Office 365 offers some small business benefits that are hard to ignore. From personalised pricing to a myriad of collaboration and productivity tools – it really is the next generation of Office software. However, if you’re interested in making the move – you might be unsure of what the first steps should be.

At VectorCloud we’ve got 20 years of experience and the up-to-the-moment training that means we’re well equipped to point you in the right direction. If your business would benefit from Office 365 – here’s where to start:

PLANNING

Like any project, wading-in without some thought around what you’ll encounter is going to be problematic – especially so if you get to the point where you could potentially disrupt your business service and ability to trade.

While going-it-alone is possible, we recommend against it. The internet provides a huge amount of information and support for those looking to move to Office 365 – but dig a little deeper and you’ll see any information is racked with opinion and recommendation. If you’re reading it online, that recommendation is at best generic – and at worst, tailored to a totally different organisation. Be very careful.

Working with a trusted IT partner is the only way you’ll receive information that’s relevant to your business. At VectorCloud we don’t just wade-in to any situation, not least when it comes to establishing an understanding of your organisation.

BECOMING PARTNERS

You might think that an IT partner should bundle into your office, cast eyes over your hardware and get on with the job at hand – and some will. At VectorCloud we take a different approach – not only have we been in IT for 20 years – but in those 2 decades we’ve also been running our own business. We know that the best working relationships are based on a detailed understanding of you, your organisation, your company goals and ways of working.

With a move to Office 365 this understanding underpins the important planning stage of any IT change.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Working with an inferior one-size-fits-all package makes customising the product for you easy – i.e. you can’t! Office 365 can be (and should be) precisely fitted to your business. In doing so, you’ll be obtaining a service that bolsters productivity like no other. Not only that, but you’ll be paying what you should too – not more for services you don’t use, or too little and finding you’re left wanting.

Proper planning involves asking some detailed questions:

• What does transitioning to cloud-based services do to your network?
• Can you be sure you’re choosing the right service and support packages?
• Do you have the means to export/import your current data?
• How do you train your staff around new features?

From the most simple to the most complex, we’ll be on hand on make sure every question is considered and answered in the way that best suits your business.

THE TRANSITION

Detailed planning can take some time – weeks in some cases. However, doing so means there are no unforeseen circumstances that could cost your business resources or money when the move to Office 365 takes place. Making a move to 365 can be a complex task – how complex depends on the size of your business, numbers of end-users and the sheer quantity of data you have.

Every transition is slightly different – but be assured that we’ll work around your needs to keep disruption to a minimum and your transition seamless.

WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?

Good question! You might want to get in touch with us with some specific questions about Office 365, how it would work for you or what the transition might look like? Alternatively, we’ve created a cost calculator that will give you an indication of what Office 365 will mean to your business financially.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch. When you talk to us at VectorCloud you can be certain that we’re operating with your business at the forefront of what we do – and that applies from the very first call or email. When you search the internet, you’ll get generic advice – when you get in touch with VectorCloud you get an experienced professional listening to you and your company’s needs.