It’s no secret that modern workplaces are evolving in new and exciting ways. We see examples in new mobile apps, the growing acceptance of remote working, and our appetite for online collaboration tools. Ideally, our modern workplaces are an environment where individuals are their most productive, and everyone communicates and collaborates seamlessly, regardless of where teams are working. The latest office productivity tools are working to meet these goals, and it’s for a good reason. A study by Mckinsey reveals the right online communication and collaboration tools can deliver a massive ROI! Some estimates include increasing productivity by 20 to 30%. (Source: Mckinsey)
Introducing the ‘cloud office’
So, organizations know they need to adapt to support new ways of working, but how? What applications and collaboration ecosystems are best? And, is it possible to align new solutions with tools users already know and love? The answer is a resounding, yes! One company standing out as a ‘cloud office’ powerhouse is Microsoft. The re-invention of Microsoft Office and Exchange to a subscription-based cloud service model is having a big impact on companies of all sizes. Since its introduction in 2011, companies are migrating to Exchange Online from on-premise versions of Exchange in astounding numbers. Today one out of every five corporate employees is using Office 365 cloud services, totaling some 180 million users. Many believe Microsoft Office 365 is taking over as the go-to office solution. Let’s dig deeper into how and why:
A hub for working together
Integrated with Office 365, Microsoft Teams is also changing the dynamics of the modern office. Microsoft Teams is a unified communications (UC) platform that gets everyone to get on the same page with working. It includes group chat, online meetings, file sharing and storage, web conferencing, and voice capabilities. Teams enables organizations to make VoIP calls to other individuals running the Microsoft Teams app – using a Windows PC, Apple Mac/iPhone/iPad, or Google Android device. Microsoft Office 365, Teams, combined with voice calling provides the ultimate productivity hub – powering individuals to host audio, video, and web meetings, and chat with individuals inside or outside the organization. Why do you need Teams plus voice integration?
Staying the course
Mobility and remote working trends are pushing organizations to find new ways to connect and to support communication. And, as the technology landscape continues to shift in favor of mobile devices and cloud services, Microsoft is emerging as a true innovator supporting the needs of the digital enterprise. However, combining and deploying cloud, collaboration, and voice technologies is also complicated! For most companies, it’s a marathon, not a sprint! If you want to learn more about building your own modern enterprise by leveraging the Microsoft ecosystem, talk to CTG! We can help you navigate your journey from on-prem Exchange to Office 365 to Teams, plus add voice integration when the time is right! Improve your employees’ ability to communicate and collaborate fully, with complete technical guidance and managed migration support from CTG. Let’s do this!