Over one billion people rely on Microsoft Office products, and Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) now accounts for more than 400 million commercial seats worldwide. That includes four out of five Fortune 500 companies and a significant share of small and mid-sized businesses. Your organization’s future can depend on choosing the right communication, collaboration, and productivity tools, and since its introduction over a decade ago, Microsoft 365 for Business has evolved into the industry standard.
Increasingly, businesses have chosen cloud-hosted productivity suites to free themselves of the burden of buying and maintaining large hardware, storage, and software infrastructure. Similarly, a managed service provider (MSP) can provide the people who enhance performance, troubleshoot, and provide security around the clock. With an MSP, companies can leave IT to trained and experienced partners so they can focus on their main business goals.
Overview of Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 can offer your business email, storage, chat, and document, design, and collaboration tools. Packages may also include advanced security features, business intelligence software, and tools to help manage compliance, governance, and security. You can even choose features that allow you to hold online meetings and presentations or make phone calls.
Microsoft offers a variety of packages to meet the needs of different types and sizes of organizations. This includes budget-friendly options for small businesses and startups and plenty of room to scale for growing companies and large enterprises. Today’s companies love the ability to access all of their apps from a variety of internet-enabled devices and remote locations. Packages may also include the option to install software that will enable working offline.
How to Buy Microsoft 365 for Business
The very flexibility of Microsoft 365 and its many packages can make choosing the right one difficult. The right mix of features will help save money and improve productivity, so businesses often choose to rely on the experience of expert distributors. Because a company’s productivity can rest on making the best choice, it’s important to seek help from the right type of distributor.
MSPs
Working with a high-quality MSP is like having a true business partner. It’s in their best interest to maximize your software spend because they need to prove their value as a partner and give you the services that will make both of your jobs easier in the future. An MSP will also learn about your company and keep up with new developments to make sure that you’re using what you’ve paid for to its fullest extent and not missing out on any vital features. Finally, you’ll enjoy white-glove service to help ensure the highest level of performance and security possible. Your company will have people to call on at any time to resolve issues and answer questions.
Online Dealers
You might have been attracted by an advertisement from an online dealer that appears to offer a good deal on your purchase price. Typically, these dealers only distribute Microsoft 365, though they may advertise customer support. Very often, online distributors are located in foreign countries, operate in different time zones, and employ representatives who are not fluent in English. The bulk of customer support will focus more on sales and deliveries and not the actual nuts and bolts of the products you purchased.
When you transition your business to depending on vital email, document management, and collaboration tools, you cannot wait until the next day to have problems resolved. To manage data security and compliance issues, you need a hands-on partner who cares about your business as more than a one-time sale. You also need solid, experienced advice about the best way to use your new tools to enhance security, compliance, and governance, and you probably won’t get that from an online dealer.
Why Purchase Microsoft 365 for Business From a High-Quality MSP?
Used right, Microsoft 365 can help spark your company’s own digital revolution. By using a set of industry-standard tools, you will empower collaboration and communication with all stakeholders, including employees, business partners, and customers. You will have everything you need to manage backups and security. Your business will pay one predictable monthly fee for using the software, so you won’t need to budget for large upfront costs to purchase hardware or software licenses.
Obstacles to maximizing your company’s investment in this productivity and communication solution include choosing the best plan, keeping up with updates, and making the most of the tools provided. In fact, research has found that many companies use only a fraction of the apps they’re paying for. Microsoft has been consistently committed to introducing new features and apps, which only makes it more difficult to ensure you’re maximizing the value to your company.
That only underscores the benefit of choosing to purchase Microsoft 365 for Business from an experienced managed service provider. Your MSP should take the time to understand how your company does business, which processes could benefit from Microsoft 365 solutions, and then suggest the optimal package. Long after you’ve purchased your first package, your MSP will still be there to keep up with changes to the apps and to your business to ensure you’re always getting the most from your investment.
Put Microsoft 365 to Work for Your Business
Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan is just the first step. The real value comes from having a partner who knows your business, monitors your environment, and makes sure every feature you’re paying for is actively working for you. WheelHouse IT has completed 500+ Microsoft migrations and holds SOC 2 Type I certification, giving you a technology partner you can rely on for both day-to-day support and long-term strategy.
Whether you’re evaluating your first subscription or looking to get more from an existing setup, explore our Modern Workplace solutions or reach out directly to speak with an advisor. Florida: (954) 474-2204 | New York: (516) 536-5006
