18 Jan Too Many Apps? Unify Your Business With the Help of Teams

In the previous blog we explored Microsoft Teams and discovered that there are no alternatives that are capable of offering even close to the functionality and ease of use that Teams does.

Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of working from one system.

Microsoft Teams – one system,

the advantages

Microsoft Teams’ popularity has grown to levels of which no one could have anticipated. It has amassed a daily average user count of an astonishing 250 million people, and has solidified itself as the best system on the market. Teams offers a wide range of tools, which can help you to organise your work life. Obviously, working from one system has many positives – let’s list them now:

Cost

One of the most obvious benefits of consolidating apps is cost. Subscriptions are often cheaper than hosting applications onsite, and there are fees associated with Cloud apps too. Most business applications base their monthly fees on how many users you have or the amount of storage that you use – these costs will build up and can become extortionate. Why pay for multiple apps? There is no advantage in having apps which cross each other in functionality!

Management

Leading on from cost, it can be a real hassle when managing multiple subscriptions. Keeping track of what your outgoings are can get very complicated when different parts of your organisation use different apps. By consolidating your bills into one you’ll get a clear and concise view of what your company is using and, in turn, be sure that you get value from it.

Productivity

Having too many apps leads to reduced productivity. Being forced to frequently move between apps wastes time – this creates a ripple effect, your team get annoyed, produce less work, and in turn prevents your company from offering as high a quality service to your customers as possible. Of course, it may seem we are overreacting; I mean, what’s a few minutes out of your day? It doesn’t sound too bad but if you add those times up over the course of the year you will see quite a substantial amount of time being wasted – five minutes a day over the average person’s working year works out to an entire business day that would be wasted, and that is per user!

Technology simplified

Yes, Cloud apps are easier to set up than their on-premise counterparts but that doesn’t mean they are hassle free. The apps still need IT professionals to maintain them – their duties will include adding and removing users from apps as their roles change or as they move on from the company or retire, as well as many other responsibilities. With all apps consolidated into one, your team will have the time free to complete more productive tasks.

Data analysis

Data has the power to be the greatest asset to your business. Consolidating apps into a single solution makes data much easier to analyse as it comes from across your entire organisation into the one place. Having a clear view of your data and what it shows you allows your team to anticipate what your business needs and provide better service to your client base accordingly.

Security

In the modern digital age, cyber criminals gaining access to data and systems is becoming all too common in the workplace. The more spread out your apps are then the greater the risk there is of your organisation being a victim of an attack – think of it like a bank, there is only one in and out of the vault, isn’t there, allowing you to concentrate all of your defensive efforts in that single area. Users tend to reuse the same password across multiple accounts, meaning when one is breached then your entire system could be open and vulnerable.

Let’s take a look at how to know if you have too many apps in your organisation.

How to know

It is common for leaders to not even be aware of all the apps your company uses – or, on the other hand, you may have been very selective about the apps that you use in your company. Whatever the case, it is easy to get carried away and for your IT landscape to get cluttered. There are always opportunities for consolidation – the key is to look out for the signs. You can start by asking yourself these questions:

• Are different departments of my organisation using different apps that have similar functionality?

• Is important information scattered across many different tools which necessitates employees to have to search to find what they need?

• Is it hard to connect different parts of your organisation because they are functioning separately to one another?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of these questions then it is time to dissect your organisation and begin the process of consolidating your resources into one application – and the obvious choice is Microsoft Teams.

Teams can revolutionise your business – Netcom

Our team of experts offer effective comprehensive cyber solutions that protect your data. Everything we do is centred around reducing the risk your business faces and offering increased productivity – we have a range of services to help mitigate risk, protect your business, and revolutionise your workplace. We are one of a handful of IASME Certified Assessors in the region, which means we not only work to the highest security standards but can also deliver and award Cyber Essentials certification. If you need help with your cyber security, have IT issues, or you need guidance with anything to do with your IT landscape, do not hesitate to get in touch.