Microsoft is continuing to invest heavily in Office 365. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has made clear with his “mobile first, cloud first” strategy that Office 365 is part of Microsoft’s long-term strategic vision. This is good news for small and medium businesses. As Microsoft continues to add features and robust functionality, it ensures that smaller organisations will have access to advanced enterprise-grade capabilities that can transform their business and empower employees.
Small business leaders who fail to take advantage of Office 365 risk losing their competitive advantage. Office 365 equips your organisation for success with enterprise-calibre capabilities and leading business technologies. Office 365 optimises employee performance, improves productivity, jumpstarts innovation, and improves team effectiveness.
Here are six ways that Office 365 can transform the way your business functions.
1. Flexibility to Work How You Want, Where You Want
Office 365 gives you the flexibility to work how you want, where you want, and on what device you want. Microsoft has been continuing to expand partnerships and is showing an unprecedented openness to support the tools customers want to use. This is shown in its recent support for third-party backup services and expanding availability of native apps for Android and iOS.
2. Mobility: Seamless Experience on Any Device
Most Office 365 plans allow the installation of Office, not just on PCs or Macs, but also on up to five tablets and phones. This allows you to work wherever you are, whether you are online or offline. You can even attend meetings and video conferences from your mobile device. Microsoft has been developing native apps for its Office suite for Android and iOS for a seamless experience. Office 365 provides a consistent and optimised experience across PCs, offline or online, mobile devices, and browsers.
3. Collaboration
Office 365 facilitates dynamic team collaboration. Teams can improve communication and work together more seamlessly. Team sites keep important files accessible and easy to find. Team sites support automatic policies, rights protection, and archiving to ensure that valuable information is protected. Office 365 also supports project-specific mailboxes to easily find project emails. Office 365 supports version control and tracks comments and updates. This allow team members to work together on the same document.
4. Secure Encrypted File Sharing and Online Storage
Files are always available with secure, encrypted OneDrive for Business. Files are automatically synchronised and saved online ensuring access to the latest version. Files can be edited and shared from any browser or mobile device.OneDrive for Business is a vital tool to discourage users from saving sensitive corporate information in unmanaged and potential unsecure cloud services. Users can easily access files from any device, on-demand.Files can be shared with others who are in or outside of the organization, such as business partners, contractors, and customers. Access control allows you to determine which users can view and which can edit documents.Those outside your organisation do not need Microsoft Office or Office 365 to edit documents. Microsoft is releasing apps that allow those with no Office 365 subscription to edit Office content on iPhones, iPads and Android devices.In addition to OneDrive for Business, Office 365 support of third party backup services such as Box and Dropbox for Business.
5. On-Click Video Conferencing and Screen Sharing
Office 365 supports HD video for up to 250 people. Online meetings and video conferences can be set up in advance or at the spur of the moment, with a few clicks in your familiar Outlook interface. Meeting can be joined quickly and easily through the Outlook calendar invite. Real-time note taking and one-click screen sharing, recording and file uploads provide a robust collaborative experience.
6. Corporate Social Network
Yammer’s corporate social network allows employees to share information and ideas across departments and locations. The free exchange of ideas and information can jump start innovation by spurring creative thinking, and generating fresh ideas to solve problems and improve processes.
Yammer also helps employees easily identify resources and find information, across the business groups allowing them to work better and faster.
Help Your Business Achieve More
Outsourced IT can help your small business function better with Office 365 and our proactive managed IT services. Managed services and Office 365 ensures a reliable, stable IT infrastructure that is always up to date and secure. This allow you to focus on driving your core business goals.
Outsourced IT can help you evaluate Office 365 and determine if it is right for your organisation. Additionally, our managed services offerings can further reduce IT management burdens and further optimise your computing environment. Contact us to set up a free trial customised for your organization.
