In today’s digital workplace, Microsoft 365 (M365) represents a significant investment for organizations of all sizes. While the platform offers powerful out-of-the-box capabilities, many organizations need help to realize its full potential. Understanding how to maximize your M365 investment while knowing when to supplement it with third-party solutions can be the difference between mediocre and exceptional returns on your investment.
Understanding the True Cost of M365
The initial licensing costs of M365 are just the beginning. Organizations must consider several factors when calculating the total cost of ownership:
- Implementation and deployment costs
- Training and change management
- Integration with existing systems
- Data migration expenses
- Ongoing maintenance and support
- Security and compliance requirements
While these costs may seem daunting, they’re essential investments in your organization’s digital transformation. The key is ensuring that you’re maximizing the value of each component.
Maximizing Out-of-the-Box Capabilities
M365’s native features offer robust solutions for many business needs. Before looking at third-party add-ons, organizations should fully explore capabilities such as:
- SharePoint’s document management and collaboration features
- Teams’ communication and project management tools
- Power Platform’s automation and app development capabilities
- OneDrive’s file sharing and synchronization
- Exchange Online’s email and calendar management
However, many organizations need more expertise to scratch the surface of these features, often due to limited internal expertise. Expanding upon the skill base and time constraints facing internal employees is where partnering with experienced consultants like DocPoint becomes crucial. Their deep understanding of M365’s capabilities helps organizations unlock hidden value in their existing investment.
When Third-Party Solutions Make Sense
Despite M365’s comprehensive feature set, specific scenarios may require specialized third-party solutions. Common areas where organizations seek additional functionality include:
- Advanced workflow automation (Nintex)
- Complex migration scenarios (ShareGate)
- Long-term digital preservation (Preservica)
- Enhanced security and compliance tools
- Specialized industry-specific requirements
The key is knowing when native M365 features are sufficient and when third-party solutions will deliver better value. This decision requires technical expertise and business acumen – a combination many organizations lack internally.
The Value of Expert Guidance
Many organizations need help to fully leverage M365 because they need the internal expertise to navigate its complexities. This knowledge gap often results in the following:
- Underutilized features
- Inefficient workflows
- Security vulnerabilities
- Compliance risks
- Poor user adoption
DocPoint brings a unique combination of technical expertise and business acumen to help organizations optimize their M365 investment. Their experience across numerous implementations means that they’ve encountered and solved similar challenges before.
Building a Strategic Approach
Maximizing M365 value requires more than technical knowledge – it demands a strategic approach aligned with business objectives. Key considerations include:
- Current and future business needs
- User adoption and change management
- Integration with existing systems
- Security and compliance requirements
- Budget constraints
DocPoint’s methodology addresses these factors through:
- Comprehensive assessment of business requirements
- Strategic planning and roadmap development
- Expert implementation and integration
- User training and adoption support
- Ongoing optimization and support
The Role of a Trusted Partner
Selecting the right partner is crucial for M365’s success. DocPoint’s core strengths make them particularly well-suited to guide organizations through this journey:
- Deep experience with M365 and content management systems
- Strong focus on understanding business needs
- Ability to translate requirements into technical solutions
- Proven project management capabilities
- Excellence in communication and collaboration
- Independent thinking combined with teamwork
Conclusion
Getting the full value out of your M365 investment requires a combination of technical expertise, business understanding, and strategic planning. While the platform offers powerful out-of-the-box capabilities, knowing when and how to supplement these with third-party solutions is crucial for success.
For most organizations, partnering with experienced consultants provides the fastest path to maximizing their M365 investment. By combining deep technical expertise with business acumen, partners like DocPoint help organizations navigate the complexities of modern content management while ensuring that solutions align with business objectives.
The key to success lies in implementing technology and creating a comprehensive strategy that considers current needs and future growth. With the right partner and approach, organizations can unlock the full potential of their M365 investment while building a foundation for continued digital transformation.
DocPoint recently completed two workshops focused on fully leveraging the automation and governance capabilities of the M365 platform. Records of these workshops are available at these links:
Smart Tools, Smarter Business Webinar Series
Business Modernization Workshops
[This blog post is a collaboration between a human and Claude.AI]