Are you ready to change your company or personal teamwork approach? For any business, whether big or small, the effectiveness of the employee’s collaboration can be either the best thing or the worst thing in business. 

Here comes Microsoft Teams – a powerful collaboration solution that can help unite your team regardless of its members’ location. Still, if you want to unleash the full potential of Microsoft Teams, you might require a bit of assistance. That is where Microsoft Teams consulting comes in. 

In this blog, we will see how professional consulting can assist in achieving a better implementation of Microsoft Teams, improving the adoption of the final product or service, and improving collaboration. Stay with us by the end of this article to find out how Microsoft Teams consulting will help your business reach optimal potential and enhance your collaboration.

Understanding Microsoft Teams

You can consider Microsoft Team as a virtual office that brings together all the team members of your company. It allows them to work together irrespective of their geographical location. This virtual workplace helps your team to foster and carry out work in their comfort zone. The very basic idea behind the team is to integrate different forms of communication and cooperation into one system. So that the members of your company from different hierarchies can work together. 

Basic Characteristics of Microsoft Teams

Chat and Messaging

Teams have a comprehensive, mission-critical chat capability. There is an option to send instant messages to particular users or create chat rooms for some project teams, for example. These are not normal text-only chats where you write messages back and forth; you can also send files, images, and links to the conversation. This will keep all information related to a particular subject in one location and will be easy to retrieve.

Video Conferencing

Teams are good at convening people to meet or even work together face to face, even if they are physically located on different premises. For instance, it only takes a few clicks to begin video conferencing, which allows HD video, sharing of screens, and even using virtual backgrounds. This is ideal for working from home, as it assists in keeping friendly relations and guarantees the receiving end understands your message.

File Sharing and Collaboration

Being part of the Office 365 package, Microsoft Teams is tightly connected to OneDrive and SharePoint, enabling users to easily share files and work simultaneously. Files can be shared immediately in a chat or through a channel that has been created for the team.

Connect to Microsoft 365 Apps

Microsoft Teams has direct access to the Microsoft 365 suite which is one of its primary benefits. To cut a long story short, this brings Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other apps right within the Teams environment. All this means that, without having to get up from the platform, one can write documents, perform calculations in tables, and create presentations.

Advantages of Availing Microsoft Teams Consulting Services for Your Business

When you plan to be on board with new technologies, you may face some issues in the beginning. Microsoft Teams is loaded with features that can be of great value to your business process, but to harness them, you would need some expert guidance. 

Seamless Implementation

A beginner might find it difficult to embark on using Microsoft Teams especially if he or she is not conversant with technology. When starting with Microsoft Teams, an expert can help you get everything right right from the start and help you set it up. They will adapt it to the needs of your business, and this way, you will not be lost in millions of settings and configurations.

Enhanced User Adoption

It is important to note that a tool is only as effective as the users’ efficiency in using it. The problem that many companies experience is that of implementation, or more specifically, getting their teams to adopt new technologies. Training service providers provide packages that assist your employees in gaining knowledge about Microsoft Teams and how to utilize it. They offer further assistance throughout the process to ensure that any concerns are addressed as soon as possible. This not only increases the output but also makes your team more confident while performing the daily tasks.

Optimized Collaboration

Microsoft Teams is the best collaboration tool, but identifying how to use all the tools is not easy. Some consultants can assist you in managing Teams, from how to organize your channels properly, how to use chat and video calls, or how Teams can integrate with the tools that your business already employs.

How to Begin With Microsoft Team Consulting?

It is quite easy to start your journey with Microsoft Teams consulting and it can turn the tide for your business.

Initial Assessment and Consultation

Before you begin, you must have a clear understanding of your business needs. In other words, you need to carry out an analysis of the situation. In this process, you will have to assess the existing collaboration tool in your business. 

You need to ask yourself the following questions:

• What are the current issues that we experience in communication and cooperation among us?
• What type of tools are we using currently and how efficient are these?
• What are our goals for implementing Microsoft Teams?

After you have defined your requirements, the next step is to arrange a meeting with an MS Teams specialist.

Select An Experienced Consulting Firm

If you wish to work with the best, then realize that not all consultants are the same. You have to look for professional consultants who have a track record of successful work, experience in the field and positive customer feedback. 

Ask the following question to the firm.

• Do you have any examples, or can you refer to other businesses that are similar to this one?
• How do you relate to Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365?
• What strategies do you have in place for training the users and making them embrace the new technology?

Planning the Consulting Process

Once you have your consultant signed up it is time to map out the process.

Needs Analysis: Your consultant will first have to assess your business requirements, current setup, and objectives.

Customization and Configuration: According to the findings, the consultant will optimize and adjust Microsoft Teams to reflect the organizational processes.

Integration: If the consultant is aware of other tools, he or she will connect Microsoft Teams with these tools for the best workflow.

In the process of planning, communication is crucial to avoid confusion and misunderstandings. Scheduling of meetings and provision of updates will assist in keeping the project on the right track and every participant well informed.

Implementation and Training

The implementation phase is the stage that many people consider to be the most critical of all. Your consultant will assist you in the setup and will make all the necessary adjustments you might need. This comprises adding teams, channels, and permissions, as well as linking other Microsoft 365 tools such as SharePoint and OneDrive.

End-User Training: For general staff to gain a basic understanding of Microsoft Teams.

Administrator Training: This is for the management and maintenance of the platform by the IT employees.

Advanced Training: For power users who are going to use the more advanced functionality of the social platform.

Ongoing Support and Optimization

The process is not over when Microsoft Teams is live and actively implemented. Due to this, it is important to continue supporting and fine-tuning the strategies to make them lasting. Your consultant will be available to address all the concerns that may occur and to help with best practices.

Wrap-Up

Consulting can span the gap between Microsoft Teams and company needs – from smooth integration and increased user engagement to effective workflow and continuous maintenance. Are you trying to find ways to improve the efficiency of your team members and the overall communication within your organization? Get in touch with a Microsoft Teams consultant right now and learn how it can revolutionize your company! It is time to move on your journey toward better collaboration.