Microsoft Teams has taken the world by storm.
For some time now, companies have been adopting Teams as a solution for collaboration and internal communication. However, the most significant shift to Teams began in 2020, when the new age of remote working empowered more employees to make the shift into the cloud.
However, not every company has evolved to Microsoft Teams yet. Many businesses are still reliant on Microsoft’s previous communications product: Skype for Business.
Despite Microsoft’s regular reminders that Microsoft Teams will eventually be replacing Skype for Business entirely, some organisations are still struggling to make the switch.
With the end of Skype for Business on the horizon, companies will need to think about how they can ensure a safe, secure, and effective migration to Teams.
How to Drive Employees to Teams
Any decision to shift from one technology to another can be difficult for today’s companies. Though Microsoft Teams and Skype have many similarities, the Teams environment may still take some getting used to. For businesses with a long history in Skype for Business, there’s more to moving to Teams than just switching a new service on.
So, how do you improve your chances of making the transformation seamlessly?
1. Spread the Word
First, make sure that your employees know about the impending shift to Teams, as far in advance as possible. Your employees need time to prepare for the arrival of the new technology. No-one likes a change to just spring upon them out of nowhere.
As you spread the word, you’ll begin to get an idea for who your early adopters might be. People who feel more comfortable with the idea of jumping onto Teams, or employees that have used the service before can be especially useful. These staff members are great mentors for anyone who might be feeling uncomfortable about using Teams for the first time.
Try to get a good idea of what kind of mix of employees you might have in your current landscape. How many people are happy about the migration? How many don’t feel comfortable?
2. Prepare your Teams for Microsoft Teams
Once you’ve made people aware that you’re moving to Microsoft Teams, the next step is making them understand the features and benefits that they’re going to be exploring. Gather documentation and information that your users can check out about the Teams environment. Reassure your employees that the functionality they have now is only going to get better with Microsoft Teams.
Teams built on the existing foundations of Skype for Business, so the shift shouldn’t be as significant as moving to a solution from an entirely different provider. Plus, Microsoft has improved the way that various Microsoft assets work together with Teams. Everything from your Outlook email to your Microsoft 365 productivity tools can work more seamlessly here.
You can even add apps and integrations into Microsoft Teams that ensure your employees don’t have to switch frequently between different apps to get work done. Create a list of the most valuable features that your employees need to know about in the transition to teams and show them how those capabilities are going to benefit them.
