")
+    if connection_string is not None:
+        print(f"connection string: {connection_string}")
+        configure_azure_monitor(connection_string=connection_string)
+    else:
+        config_otel()
     with open(file_path, "r") as stream:
         return yaml.safe_load(os.path.expandvars(stream.read()))
 
diff --git a/python/requirements.txt b/python/requirements.txt
index 945b264..027272c 100644
--- a/python/requirements.txt
+++ b/python/requirements.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ flake8==7.1.1
 pep8-naming==0.14.1
 pytest==8.3.3
 pytest-cov==5.0.0
-opentelemetry-instrumentation==0.49b2
+## otel collector
 opentelemetry-instrumentation-openai==0.33.12
 opentelemetry-instrumentation-fastapi==0.49b2
 opentelemetry-distro==0.49b2
@@ -22,3 +22,6 @@ opentelemetry-exporter-otlp==1.28.2
 fastapi==0.115.4
 uvicorn==0.32.0
 pydantic==2.8.2
+## set this only when you want to directly instrument using
+## application insights without collector
+azure-monitor-opentelemetry==1.6.4
diff --git a/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/function_app.py b/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/function_app.py
index e2f0e86..33ae88f 100644
--- a/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/function_app.py
+++ b/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/function_app.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 import azure.functions as func
 from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
 from azure.keyvault.secrets import SecretClient
+from azure.monitor.opentelemetry import configure_azure_monitor
+from common.configurator import otel
 from llm_application.financial_health_analysis import FinancialHealthAnalysis
 
 app = df.DFApp(http_auth_level=func.AuthLevel.FUNCTION)
@@ -69,6 +71,11 @@ async def generate_report(stock):
     structured_report_generator_model = os.environ.get("REPORT_GENERATOR_MODEL_NAME")
     aoai_api_version = os.environ.get("AOAI_API_VERSION")
 
+    if (os.environ.get("APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING")) is not None:
+        configure_azure_monitor()
+    else:
+        otel.config_otel()
+
     credential = DefaultAzureCredential(managed_identity_client_id=managed_identity_client_id)
     aoai_token = credential.get_token(auth_provider_endpoint).token
 
diff --git a/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/requirements.txt b/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/requirements.txt
index d2bd46c..ba73486 100644
--- a/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/requirements.txt
+++ b/python/sk_financial_analyst/deployment/durable_function/requirements.txt
@@ -13,3 +13,11 @@ edgartools
 yfinance==0.2.40
 semantic-kernel
 pydantic==2.8.2
+## otel collector
+opentelemetry-instrumentation-openai==0.33.12
+opentelemetry-instrumentation-fastapi==0.49b2
+opentelemetry-distro==0.49b2
+opentelemetry-exporter-otlp==1.28.2
+## set this only when you want to directly instrument using
+## application insights without collector
+azure-monitor-opentelemetry==1.6.4
diff --git a/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_batch_executor.py b/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_batch_executor.py
index f3533af..a7be5f6 100644
--- a/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_batch_executor.py
+++ b/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_batch_executor.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 from azure.ai.ml.entities import Environment
 from azure.ai.ml.parallel import RunFunction, parallel_run_function
 from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
+from azure.monitor.opentelemetry import configure_azure_monitor
+from common.configurator import otel
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 
@@ -118,7 +120,12 @@ def main():
     """
     args = parse_args()
     load_dotenv(override=True)
-
+    # if application connection string is available, directly use azure monitor connection
+    # else collector is used.
+    if (os.environ.get("APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING")) is not None:
+        configure_azure_monitor(connection_string=os.environ.get("APPLICATIONINSIGHTS_CONNECTION_STRING"))
+    else:
+        otel.config_otel()
     subscription_id = os.getenv("AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID")
     resource_group = os.getenv("AML_RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME")
     workspace = os.getenv("AML_WORKSPACE_NAME")
diff --git a/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_env.yaml b/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_env.yaml
index ee01b5e..4c78d99 100644
--- a/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_env.yaml
+++ b/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/aml/aml_env.yaml
@@ -10,13 +10,17 @@ dependencies:
     - azure-identity==1.19.0
     - azure-keyvault-secrets==4.9.0
     - azure-ai-evaluation==1.0.0b5
-    - azure-monitor-opentelemetry-exporter==1.0.0b31
     - pyyaml==6.0.2
     - requests==2.32.3
     - edgartools==2.34.2
     - python-dotenv==1.0.1
     - yfinance==0.2.40
     - semantic-kernel==1.11.0
-    - opentelemetry-api==1.27.0
-    - opentelemetry-sdk==1.27.0
-    - opentelemetry-semantic-conventions==0.48b0
+    ## otel collector
+    - opentelemetry-instrumentation-openai==0.33.12
+    - opentelemetry-instrumentation-fastapi==0.49b2
+    - opentelemetry-distro==0.49b2
+    - opentelemetry-exporter-otlp==1.28.2
+    ## set this only when you want to directly instrument using
+    ## application insights without collector
+    - azure-monitor-opentelemetry==1.6.4
diff --git a/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/single_item_executor.py b/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/single_item_executor.py
index 9743337..439e9c8 100644
--- a/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/single_item_executor.py
+++ b/python/sk_financial_analyst/executors/single_item_executor.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
 from azure.keyvault.secrets import SecretClient
-from common.configurator import config_reader, otel
+from common.configurator import config_reader
 from opentelemetry import trace
 from opentelemetry.trace import SpanKind
 from sk_financial_analyst.llm_application.financial_health_analysis import FinancialHealthAnalysis
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ async def generate_report(config_file, stock_ticker):
     config_data = config_reader.load_yaml(config_file)
 
     logger.info("Otel configuration started..")
-    otel.config_otel()
+
     tracer = trace.get_tracer(__name__)
     logger.info("Otel configuration successful..")
 
diff --git a/python/sk_financial_analyst/routes/routes.py b/python/sk_financial_analyst/routes/routes.py
index 5a6a0f1..f656e62 100644
--- a/python/sk_financial_analyst/routes/routes.py
+++ b/python/sk_financial_analyst/routes/routes.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
 from azure.keyvault.secrets import SecretClient
-from common.configurator import config_reader, otel
+from common.configurator import config_reader
 from fastapi import APIRouter, FastAPI
 from opentelemetry import trace
 from opentelemetry.instrumentation.fastapi import FastAPIInstrumentor
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 from opentelemetry.trace import SpanKind
 from sk_financial_analyst.llm_application.financial_health_analysis import FinancialHealthAnalysis
 
+# Load the configuration data
+config_data = config_reader.load_yaml("./sk_financial_analyst/config/config.yaml")
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # from llm_application import financial_health_analysis
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@
 router = APIRouter()
 
 logger.info("Otel configuration started..")
-otel.config_otel()
+
 OpenAIInstrumentor().instrument()
 FastAPIInstrumentor.instrument_app(app)
 tracer = trace.get_tracer(__name__)
@@ -31,8 +33,7 @@ async def run_financial_health_analysis(stock_ticker: str):
     try:
         with tracer.start_as_current_span("run_financial_analysis_report", kind=SpanKind.SERVER) as span:
             logger.info("Starting finacial report generation..")
-            # Load the configuration data
-            config_data = config_reader.load_yaml("./sk_financial_analyst/config/config.yaml")
+
             key_vault_url = os.environ.get("KEY_VAULT_URL")
 
             # Get values from the configuration data