The nature of today’s workplaces has fundamentally changed. Employers that do not offer remote work are often less favourable choices in the job market. Companies that cannot effectively collaborate with partners from afar may miss out on business opportunities.

Organisations wishing to remain competitive will adapt by supporting flexible work models and equipping teams with the tools to thrive. 

Microsoft's solutions are at the forefront of this transformation, with a complete suite of tools designed to enhance collaboration, productivity, and security. Here is how your organisation can win with a Microsoft modern workplace.

Communicate and collaborate from anywhere

Microsoft’s foundational tools, from Teams to the Office 365 suite, facilitate communication and collaboration across teams regardless of physical location.

Microsoft Teams, in particular, stands out as a powerful collaboration platform. It allows employees to chat, meet, call, and collaborate in one place. With features like file sharing, real-time collaboration on documents, and integration with other Microsoft 365 apps, Teams allows a business to move away from using siloed platforms for phone calls, instant messages, and video calls.

Establish task automation

A 2023 report by the CSIRO found that Australian businesses planned to enhance their AI capabilities in AI strategy, data analysis, and AI operations. These aspects are becoming increasingly important to the modern workplace — how does Microsoft support these initiatives?

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot is a powerful tool for supporting productivity. It is an AI-driven assistant integrated within Microsoft 365 that can automate repetitive tasks, provide insights, and access data in applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. 

While Microsoft Copilot is undoubtably the future of modern workplaces, it’s important to note that Copilot’s success depends on your data’s quality. Before using Copilot, get your data in order first.

Power Automate

Power Automate is a component of the Microsoft Power Platform that integrates AI capabilities into everyday applications to automate rules-based processes. Power Automate offers a versatile solution for enhancing operational efficiency across various industries. For example:

• Architecture: Automates project management tasks, such as tracking milestones and coordinating team communications. 
• Real estate: Streamlines property maintenance requests and automates tenant communications for property management. 

Accounting: Automates invoice processing and financial reporting, reducing manual data entry errors and saving time.

Connect teams and enable hybrid work 

The shift towards enabling staff to work from home or anywhere has become a norm in the workplace. Microsoft's modern workplace solutions are designed to support this transition by connecting distributed teams and enabling collaboration across locations. So, employees can remain productive and secure, no matter where they work.

Windows 365, for example, is a cloud PC that allows employees to access their desktop environment from any device so they can maintain a consistent and productive work experience. This capability empowers teams to stay connected and collaborate, whether they are working from home, or in the office. By supporting a hybrid work culture, your business can attract top talent and maintain high productivity levels across the workforce.

Unify document sharing and collaboration

Microsoft's modern workplace tools, like SharePoint and OneDrive, enable teams to share and manage content. However, too many people often confuse these tools, so it’s important to understand the differences.

SharePoint

Ideal for team collaboration. Create team sites where all users can share documents, collaborate, and communicate on projects in real time.

• Document management: Use SharePoint to store, organise, and manage documents in a secure, centralised location.
• Workflows and automation: Automate routine tasks and workflows to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• Intranet: Develop a company intranet to share internal news, updates, and resources with all team members.

OneDrive

Ideal for personal storage: Provide employees with personal cloud storage for their work files, accessible from any device.

• File sharing: Enables permissions and access levels of files and folders with colleagues and external partners.
• Sync across devices: Keeps all files synced across devices.
• Backup and recovery: Protects files with automatic backup and recovery options.

Build security and compliance

Your modern workplace should prioritise a secure work environment. Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) tools support this by providing security controls for hybrid workforces. This suite includes tools for:

• Device management: Ensures all devices accessing corporate data comply with security policies.
• Anti-malware: Protects against malicious software and cyber-attacks.
• Email security: Secures email against phishing and other threats.
• Data protection: Protects against breaches and unauthorised access.

Microsoft Intune helps your organisation manage and secure endpoints, ensuring that all devices accessing corporate data comply with security policies. Intune’s key features include:

• Endpoint deployment: Easily configure and deploy your endpoint directly from the cloud. No more setup is required.
• Endpoint management: Manage devices across platforms for security compliance.
• Mobile application management: Control corporate apps and data on mobile devices.
• Conditional access: Implement policies that grant access based on user identity.

Furthermore, the Microsoft Defender suite offers advanced threat protection, including:

• Defender for Endpoint: Protects devices from threats such as malware.
• Defender for Office 365: Secures email and collaborative tools.‍
• Defender for Identity: Identifies and detects threats targeting user identities.

Conclusion

Adopting a modern workplace strategy is not only about keeping up with technology; it's about fostering an environment where employees can thrive and innovate. Microsoft has all the tools needed for organisations building a modern workplace or optimising their current setup. SharePoint, OneDrive and Microsoft Teams break down silos and enable communication across teams. Tools like Power Automate and Microsoft Copilot harness AI and large language models (LLMs) to assist users in streamlining processes. 

Simple Biz can help you build a modern workplace with Microsoft

If you are in the process of building or optimising your modern workplace, contact Simple Biz today. We offer Managed IT Support for guidance on integrating the right tools to equip your business. Our support services cover onsite support, maintenance and monitoring, advanced cyber security measures, and more. Visit our Managed IT Support page for more details on how we can transform your organisation.