Office 365: Cloud Migration Needs Training

Microsoft’s announcement of Office 365 is a benchmark moment for the mass-commercial move to cloud computing. But businesses must place employee training at the centre of any cloud migration strategy if they are to see the true business benefits from software as a service.

Microsoft’s new package of online services, Office 365 was announced last month and will add to the way cloud services are changing the way businesses view internet-based applications and mobile working. By combining online versions of Exchange and SharePoint alongside a cloud-based version of Office 2010,  Office 365 will bring the possibilities of cloud computing to the whole employee base.

A big shift for users

Whatever the details of Office 365, which officially launches next year, it represents the largest shift yet in commercial software updates. Along with other cloud offerings, it will begin to change how end users work with their business software packages.

Whilst the opportunities this presents for a more flexible and efficient approach are obvious there is a concern that this shift in the commercial technology landscape has come at the wrong time for many organisations.

The recession has driven cost cutting exercises that have resulted in smaller IT departments. This has left some companies lacking in the IT staff required to support employees through the adjustment to new business software. It has made them very wary of implementing much-needed strategic technology upgrades that could, ironically, be the key to quicker commercial recovery.

In short, many businesses are concerned about the fundamental changes required under a move to cloud
computing with a smaller IT team. The net result has been the slower than predicted adoption of new IT.

So, if the drive to the cloud has come at a time when businesses are low on enthusiasm for widespread technology changes, how do we mitigate their concerns? The intelligent application of skills presents a smart way around this problem if businesses are prepared to twin their new approach to IT with a new approach to IT skills.

By moving IT training outside the IT department and into the main employee base, they can ensure everyone in the business is skilled to use new technology before it come into play. This reduces stress for staff who find technology changes challenging, and frees up the time of a smaller IT team to focus on the strategic technology decisions that need to be made and implemented.

By addressing the skills gap across the whole work force created by the introduction of a new technology, or approach to technology, companies can maximise the impact of their IT migration.

For Office 365 – an end user focused leap into the cloud, this skills gap is particularly huge. If businesses want to reap the rewards of what is a modern, mobile, flexible IT solution, they need to start preparing now. Microsoft’s early announcement on 365 has given forward thinking businesses a chance to plan properly and introduce an education-led approach to implementation.

For business with a conservative approach towards new technology, this represents a significant change in strategy. The stagnation in business uptake of new IT is evident in a number of areas. 365’s  predecessor, Office 2010, has struggled to convince many IT managers.

A recent survey from Dell showed only 4 percent of companies have installed 2010 with many IT heads concerned by the complexity of the migration. This is despite 2010 winning positive reviews for its upgraded core capabilities and first steps into web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Martin Hill is EMEA sales director at Dell Education Services