Are you getting the most from Microsoft 365?

For many organisations, Microsoft 365 is simply part of everyday working life, using Outlook for email, Teams for meetings or Word and Excel for documents, but if that’s where your use of Microsoft 365 ends, you may only be using a fraction of what’s available to your organisation.

The question isn’t necessarily whether you need more technology but whether you’re getting enough from the technology you’re already paying for.

Technology should make people’s jobs easier, but over time, businesses can accumulate different systems, applications, processes and ways of working. Files can often end up stored in different places, people develop their own processes and information gets duplicated.

Microsoft 365 can help organisations create a more joined-up working environment, but only when it’s configured around how the organisation actually operates.

Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive can provide employees with secure ways to communicate, collaborate and access information quickly and easily. Used effectively, they can help reduce:

• Multiple versions of the same document
• Files being sent backwards and forwards by email
• Information stored on individual devices
• Time spent searching for documents
• Barriers between employees working from different locations

Having a joined-up approach can make everyday tasks much simpler for your team.

Making Microsoft work smarter for your business

People join organisations, leave, change roles and take on different responsibilities, and your Microsoft licensing should change with them. Regular licence reviews can help identify whether you’re paying for accounts or features that are no longer required, as well as whether some employees could benefit from functionality they’re not currently using.

It’s a relatively simple piece of IT housekeeping that can help organisations make better use of their technology budget. Microsoft 365 also plays an important role in your wider cyber security strategy. User access, multi-factor authentication, sharing permissions and security settings all need to be configured and managed appropriately.

As working practices evolve, regularly reviewing who has access to your systems and information becomes increasingly important.

Microsoft and AI

AI is rapidly becoming another consideration for businesses using Microsoft technologies. Tools such as Microsoft Copilot have the potential to help employees find information, create content and improve productivity, but organisations shouldn’t adopt AI simply because it’s available.

Think first about what you’re trying to achieve:

• Where could AI genuinely save employees time?
• What information can it access?
• What policies and governance should you have in place?

How will employees use it appropriately?

Successful adoption should always start with the business need before the technology.

When did you last review your Microsoft 365 setup?

If Microsoft 365 has simply grown alongside your organisation, it may be worth taking a fresh look at it.

Consider:

• Are employees using the right licences?
• Are you paying for licences you no longer need?
• Is information being stored and shared appropriately?
• Are Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive being used effectively?
• Are your security settings properly configured?
• Could automation or AI improve particular processes?

Does your setup still reflect the way your organisation works today?

Sometimes the opportunity isn’t investing in something new, but getting more from what you already have.

Make Microsoft 365 work for your organisation

At abtec, we help businesses and organisations make technology work for the way they operate, from Microsoft licensing and cloud solutions to security, support and advice.

If you’re unsure whether you’re getting the best value from your Microsoft 365 environment, let’s take a look.

📩 info@abtec.net
📞 01942 209060
🌐 www.abtec.net