Communicating with remote teams to stay proactive during the pandemic meant that many businesses switched to Zoom, the popular multi-person video calling app. It very soon became apparent that for business customers, it was not ideal, and we needed a better, more collaborative alternative. Microsoft Teams, over the course of 2020, stepped up to take the crown.
Since then, the vast number of additions, features and new implementations have ensured Teams’ place as ‘King of the Remote Business Comms’. That may feel like a sweeping statement, and we know that not all businesses are alike, as we discussed in our recent blog: Business Telephony: Which option is best for your business?
Why Microsoft Teams?
Although mainly used as an alternative to email communications, especially for internal conversations, Microsoft Teams provides all the standard communication features needed – chat, call, including video calling, conferencing and even showing your availability. What’s more, it’s simple to access too. Just login with your Microsoft 365 account on any compatible device with an internet connection wherever you are. The same can’t be said of the humble desk phone.
Alongside that, it provides the ability to send instant messages, GIFS & emojis, along with sharing and collectively collaborating on documents, spreadsheets and files. Users can also access, share (with defined permissions) and edit all files within the SharePoint environment, allowing trackable worldwide collaboration.
Teams Channels: Chats, Teams, Calendar, Calls and Files
To ensure your Teams environment is optimised there’s the ability to define teams for groups, departments, and even external participants – a Teams chat group dedicated to each client for example. You can record video calls, dial colleagues into video and voice calls, and chats, send GIFS, emojis and files too.
Not only does Teams help streamline communication, but its many integrations also improves collaboration. So, no matter where your team are based – in the office or remotely – work can be done effortlessly and effectively. These include:
– The familiar Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive
– OneNote – a collaborative and freeform note pad solution
– Exchange – enterprise level business email solution
– Intune – mobile device management/mobile application management
– Whiteboard – collaborative digital and powerful business ‘scrapbook’
– and Planner (soon to become Tasks)
For SMEs the ability to be together, and work together while remote, has been essential to maintaining relationships and morale. But has Microsoft Teams really replaced the business telephone?
For many users, ‘calls’ are limited to Teams to Teams, but that is only because businesses haven’t implemented the Teams Voice add-on that elevates Teams from a communication tool, perfect for Microsoft users, to an application capable of connecting with anyone, anywhere. Something we’ll be investigating in our next blog.
Refine your remote working using Teams
The team at BITS have put together a handy Tips and Tricks guide so you can you get the most out of your current Teams set-up. Download your copy below.