Leverage Microsoft’s four-phase framework to address the challenges and opportunities in your digital transformation journey

The term ‘digital transformation’ refers to the adoption of digital technologies to transform the way a business functions. It aims to improve internal process and culture within a business to deliver a better employee and customer experience.

The pandemic and the rise in remote working has been a catalyst for many businesses to start adopting new technologies and speed up the process of their own digital transformation. The adoption of Microsoft 365 as a powerful modern workplace solution has continued to dominate, but not all businesses are taking full advantage of all its features and benefits to help in their digital transformation journey.

What is Microsoft’s four-phase framework for digital transformation?

At Opus, we use Microsoft’s prescriptive, phased approach for successful rollout of Microsoft 365 and Teams applications across a business. This process is key to successful navigation of the digital transformation journey.

Phase 1 – Enable

During the Enable stage, a business will begin to incorporate Microsoft Teams features in a transition which will maximise its adoption. The idea is that Teams functionality is rolled out on a gradual basis in order to give users time to learn and become familiar with the applications. The Enable phase typically takes around three months.

New functionality in the enable phase includes:

Instant Messaging/Chat in Teams
Teams Modern Meetings
Peer to peer, group calling (VOIP)
Basic presence in Teams
Teams Modern Mobile App, Win 10, Mac

Microsoft users have leant on Teams for some time now to unlock efficiencies and gain competitive advantage, but the new normal has placed a new importance on its benefits within the digital transformation journey. By the end of April 2020, Microsoft was reporting a 70% increase in daily active users.

Phase 2 – Empower

During the Empower stage, a business will unlock additional Microsoft Teams features, enhancing team capabilities and maximising the value of its software investment. In this phase, businesses will typically be looking at how they can operate more flexibly, with greater levels of efficiency and productivity.

New functionality that can be enabled in this phase includes:

All of the phase 1 Teams functionality
Security and Compliance tools where relevant
OneDrive and SharePoint for appropriate audiences, allowing real-time co-authoring, sharing and collaboration
Cloud storage
Modern meeting recordings and real-time transcription and translation

Sustainable hybrid working models mark a new era in the way the work views work. This phase starts to allow employees to be more productive and supports a better work-life balance whilst enabling employers to look at where they could potentially reduce overhead costs too.

Phase 3 – Differentiate

During the Differentiate stage, businesses will typically start to manage stakeholder expectations and leverage external support to successfully complete the Microsoft 365 migration, which should now be well underway.

The focus of the Differentiate phase is on successfully completing the cloud migration to deliver the desired business outcomes, usually through the specialist support of a managed IT service provider.

New functionality that can be enabled in this phase includes:

Federation with select partners, clients for external chat capabilities
External/guest access for real-time collaboration
PowerBI data visualisation, dashboards and integration in Teams
O365 app integration into Teams, such as Planner, Whiteboard, etc.
Power Apps, Power Automate workflows
PSTN calling, Telephony for select users

At this stage, Microsoft Teams will become the go-to platform for consistent communication.

By now working with strategic and trusted service provider could be advantageous, as this can often help successfully deliver the project, on time and on budget – plus reducing the strain on In-house IT resource.

Phase 4 – Transform

During the Transform stage, firms will work with their chosen Managed Service Provider (MSP) to future-proof their business technology roadmaps for flexibility, resilience and long-term organisational success.

With the immediate future looking to be defined by both challenge and opportunity, it is essential that a firm’s business technology strategy has the flexibility and the resilience to adapt its operations and support the team, whatever may come.

New functionality that can be enabled in this phase includes:

Nearly all business processes are flowing through Teams
Chatbots, Power Virtual Agents are enabled for modern intelligence
PowerApps, Power Automate workflows with advanced third-party applications integration
Client dashboards, client-focused Teams, customised channels
Business operations, financial insights and client insights enabled

As part of phase 4, the firm will work with its chosen IT services provider to roll-out advanced Microsoft Teams features such as chatbots, Power Virtual Agents, automated workflows and reporting functionality that informed more intelligent, data-driven business decisions.

Making a case for Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 provides a powerful, modern workplace solution by improving employee productivity, security and satisfaction. It enables seamless communication anywhere, on any device, while maintaining the security and integrity of systems and data expected from any market leader, making it an ideal driver of digital transformation.

If your business is considering moving workloads to the cloud, Microsoft 365 may be the right solution. We hope the framework outlined in this article will help you to make a more informed decision on the future of your digital transformation and, if relevant, a strong business case for Microsoft 365 with Microsoft Teams.