Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) have the constant challenge of doing more with less, and in the face of economic headwinds and hiring obstacles, this reality is ever-more pertinent. McKinsey found that 37% of SMB owners cite inflation as their biggest challenge— “the highest percentage in 40 years.” And talent is projected to slow as the Great Attrition rears its head.
Despite these obstacles, SMBs continue to grow and balance cash flow with hiring—primarily using technology to automate manual work and offload tasks from humans. But how do you know which technology solution is right for your business, and how do you get the most out of it once you’ve made your choice?
Here we explain why Microsoft 365 is the prime option for SMBs looking to do more with less—and how the right partner can help you maximize your investment in it.
Scale Up Your Functionality with Microsoft 365
Microsoft understands the needs and challenges of the SMB. The company is constantly iterating on its software and innovating for new features that directly help SMBs extend their functionality and ultimately get more out of their Microsoft investment. A few of these innovations include:
- AI-supported capabilities to automate tasks and find information faster
- Expansion of Microsoft Teams to include chats, calls, collaboration, webinars, business process automation, Viva Learning, and audio conferencing
- Auto-expanding email archive for scalability
- Exchange Online Protection for greater security
To invest in Microsoft 365 is to set up your SMB for future success through technology as you won’t need to pile on more solutions or tools as your business grows. It’s designed to scale with you as a central, high-performing platform.
Get the Most out of Microsoft’s Innovations with the Right Partner
As an SMB, you want an easy way to access all these benefits of Microsoft 365 without having to disrupt your business, hire a new person to manage it, or spend too much time learning it all. That’s where a partner comes in. Forrester[1] found that:
- 64% of SMBs want a one-stop shop solution to meet their business needs
- 69% of SMBs feel stronger relationships with partners who are flexible to their evolving needs
- 66% of SMBs note that contract flexibility is important as their needs increase
The right partner will deliver all those benefits and more. Look for a technology partner that provides:
- A customizable approach to your needs and budget so you get pricing flexibility and the right features and tools to scale
- An evaluation phase to understand your business goals and a strategy to help you achieve them
- A deep understanding of your industry
- Comprehensive implementation support in addition to post-implementation support
- Commitment to staying with you for the lifecycle of your solution use—especially as your business matures and you require a more strategic, long-term partnership
- The ability to help you demonstrate return on investment from your technology solution
- A methodology to measure the success of your technology implementation and usage
Choose a Microsoft-Certified Cloud Solutions Provider
Point Alliance has deep expertise in helping SMBs transform their operations for a greater competitive edge with Microsoft solutions. As a Microsoft-certified cloud solutions provider, we not only advise you on how best to leverage your technology, we stay with you for support as you scale. Now is a pivotal moment for SMBs in their journey through pending economic uncertainty and hiring challenges. Learn how we can help you thrive and scale through technology by contacting us today.
[1] Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft Corporation, May 2022
