5 reasons your business should be using Microsoft Teams

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If you’re not using Microsoft Teams in your business, after reading this article we promise that it will be on top of your priority list.

Microsoft Teams has been slowly creeping into businesses since 2018, replacing Skype for Business and taking a more collaborative approach, with advanced chat features, data storing, and a detailed but easy-to-use dashboard.

It’s a core Microsoft Office product, which means that it sits seamlessly inside the Office 365 ecosystem, with existing users transitioning to this platform seamlessly and at no extra cost.

If you’re like many businesses, wishing to build a modern workplace – this platform is a no-brainer!

As a Microsoft Gold Partner, perhaps we might be considered a little biased. But we genuinely believe it’s an incredibly powerful and collaborative cloud platform, providing users with easy access to the whole Microsoft portfolio, in one place!

Need more convincing? Let’s get into the details…

1) Online Meetings 

It feels only right that we begin here. With the entire world transitioning from office working, to remote working in light of the recent Coronavirus pandemic, we have all had to embrace a more virtual way of working.

And how difficult would this have been, if online video meetings were not an option?

With Microsoft Teams video conferencing, maintaining contact with colleagues and clients has been easier than ever.

Our favourite features:

• Video chat with up to 250 people at once – no more struggling to book meeting rooms for large groups
• Hold live events or webinars with up to 10,000 people – allowing global colleagues and partners to be in on important conversations
• Communicate amongst yourselves using the in-call chat box, to share files and links – no need to worry about remembering specific articles or websites that have been mentioned in passing
• Screenshare – you can talk your team through ideas and projects effortlessly
• Record entire sessions – goodbye to the struggles of scribbling down notes and missing details
• Conferencing abilities – invite external guests to join your meetings, with or without video

Want to know more about Microsoft Teams? Book a free consultation today with one of our Office 365 experts!

2) Instant Messaging

Now, more than ever, we can appreciate the importance of keeping connected. With many now working from home, we have to communicate virtually for all things, big and small.

Bombarding each other with constant emails all day sounds overwhelming, particularly when the subject might be something minor, but equally vital and requiring a quick response.

With Microsoft Teams Chat, you can instant message colleagues without the formality that email requires and work quickly to make decisions.

Our favourite features: 

• Take conversations with you – Teams is seamless on mobile devices too, so you can respond to important messages on the go
• Read messages – see when your messages have been read and unread, so you know when prompts are necessary
• GIFs and emoticons – by no means a necessary aspect for business communications, but definitely a nice feature for boosting team culture
• ‘Like’ messages that have been sent – sometimes responses aren’t necessary, but it’s nice to let the other person know you’ve seen their message

Want to know more about Microsoft Teams? Book a free consultation today with one of our Office 365 experts!

3) Documents & SharePoint

Users of SharePoint will appreciate this robust document management system for its large storage limit and detailed cloud filing systems, meaning that people across the business can access, edit and save files without the worry of them getting lost along the way.

Microsoft Teams takes this to the next level, by allowing seamless integration with SharePoint, team members can now easily access and edit their files without having to leave the Teams platform.

Our favourite features: 

• Automatic syncing – files for specific Teams are always up-to-date
• Access, preview and modify files – have free reign over all files stored on SharePoint through a friendly interface, without having to leave Teams
• Separate files by department – allow teams across the business, from Marketing to Sales, to have their very own default document library folder
• Link files directly into chats – allowing project discussions to flow

4) Teams & Channels

That leads us to our next favourite feature of Microsoft Teams, the ability to self-organise and collaborate departments and business areas.

“Teams are a collection of people, content, and tools surrounding different projects and outcomes within an organisation.” (Microsoft, 2020)

Our favourite features: 

• Privacy – Teams can be created so that only invited members can view the information within it
• Public – Teams can also be made public, so that entire organisations (up to 5,000 members) can have access to the same files and information
• Bring people together – connect those who work on the same projects through internal Teams conversations, file sharing, and notes

“Channels are dedicated sections within a team to keep conversations organised by specific topics, projects, disciplines – whatever works for your team!” (Microsoft, 2020)

Our favourite features: 

• Files shared in a channel (on the Files tab) are stored in SharePoint – another reason this integration is so useful
• Open or select audiences – allow all team members of select members to have conversations about projects
• Integrate various apps – that include tabs, connectors, and bots

Want to know more about Microsoft Teams? Book a free consultation today with one of our Office 365 experts!

5) Calendar

And last but not least, we can’t help but appreciate how Microsoft Teams seamlessly integrates with Outlook.

While Outlook email still has an important role to play in business life, having features like your calendar integrate with Teams allows you to access it as and when it’s needed.

Our favourite features:

• Syncing with Outlook – no need to worry if you have set or edited a meeting in either Teams or Outlook, it will appear updated on both platforms
• Video call instantly – use the “meet now” video call option in your Teams calendar to instantly start a private video call with anyone you like
• Scheduling assistant – the same concept as the Outlook scheduling assistant, but with a really clear interface, allowing you to check colleagues schedules so new meeting requests don’t clash with existing meetings

Let us get you set up on Microsoft Teams 

So there you have it, our top 5 reasons you should have Microsoft Teams.

We hope we’ve displayed the many benefits this collaborative cloud platform could have on your business.

If you would like to find out more about how your business could use Microsoft Teams, book a free consultation today with one of our Office 365 experts!

We’ll chat about your requirements and the different options for implementing this amazing tool into your business.

Contact us today to find out more.