As workforces become more mobile, the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively on the web is more important than ever. Cloud and mobile technologies enable businesses to strengthen teamwork across remote workforces, but that doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune on expensive bespoke software. In fact, chances are you already have the necessary tools available to you.
Microsoft Office 365 is the world’s most popular productivity suite, with an adoption rate of 56 percent, and that’s not only because it includes Word, Excel, and Outlook. The cloud-managed subscription service features a great deal of collaboration, communication, and project management apps business users can tap into. Let’s take a look at how Office 365 helps you build a more productive and efficient team:
#1. Online storage with OneDrive
Online storage gives users a central repository for storing their documents and making them accessible via any internet-enabled device. You can choose from a wide range of sharing permissions to keep files and folders private, share them only with specific people or teams or keep them open to the public. All Office 365 business plans come with 1 TB of online storage space per user, though it’s possible with certain plans to increase this to 25 TB. Even without an Office 365 user account, 5 GB of storage space is available for free to anyone who uses Windows.
#2. Universal note-taking with OneNote
If your employees’ desks and screens are constantly plastered with sticky notes with important reminders, to-do lists, and ideas for the next big project, then it’s probably time to upgrade to a more efficient solution. OneNote for Windows 10 is available for free with Windows 10, but Office 365 subscribers can also download OneNote 2016, which allows users to store local copies of their notebooks, which may be automatically synchronized with OneDrive storage. OneNote notebooks stored in the cloud can also be accessed and co-authored simultaneously just like any cloud-hosted Word or Excel document.
#3. Video conferencing with Skype
Long gone are the days when the only way to communicate quickly was to pick up a landline telephone. Today, online telephony is the new norm, thanks to greater efficiency and reduced costs. Since Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011, the platform has become an integral part of the Office 365 ecosystem. It assists with collaboration thanks to voice and video calling, instant messaging, screen sharing and web conferencing. It’s also available for smartphones.
#4. Enterprise social networking with Yammer
When you’re trying to maintain high productivity levels throughout remote workforces, the last thing you want is for people to be wasting time on Facebook and Twitter. Enterprise social networking takes a different approach by providing businesses with a private space for employees to communicate in real time and maintain a constantly growing archive of company knowledge. With real-time crowd-sourced content, Yammer gives employees instant access to the resources they need to do their jobs.
#5. Team sites with SharePoint Online
For larger organizations, trying to connect everyone through a single group becomes difficult to manage. SharePoint Online lets businesses create Team sites for each department and/or project so that people can easily access the resources and contacts they need without being overwhelmed by irrelevant information.
Team sites feature their own homepages, news feeds, and document libraries, while integration with OneDrive makes it easy for teams to work on the same documents from any location. It also provides various third-party integrations with enterprise software like accounting and customer relationship management systems, so users can access relevant client, sales, and financial information without leaving Team sites.
Taking advantage of Office 365 collaboration tools can go along way in increasing the effectiveness of your mobile workforce. For more solutions and services that empower remote workers, reduce stress, and boost efficiency, contact TechSquared today. We provide a thorough assessment and implement a mobile technology strategy that aligns with your needs and budget.
