Microsoft 365 is described by Microsoft itself as a “cloud-based productivity platform”. Depending on the chosen subscription it includes different applications. The best known are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook and OneDrive. More specialised applications such as Exchange, Access or Publisher may also be included. While most applications are desktop apps, others are also available as web versions.
Different feature scopes are offered for different groups (for example Business and Enterprise). For each group there are different subscription packages to choose from. So there is the right plan for every company size, every requirement and every budget.
While Word, Excel and PowerPoint are frequently used applications, most Microsoft 365 subscriptions (especially Enterprise plans) come with a much broader selection of apps.
Below we introduce some of them that you may not have used yet.
AVD is based on the Azure cloud infrastructure, which means you get near-unlimited scalability. Unlike RDS, where scaling often involves significant hardware investment and maintenance, with AVD you can add or remove capacity on demand
A rather unassuming tool for creating and managing lists – whether it is an overview of what needs to be organised for an event, schedules or attendance lists. The advantage of Microsoft Lists is the simple integration into Teams or Power Apps, for example.
An internal company communication tool. Different channels allow exchange within groups, on specific topics or events. Announcements can also be sent to everyone via read-only posts.
OneDrive is the cloud storage that is included, with different capacities, in every Microsoft 365 subscription.
A system for managing documents and information that works well as an intranet platform. Other Microsoft 365 applications can be integrated easily, creating a central platform for documents, imagery, news and much more.
An application for creating surveys, polls and quizzes quickly and easily.
If Dynamics 365 is not already in use, Planner is a handy tool for creating and assigning tasks within groups or projects.
With Microsoft Search you can search for documents, content and people across all Microsoft 365 services.
A project management tool that can be linked with many other applications and thus simplifies organising and managing a project.
The email solution for businesses provides central storage and management of emails, appointments, contacts and more for multiple users.
An application similar to Word but with a focus on layout design.
In addition to the applications that come with your chosen subscription, Microsoft offers further separately bookable apps such as Microsoft Dynamics, Power BI or Azure. These can be linked with Microsoft 365 via the cloud like a modular system and ensure a smooth workflow across all Microsoft applications.
Through the seamless collaboration of all Microsoft applications you accelerate your processes and improve your productivity.
The Microsoft Power Platform consists of Power BI, Power Apps, Power Pages, Power Automate and Power Virtual Agents. These apps are included in some Microsoft 365 subscriptions, but can also be booked individually as needed. The primary goal of these applications is to enable users without programming experience to create their own cross-system IT applications.
Formerly known as Microsoft Flow, Power Automate creates automated workflows for regularly recurring tasks and processes. Routine work therefore takes less time, especially because not only all Microsoft 365 applications but more than 750 connectors in total can be integrated.
A comprehensive tool for creating and configuring your own apps – thanks to drag and drop, even without any programming experience.
Customisable and comprehensive data visualisation for interactive charts and dashboards, or designed for print or email distribution. Creating charts is therefore no longer time-consuming and cumbersome.
Creation of intelligent virtual chatbots for websites or Microsoft Teams for an improved customer experience.
Easy creation of secure business websites even with little coding experience.
Word, PowerPoint and Excel are standard programmes in many companies and also in private use. They are easy to install or can be used online, are clear and user-friendly.
But Microsoft 365 can do far more than that, because the applications offer many options for customisation. These are especially useful for companies with a defined corporate identity.
The entire user interface can be adapted in design to the company’s CI. Logos can be added in many places, accent colours changed or backgrounds replaced. Most of these changes can be set across all your Office 365 applications and all user accounts. Individual adjustments for a single user or user groups are also possible.
Custom buttons can be added in the Office 365 portal. This also allows web applications that are not part of the Microsoft apps to be launched from there. In the best case, users then have all the applications they need in one place.
SharePoint can be customised even further by developers using CSS and Java. From a design perspective there are few limitations, so SharePoint can be given a completely different look than out of the box.
In larger companies it may also make sense to set up a dedicated helpdesk. When questions or problems arise, employees then immediately have the contact details of the responsible person to hand.
In Teams, meeting invitations can be personalised so that your company is better represented.
This is only an excerpt of the many personalisation options Microsoft 365 offers (depending on the application). We are happy to advise you on which subscription and which of the many applications are relevant for you, and to handle personalisation within your CI.
As a Microsoft Partner we not only support you in choosing and purchasing the right licence, we also help you personalise and set up all your Microsoft applications. Whether you are just building your company or already have established structures (e.g. an online shop), we help you integrate the new software optimally into your workflow and adapt internal processes to it. We are also happy to support you with setting up email domains, for example.