If we’re being honest, our initial thoughts when we consider Microsoft 365 tend to fall into two categories: Microsoft Word or email hosting. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll be fully aware of the uses and benefits to you and your business that Microsoft 365 offers. Consider your productivity and efficiency sorted, from the very moment you come on board!
‘Technology is best when it brings people together’ – Matt Mullenweg, 2021.
What is Microsoft 365?
We understand that any investment in business should be a thoroughly thought through process, as minimising unnecessary expenses is a priority for us all. With this in mind, we want you to fully understand the Microsoft 365 picture, before deciding whether it’s right for you and your business.
Before we get to grips with the benefits of using Microsoft 365, we wanted to unpick what it actually entails.
The first and possibly most over-riding purpose of Microsoft 365 is the tool of collaboration all around the globe. In short, it achieves this by its very being – a productivity cloud. As well as offering multi-user pioneering apps (such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel) the cloud-based intelligence and first-class security are second to none. True to its nature, it is designed to boost innovation and productivity, whether this be at home with your family, or shared across your team in the workplace.
Benefits of using Microsoft 365
- Full, unrestricted access to all of the Microsoft 365 pioneering apps (including office, outlook, teams, one drive and several more!)
- Easily managed IT, with all upgrades and future technical integrations automatically pushed and managed, as well as the use of the world-class Cloud based system
- Significantly improved collaboration tools
- World leading online security and compliance
- Unlimited access, across multiple devices from any place, any time! (Regardless of device type, e.g., Apple, Windows, PCs, Mac, etc)
- Increased productivity and efficiency across your various departments
- A 1TB vast amount of OneDrive cloud storage *For reference, 1 TB equals 1,000 gigabytes (GB) or 1,000,000 megabytes (MB)
- Increase user confidence, in terms of safety, compliance and safe storage of sensitive data
Accessibility is key!
Through using 365, you can access any file, folder, or document anywhere, at any time. All you need is a secure internet connection and you’re sorted. This means you can be flexible with your teams, as they can work from anywhere! In turn, this will inevitably build morale and motivation too, which also leads to increased productivity and efficiency!
Collaboration = better communication
To be a successful business, effective, clear communication between every team member is paramount. Shockingly, a recent study showed that nearly 75 percent of communications that are received are interpreted incorrectly within the workforce.
Therefore, being able to accessibly communicate is essential. Through Outlook and Teams, you can easily hold successful conference calls, group meetings and communicate with external agencies from anywhere in the world. Teams provides instant communication, through its instinctive ability to send instant messages and comments, whilst uploading files between users. Constant and immediate communication is necessary throughout the working day, so with the added feature of being able to ‘@’ colleagues, this never goes astray.
The ability to edit documents in ‘real time’ also contributes to a centralised, clear line of communication. Documents can be shared on the SharePoint , as well as scheduling meetings ahead of time. All of these features inevitably improve communication, punctuality, organisation and efficiency.
Limitless access to all apps
Another excellent advantage to adopting 365 in your workplace is the unlimited user access you’re granted. Whether you’re a small team of two or have over one hundred team members, each member is granted full access, with their own user license. If this feels like a huge financial commitment, don’t worry as you can easily and efficiently change the number of licenses you need, so you’re not left in a position of wastage, over-spending or over-licensing!
Safety and security of the cloud
We’ve all been there before, when either yourself or a colleague loses, shreds, or misplaces a vital file. Fear not – with the cloud-based system, you’ll never lose or misplace a file again!
All files, documents and folders are intrinsically backed up on the cloud, with back-ups happening
regularly. As well as regular back-ups, the system is also completely safe and secure, as you will be guaranteed the most diligent security measures, such as two-factor authentication and complete protection against ongoing cyber security threats.
In an ever-growing age of technology, it’s vital you and your organisation keep harvested data completely securely. Operating Microsoft 365 also comes with intelligent threat detection and anti-malware software, meaning any potential threats are identified and stopped immediately. (Thank goodness for that!)
Did you know…?
- In case you weren’t sure, we wanted to clarify that Office 365 and Microsoft 365 are the same packages. Microsoft rebranded the Office 365 package into the new Microsoft title back in 2020, so you may see the two terms used interchangeably!
- The Microsoft Office 365 suite is a hosted, online version of the previous traditionally installed version of Microsoft Office software (hence where the title cloud-based comes from!)
- According to research undertaken by Statistica in 2022, over one million companies worldwide have chosen to use Microsoft365. (So, you know you’re in good company!)
Feel free to contact us!
As always, if you have any queries, questions or concerns with regards to using Microsoft 365, please don’t hesitate to book a consultation. We’d love to help you use and explore 365’s full capacities, taking advantage of the many benefits it would bring to your business. Our experienced advisors are on hand to talk you through the many facets of onboarding 365 within your organisation.
