Let’s find out. We all like to get bang for buck. That’s why we’re sharing how to maximise productivity with Microsoft 365 so that you can make the most out of your investment by using ALL the tools.
With over 1.2 billion people using Microsoft Office worldwide, it’s clear that its productivity tools have become essential in the modern workplace. And Microsoft 365 is at the heart of it.
Beyond the familiar products like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and Outlook, Microsoft 365 offers so much more. It empowers teams with cloud-based solutions that foster real-time collaboration and enhance workflows across the organisation. Therefore, making your people more productive and your business more profitable.
Put plainly, Microsoft 365 business premium helps businesses of all sizes boost productivity, simplify workflows, and improve teamwork – if you know how to use it.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at the features that are part of your package that you likely don’t know about, that could be a game-changer for your business.
For SME’s the ability to streamline operations without the overhead of an in-house IT department is crucial. Cue, Microsoft 365, which offers that perfect balance of flexibility and control.
In an increasingly competitive market, efficiency and scalability are vital. With Microsoft 365, SMEs gain access to enterprise-grade tools that scale with their needs – without the costs associated with maintaining complex IT systems.
Plus, Microsoft 365 offers a ton of resources to help you get the most out of its tools.
We’ve seen first-hand how these tools can transform the way you work and collaborate. So, if you’re wondering where to start, here are 8 key apps that have made a real difference for businesses, and we’re confident they’ll do the same for you.
1. Planner – Stay on top of projects
When it comes to managing projects, Planner is a must – helping you break everything down into manageable chunks to stay on top of your workload. We love how simple it is to create boards, assign tasks to yourself or your team, and set deadlines, so everything’s right in front of you, and nothing gets lost. Plus, it’s integrated with Teams, which makes it easy to check in on tasks while collaborating.
If staying organised is a struggle, Planner will quickly become your best friend.
2. Microsoft Forms – Quick and easy surveys
Why pay for third-party survey tools when Microsoft Forms is built into your subscription? Microsoft Forms allows you to create professional surveys or polls in no time, and view responses as they come in. No design experience necessary! It’s an intuitive platform that makes gathering information easy and accessible for everyone. Whether you’re gathering input from your team or organising an event, Forms makes it straightforward. Plus, with Teams integration, sharing is effortless.
For simple and effective data collection, Forms is your go-to.
3. Microsoft Lists – Organise your work your way
Bring order to the chaos with Lists. Whether you are managing tasks, tracking inventory, building a client / candidate list, Lists has you covered. Think of this as a more user friendly version of Excel. You can customise views, create rules for notifications with Power Automate, populate your lists through integrations into Forms and even automate updates.
Bonus points: If you’re working with a team, you can integrate with Teams, so everything stays connected and no more hunting for files and progress.
If you’re looking for a flexible tool to stay organised, this is it.
4. Microsoft Stream – Simplify video sharing
Microsoft Stream is the go-to for sharing videos with a team. You can use it to upload training sessions, share meeting recordings, and even create tutorials. It’s great because everything stays within your organisation, and the built-in transcript feature makes it easy to search for specific moments in any video. Plus, it integrates with Teams, so sharing a video is just a few clicks away.
If video is a big part of your communication, Stream is a must-have.
5. Power Automate – Automate the tedious stuff
Spend way too much time on small, repetitive tasks?
Get automating with Power Automate. It’s like having a personal assistant for your digital tasks. Set up workflows that automatically save email attachments to OneDrive, send reminders when deadlines are coming up, and even forward certain emails to specific teams.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, the limit to what you can do is the limit of your imagination!
6. Microsoft To Do – Your personal task manager
Microsoft To Do helps you keep your day on track. It’s a simple but powerful tool for managing tasks and setting priorities. You create lists for different projects, set reminders, and use the “My Day” feature to focus on what’s most important. The best part? It syncs across all your devices and integrates with Outlook, so you always know what’s on your plate.
To Do makes staying on top of your tasks easy.
7. Microsoft Intune – Stay in control of your devices
Worried about remote security? Microsoft Intune lets you secure and manage access to company data across both personal and work devices so that these devices are safe and compliant. You can update software, enforce security measures, or even wipe a device remotely – all from one dashboard.
If safeguarding devices and data is key, Intune keeps things under control with ease.
8. Viva Engage – Engage employees and build communities
Remote working can be tough when it comes to building employee engagement and keeping morale high. Viva Engage brings people together, providing a centralised hub for communication, knowledge sharing, recognition, and feedback. With Viva Engage, employees can stay informed about company news and updates, participate in discussions, access learning resources, and celebrate achievements – all within the familiar Teams interface.
Foster a sense of belonging to retain the people that you don’t want to lose, through employee communities and conversations.
Everything is difficult until it’s easy. The same goes for learning new applications. But once you get the hang of these, you’ll kick yourself for taking so long to use them.
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Modern Work, we know Microsoft 365 inside and out. This certification is our Microsoft stamp of approval saying, Avensys Tech, you know what you’re doing. And we do. We can help recruitment SMEs implement their MS365 solutions the right way, reducing your costs and making your business more connected. And, with a direct hotline to Microsoft Support, we can solve your problems even faster!
Curious to see how using these applications can improve productivity and profit? Reach out to one of our team for advice on making the most of your Microsoft 365 investment. We’re happy to help.
Or book in your FREE 30-minute no-obligation discovery call and get the advice you need to make Microsoft 365 work for you.
