Just as a small flame can quickly grow into a raging inferno when it’s provided with enough fuel, a small business can rapidly expand and achieve new levels of success with the right strategies and resources.
In this article, we will explore several ways Microsoft 365 can help small businesses scale up and grow. The collection of productivity software and cloud-based services is designed to make it easy for SMBs to digitally transform their processes, and its cost-effective subscription-based pricing can accommodate any IT budget.
Several Ways Microsoft 365 Can Help SMBs Scale Up and Grow:
Take Your Business to the Cloud
According to the most recent annual Flexera State of the Cloud Report, 63 percent of SMB workloads and 62 percent of SMB data will reside in a public cloud within the next year, and Microsoft 365 is one of the biggest drivers of SMB cloud adoption.
By moving their productivity apps and other IT resources, such as compute power and storage, to Microsoft’s cloud, SMBs can free themselves from the shackles of physical IT infrastructure and access scalable, secure, and reliable computing resources on demand.
As a result, SMBs become able to respond quickly to changing business needs, and they also gain the ability to focus sharply on their day-to-day operations instead of being distracted by IT issues that are outside their own area of expertise.
Become Location Independent
One way that small businesses can scale up is by hiring remote workers. This allows them to access a wider pool of talent, as they are not limited to hiring employees who live near their physical location.
Microsoft 365 gives SMBs the tools they need to enable employees—both those who work in the office and those who are remote—to securely access data from anywhere, collaborate in real-time on documents, and stay connected via text, audio, and video chat.
Besides familiar desktop applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Teams, and Outlook employees can take advantage of their web and mobile versions to do work not just from any place but also on any device beyond the typical laptop and desktop setup.
Ace Compliance & Cybersecurity
Microsoft 365 can help small businesses comply with various regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, or CMMC, transforming them from scalability roadblocks to sources of competitive advantage.
Tools like Azure Information Protection can be used to ensure that sensitive data remains protected regardless of where it’s stored or who it’s shared with. Additionally, Microsoft 365 offers data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and advanced threat protection to keep today’s cyber threats at bay.
Microsoft 365 users can use robust auditing and reporting features to track user activity and generate reports that can help them demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements without spending an unreasonable amount of time on these activities.
Unlock Business Intelligence
One of the key features of Microsoft 365 is its integration with Power BI, a powerful business analytics platform that can help businesses visualize and analyze their data.
Power BI allows businesses to connect to a wide range of data sources, including databases, spreadsheets, and web services. All this data can then be combined and transformed into meaningful insights to drive business growth.
For example, Power BI can help businesses identify trends and patterns in their data, allowing them to anticipate customer needs and respond more effectively to changing market conditions. It can also help businesses monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) so they can confidently make course corrections as needed.
How Can TechGen Help Customize Microsoft 365 for Your Business?
TechGen can help your small business plan and implement its Microsoft 365 deployment. We can work with you to identify your business needs and goals, providing guidance and expertise on how to configure and customize Microsoft 365 to meet your unique requirements.
Post deployment, we can deliver ongoing support and maintenance, monitor your systems to keep them running smoothly and securely, and train your employees on how to use Microsoft 365 effectively.
Contact us today to scale up your small business with Microsoft 365.