written by: Łukasz Potrzebka, on
In many companies, the presence of Microsoft 365 is a fact of life. The package appears on invoices, and its icons are present on employees’ desktops. Sometimes someone will open Word, other times they will respond to a message via Teams. The tools are available – but is their potential really being used? Are employees deriving real benefits from the platform provided? And finally: what is Microsoft 365 really?
Because Microsoft 365 is much more than just Word and Excel. It’s an extensive ecosystem of tools for team collaboration, communication, knowledge sharing and organization of daily duties. It’s also one of the most popular office suites in the world – almost every second company uses it. So there’s a good chance that people on your team have already had exposure to it.
Depending on the size of the organization and the specific nature of the teams, Microsoft offers a variety of licensing plans – from small business versions to elaborate enterprise packages. There are also licenses tailored to front-line workers and those in the office. Even the basic plan gives access to a whole set of useful services. In addition to classic applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint, collaboration and communication tools are often included: Exchange, SharePoint, Viva or Teams.
Microsoft 365 is a platform that, when used properly, can significantly increase the efficiency of teamwork and facilitate day-to-day operations in an organization. The question is, is your company taking advantage of this opportunity?
Do you know the names of the applications, do you know what goes into the package? That’s a good start, but knowledge alone is not enough. The value is not in owning the technology, but in its practical application. And this means, among other things: more efficient handling of everyday matters, faster implementation of new employees, fewer questions for the IT department, reduction of unnecessary email correspondence, more effective communication within the team. It’s a situation in which the employee finds answers to his questions on his own – without having to write, call or consult others.
For this to be possible, tools need to be used on a daily basis. Buying running shoes does not make one run a marathon. You still have to start training in those shoes.
Microsoft 365 implementation should not be limited to one email saying: “new tools are available from today – good luck!”. Imagine buying a new coffee maker, leaving it in a cardboard box on the kitchen counter and hoping that everyone will figure out on their own how to operate it. That’s not likely what a good implementation looks like, is it?
It’s similar with Microsoft 365. Users need to know that something has changed, understand why it’s worth using – and be able to handle it. Otherwise, instead of improvements, there is frustration and resistance.
That’s why it’s crucial to involve employees right from the implementation stage. It’s best to start with simple, concrete actions that demonstrate the real value of the new tool. A quick success – even a small one – can convince even the biggest skeptic.
You don’t need a perfect plan to get started. Microsoft 365 works well with an agile deployment approach. Small changes, quick prototypes, testing with your team – all of these can be implemented almost immediately.
Many times it takes just one workshop to plan and test a working version of such a solution. It works like Design Thinking on a hypercharge. And if it works – the prototype can be piloted right away.
Realizing the full potential of Microsoft 365 is not just a matter of goodwill among employees. Adequate support is crucial – both during implementation and later, in daily use.
Fortunately, Microsoft offers an extensive ecosystem of partners, making it easier to carry out the so-called Assessment, i.e. a diagnosis of the organization’s needs, user readiness and possible improvements. This is the first step to getting the tools to actually work for the team, and not just figure on an invoice.
Well-planned implementation and real support – these are the elements that often determine the success (or failure) of the entire project. With Microsoft, you don’t have to go down this road alone. There are partners who will help you leverage everything you’ve already paid for.
Every organization has different needs and a different starting point. For one, the best solution will be to launch an intranet, for another – to implement chatbots, and for yet another – to organize the collaboration space in Teams or SharePoint.
In our experience, the greatest value comes from… inspiration. Showing what can be done. Seeing examples from other companies. Assessing what makes sense to implement. Only on this basis is it worth planning the next steps – with a specific goal, timeline and measurable results.
Want to see how your company can make better use of Microsoft 365? Write to us – we’ll invite you to a free inspiration session. We’ll talk about the real possibilities and match them to your organization. We’ll also see if you can take advantage of available programs that help reduce implementation costs.
Don’t wait – get back to us and see what else you can do with Microsoft 365!
See your intranet come to life before you commit. With Engagy360, you don’t just imagine your ideal digital workplace. You get a working prototype tailored to your organization, ready to explore and test. Schedule a demo and see your intranet in action!
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