Aftermaths of the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the way businesses operate to remote workforces. About 61% of employees are choosing to remain remote even after the pandemic, but the productivity of employees working from home has been a common concern for employers.
To ensure that your business maintains its productivity, it’s important to invest in the right tools and solutions. And in some instances, that means implementing Microsoft 365 for small businesses.
What Is Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that includes access to productivity, collaboration, and security tools, including the well-known Microsoft Office suite of applications. The service also includes cloud storage and file sharing with OneDrive, real-time collaboration with Teams, and advanced security features. Plus, it’s affordable and easy to use, making it the perfect choice for small businesses on a budget.
Here is a closer look at how Microsoft 365 can help your small business be more productive.
Sharing Through Cloud-Based Services
An advantage of using Microsoft 365 for small businesses is that it allows you to share information and knowledge easily through cloud-based services. Your team can access files, documents, and data from anywhere in the world, at any time. The cloud also performs regular backups of your data, so you never have to worry about losing important information.
With Microsoft 365, small businesses can take advantage of OneDrive, a cloud storage service that makes it easy to store, access, and share files. You can also use SharePoint to create a central repository for your business’s documents, data, and knowledge.
Efficient Communication Platforms
One way that Microsoft 365 for small businesses increases productivity is by providing them with efficient communication platforms. These platforms can help employees communicate with each other more easily and efficiently.
One communication platform is Skype for business. This tool can be used for voice and video calls, as well as instant messaging. It’s a great way to stay in touch with employees who are working remotely.
Another communication platform that’s available through Microsoft 365 is Teams. This tool allows you to create chat rooms for specific projects or teams, so everyone can easily stay up-to-date on the latest developments. You can also use Teams to make voice and video calls, and to share files and documents.
Remote Workforce Benefits
Another productivity benefit of Microsoft 365 for small businesses is the ability to have a remote workforce. The many applications available in Microsoft 365, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, can all be accessed from anywhere in the world. Your employees can work from home, on the road, or from a remote location without missing anything important.
The real-time collaboration features of Teams allow your team to stay connected and work together, even when they’re not in the same location. You can easily share files, documents, and data with team members, and work on projects together in real-time.
With Planner, small businesses can improve their productivity by keeping track of projects and tasks more easily. This tool can help you easily create and assign tasks, set deadlines, and track the progress of projects. You can also use Planner to create visual representations of your projects, so everyone on your team can see what needs to be done.
Internal and External Collaboration
Many of the internal apps can also be used for external collaboration. For example, you can use SharePoint to invite clients to access it. Or, you can use Teams to set up a chat room for a specific project, and invite external partners to join in.
Microsoft 365 also offers compliance features that allow you to control how data is shared with external partners. You can set up data loss prevention policies to prevent sensitive information from being accidentally shared.
Continuous and Current Updates
Another way that Microsoft 365 can help small businesses be more productive is by providing them with continuous and current updates. Updates will ensure that businesses always have the latest versions of the software, which can help your IT department focus on other critical tasks and increase security.
Improved Security
With Microsoft 365, small businesses will always have access to the latest security features and compliance tools. This can help reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure that your business is compliant with regulations. Data breaches can cost companies an average of $4.35 million and lead to costly downtime.
Microsoft 365 also provides a number of security features, such as multi-factor authentication and data loss prevention, that can help keep your business’s information safe.
Get Microsoft 365 for Your Small Business from Simple Systems
At Simple Systems, we can get you set up with Microsoft 365. We can help you choose the right plan for your business and get you started by using the productivity tools that are available. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business be more productive with Microsoft 365.
