Evidence is growing that cloud implementations such as Microsoft 365 and Teams can be key in bouncing back from coronavirus — even for customers in hard-hit sectors like hospitality, according to ShareGate’s Myles Carter, writing after a Microsoft Ignite conference.
Carter says that in one case in Florida, USA [pictured] highlighted at Ignite, a Hilton Grand Vacations hotel was able to reopen safely faster than the competition.
“Facing unprecedented conditions in one of the biggest tourist destinations of the world, Las Palmeras by Hilton Grand Vacations in Orlando, Florida needed to suspend operations in the spring of 2020,” Carter writes.
“By implementing Microsoft Teams in their closure period, the staff were able to institute new protocols that permitted them to work safely while preparing and planning for reopening. Likewise, Microsoft 365 allows hotel staff to access the information they need to stay engaged in their work and offer customers the best experience possible.”
A cloud suite of familiar software applications connected by communication tools like Teams can be the productivity tool of choice for companies making technology upgrades, integrating remote work polices and instituting borderless offices, Carter points out.
Carter says another example at Ignite was a UK community organisation, the Derby County Community Trust, which has used Microsoft Teams to save time and expand various community sport participation programmes.
“With 72 people moving to a remote work situation, the organisation was surprised that they were seeing time savings by cutting down on travel time. With calls happening on Microsoft Teams, this commuting time has been eliminated, adding efficiencies,” Carter writes. “In a time where things seem to be slowing down for many, this group is able to offer more programmes and have a larger impact than ever on their community.”
In addition, the Treasury of the US State of Georgia is working more safely while saving on costs. It made Microsoft Teams their main communications tool while working from home.
“Not only did workers feel more at ease, but when the cost of traditional calling fell by nearly 80% and the overhead of unused office space could be saved, it demonstrated that moving to digital-first work with Teams and Microsoft 365 could mean savings being passed along to the taxpayer,” according to Carter.
Carter says that Microsoft 365 (previously Office 365) has long been touted as the tool kit of the future for office and knowledge workers. ShareGate’s role is to ensure success for such deployments, whether the focus is community organisations, tourism, telecoms, government services or healthcare.
“From SharePoint migration and content management to ongoing Microsoft Teams governance, ShareGate gives you everything you need to achieve successful Microsoft 365 deployment and adoption,” he writes. “It would be fair to describe the year 2020 as challenging. However, if history has shown us anything, it’s that challenge leads to innovation.”
View more case studies and sessions from Microsoft Ignite – click here.
