Microsoft have helped pioneer new standards for work and well-being. How do their solutions drive for more people-driven business?
There are plenty of arguments in favour of modernization in business – organisations routinely cite desires to improve productivity, reduce their bottom line and reduce long-term expenses, etc. Another big reason to consider modernizing is the impact it can have on employee performance and well-being.
Here at TechQuarters, as a fully remote company, we do our best to support our workforce via digital means; and as a Microsoft Solutions Partner, we take the lead of our partner in working to drive better employee experiences with the Microsoft Cloud. As a leading example in business modernization, Microsoft have dedicated much of the last decade to building a culture and environment that champions employee wellness; because one thing is for certain, a business is only as successful as their workforce.
Modern Work: New Methods and Standards
How can organisations drive better employee performance and wellbeing using the Microsoft Cloud? It all comes down to modern work practices. Leveraging technology in a strategic manner is the key to businesses breaking new ground. This has been proven time and time again among businesses that have undergone digital transformation. But just as important is cultivating the right culture which, together with technology, can drive businesses to new heights of success.
The way in which culture and technology intersect in modern work is a high priority for businesses. Employees who are empowered to communicate and collaborate with colleagues in a fluid and effective manner will be able to stave off unproductive practices, and will feel less isolated in remote working scenarios.
Remote & Hybrid Working
The last three years has seen widespread uptake of a major modern work driver: Remote work. We at TechQuarters have committed fully to remote work (having relinquished our main offices), but we see many clients and fellow businesses implementing hybrid work practices – and our partner Microsoft is also fully committing to the hybrid model.
We feel that these modes of working are crucial to driving success while providing opportunities to empower employees. For example, hybrid working offers the flexibility to allow workers to engage with whichever workplace they are most productive in. Both remote and hybrid working can facilitate such a significant reduction in certain business overheads, that the savings can be funnelled into other organisational investments – and particular those that could further benefit the workforce.
The Microsoft Cloud: Supporting Modes for Better Company Culture
There is no doubt that Microsoft offer some of the best business solutions on the market. But what makes their work especially valuable is their commitment to promoting modern modes of working. Many organisations (ourselves among them) rely on the Microsoft Cloud, and its many interlinking product families, as the foundation of our company infrastructure – and this is especially true for hybrid and remote organisations. So, what are some of the ways in which the Microsoft Cloud can help pioneer modernized work?
Digital Workplace
In today’s business landscape, digital workplaces are exceedingly common, which means that they must be optimized to promote the best possible employee experience. First and foremost, the workplace must be held together with secure foundations – with Microsoft’s cloud platform, Azure, businesses get access to a range of products designed to guarantee the security and cohesiveness of digital work environments.
Of course, we cannot forget to mention Microsoft 365’s role in supporting a successful digital workplace, with the way that it links people with data and intelligence in a cohesive productivity ecosystem.
Modernising Communications
Modern modes of communication empower employees to connect with one another with very few barriers. Look to products like Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and even Yammer for examples of how the Microsoft Cloud supports fluid and accessible connectivity.
With Microsoft Teams supporting direct messaging, video conferencing, and cloud telephony, and Microsoft Outlook offering enterprise email capabilities, Microsoft 365 can be a buisness’ unified cloud communication platform, allowing employees to easily maintain both synchronous and asynchronous communications across platforms, wherever they go.
Better Project Management
Every business – whether they are remote, hybrid, and entirely on-premise – can benefit from modernized project management. The cornerstones of modern project management are: Visibility, Flexibility, and Ubiquity.
Firstly, looking at visibility and flexibility, the Microsoft Cloud demonstrates this with its various cloud-based productivity offerings. From offerings aimed at individuals (like Microsoft To Do), to lightweight project management solutions (like Microsoft Planner), and even comprehensive solutions that streamline workflows, timelines, and work allocation (i.e. Microsoft Project). The fact that all of these products are entirely cloud-based, allows individuals and teams to remain up-to-date on collaborative work at all times. The ubiquity of project management solutions in a Microsoft ecosystem can be plainly seen through the integration of collaboration and productivity-focused features – such as integrated task management in Outlook.
Employee Engagement & Enrichment
The performance and wellbeing of employees is crucial to the success of a modern workplace (and a modern business overall). But how can businesses leverage the Microsoft Cloud to prioritise employee experience? Not only are the various remote and hybrid-centric solutions across Microsoft 365 helpful, but offerings like Microsoft Viva are helping businesses take strides towards enriching the experiences of their workforce. For example, Viva draws from data and intelligence from a company’s Microsoft 365 environment, and curates it in a number of ways to help the individual worker. An example of this is with Viva Topics, which curates content and conversations across M365 into different topics, to make it easier for users to find the information they need.
