Taking Advantage of the Tools You Already Pay For
Under-utilization of large-scale software platforms is an opportunity for many organizations.
Under-utilization of major software platforms like Microsoft Office 365 (O365), Salesforce, ServiceNow, and most ERP systems is a common issue that many organizations face. While these platforms offer a wide range of features and functionalities that can significantly enhance productivity and collaboration, many users do not take full advantage of them. This can result in missed opportunities for improving workflows and streamlining processes, as well as reduced efficiency and increased costs. Afterall, you’re paying for very expensive software licenses for some, or perhaps all your employees, as is typically the case with O365 for everyone to have an Exchange e-mail account and be able to use the most common document types in Word and Excel. But do you really know all the things that the platforms mentioned above can really do?
One way to address under-utilization and gain a deeper understanding of the systems you already own is by establishing Centers of Excellence (CoE) around these platforms. A CoE is a team or department within an organization that is responsible for promoting best practices, providing training and support, and driving adoption of specific technologies or methodologies. When it comes to O365 as an example, a CoE can help organizations maximize their investment by offering the following benefits:
- Consistent user experience: By establishing a CoE, organizations can ensure that all users are trained on the same set of best practices and guidelines for using O365. This helps to create a consistent user experience, which can improve efficiency and reduce errors.
- Increased collaboration: A CoE can help to promote collaboration by facilitating the use of O365’s collaboration tools, such as Teams and SharePoint. These tools can help teams work together more effectively, regardless of their physical location.
- Improved productivity: A CoE can help users to leverage O365’s productivity tools, such as OneDrive and Power Automate, to automate tasks and streamline workflows. This can help to reduce the amount of time spent on administrative tasks, allowing users to focus on more value-added activities.
- Cost savings: By promoting best practices and driving adoption of O365, a CoE can help to ensure that organizations are getting the most value from their investment in the platform. This can result in cost savings by reducing the need for additional software and tools.
In summary, under-utilization of major software platforms like O365 can be a significant challenge for organizations. However, by establishing a CoE, organizations can promote best practices, provide training and support, and drive adoption of O365, resulting in improved collaboration, productivity, and cost savings.
For over 20 years, Trillium Professional Services has helped organizations across the U.S. develop a CoE and utilize lean and agile principals to maximize their investments. For more information, contact us from the link below.