Microsoft 365 has helped companies become more productive and cost-efficient.

Organizations can work collaboratively on files, use videoconferencing tools so that globally dispersed teams meet in real time, and use AI to gain business insights.

At the same time, companies haven’t maximized the platform’s full value. That’s because, while Microsoft 365 benefits are myriad, many companies use the platform in application silos. They often work in specific apps, such as Microsoft Word, Teams, and Outlook. But they don’t centralize the information or use business intelligence and AI to gain actionable insight from their valuable business information. This modular approach doesn’t maximize the benefits of the M365 platform as a whole.

Managed service providers (MSPs) can help companies turn this around and recognize the full value of Microsoft 365. MSPs can bolster company security and cyber-resilience, enhance organizational productivity, and harness data insights to foster business growth and customer experience.

Optimizing company use of Microsoft 365 

According to a survey from IT research firm Gartner Inc., only 10% of respondents said they had gained maximum return on investment (ROI) from M365.

That’s because many companies don’t know what they’re missing in terms of capabilities.

“The reality is many companies underestimate just how much can be achieved with M365, and because they don’t know what they don’t know, these resourceful treasures are left undiscovered (and they’re paying for them!),” wrote the authors in “7 Signs You’re Not Using Microsoft 365 to Its Full Potential.”

By learning how to maximize M365, companies can unlock greater value.

This is where a skilled MSP—with expertise in your business, industry, regulations, and IT environment—can make the difference.

“Partnering [with an MSP] … can provide invaluable assistance in navigating these challenges. With … expertise and guidance, businesses can overcome resistance to change and empower employees to embrace the new technology,” writes Ravi S. in “Master Microsoft 365 for Maximizing Business Efficiency and Collaboration.”

Maximizing Microsoft 365 use also unlocks business transformation and innovation—specifically by using AI to tap data-driven insights, automation, and business productivity.

Tapping the key benefits of M365          

The first step in gaining greater benefits from M365 is to identify areas of potential benefit. Here is a rundown of some of these key areas.

• Increased efficiency. AI can automate tasks, optimize workflows, and provide real-time data analysis, freeing up employees to focus on strategic initiatives. According to one survey, 70% of Copilot users said they were more productive and 68% said it improved the quality of their work.
• Cost savings. By automating tasks, improving resource allocation, and optimizing processes, AI can lead to significant cost reductions for businesses. According to one estimate, M365 offers a three-year return on investment of 197%. Using IT management tools in Microsoft 365, some organizations have reduced IT support tickets by 45% and boosted resolution time by 21%.
• Optimized licensing. Organizations often pay for unused M365 features or overlook valuable tools already included in their subscription. The rapid evolution of M365 only augments licensing issues, with new features and services constantly being added to the platform. MSPs can help you structure licensing to reduce costs and eliminate complexity.
• Enhanced security and compliance. Microsoft 365 can sit at the core of your cybersecurity strategy, providing users with secure access to applications, preventing and even predicting cyberthreats, and managing incident response, data backup, and disaster recovery. Data storage, governance, and management are also key aspects of M365 security and compliance.
• Data-driven insights. Data-driven business insight is the new gold for companies. Data enables companies to navigate business decisions , such as predicting inventory needs, developing new product lines, and better understanding customer preferences. Better data can help companies identify threats and opportunities—even in real time. AI-enabled capabilities allow organizations to automate workflows and tasks that free employees to be more strategic.
• Improved collaboration and productivity. M365 can facilitate seamless collaboration across teams, regardless of location, and ensure that all members are aligned on projects. M365 enables organizations to centralize documents, create real-time communication with Teams and channels, and use tools like Copilot to summarize and query a variety of information, from email messages to 20-page documents to meeting transcripts.These features, however, come when organizations take a unified approach to the platform, it enables them to collaborate and work more efficiently. While these applications operate independently, of course, they are built on a fabric that “weaves together” the capabilities of each application to support and supplement other applications.
• Competitive advantage. By adopting AI, companies can stay ahead of the curve, adapt to market changes, and gain a competitive edge.

How MSPs can help organizations maximize Microsoft 365 use

MSPs can help customers get full value out of M365 platform by using it holistically rather than in a modular fashion.

A holistic platform approach enables organizations to secure and monitor their IT environments, automate mundane tasks, gain data insights for better decision making, and collaborate more effectively—all without compromising sensitive data or violating key industry compliance regulations. Let’s explore some of the key areas where MSPs can help organizations get maximum Microsoft 365 benefits.

• License management. Organizations can struggle to track licenses and manage updates and upgrades for multiple user licenses. MSPs can shoulder this burden, identifying the right licenses for business needs.
• M365 deployment. Companies need help maximizing an M365 platform deployment to reduce costs, optimize feature use, and boost the value they garner from their investment.
• M365 support. With MSPs, organizations get access to specialists in M365 who also understand their business and industry requirements and can help address issues with Microsoft 365 service.
• Data insights. MSPs can help organizations identify key metrics to track and visualize in dashboards that are digestible, shareable, and actionable. When organizations are accountable to these data insights, they can drive greater revenue, understand customer experience, and improve operational efficiency.
• Updates and management. MSPs can provide the latest updates, patches, and security fixes. These updates are critical to prevent malicious actors from identifying vulnerabilities in your environment.
• MSPS can also provide critical monitoring of an organization’s environment to identify threats and address them quickly—sometimes even proactively.
• MSPs can provide critical user training to enable users to maximize the platform and ensure change management as organizations integrate new practices into their use of 365.

Managed service providers are at the forefront, with knowledge and expertise on how to maximize Microsoft 365 for their clients in various industries. They can help companies modernize, reduce costs, and innovate with the capabilities of M365.

“The quietest competitive advantage belongs to organizations with MSPs that unlock Microsoft 365 as an integrated business platform,” says Damon Dobbs, Integris IT product manager, “while their competitors mistake it for simple office tools.”