According to a recent study by Gartner, 39% of global knowledge workers will work in a hybrid environment by the end of this year, with 51% in the U.S. working hybrid and 20% going fully remote. Gartner predicts hybrid work will “remain prominent” well into the future. Hybrid work is no longer a perk for many employees but rather a requirement.
And yet, many organizations are still struggling to meet the communications needs of a hybrid workplace adequately. To address the communication needs of remote work, many companies are turning to a Unified Communication (UCaaS) Voice system delivered via Microsoft Teams. However, of the nearly 270 million active Teams users, only 12 million have enabled Voice features, citing concerns with implementation, licensing, cost, and technical difficulties.
To help you start your journey to improved hybrid communications, we have outlined seven essential steps to migrate your organization to Microsoft Teams Voice.
The first step of a Microsoft Teams migration is to evaluate your current Voice and communications system or work with an IT provider who can guide you. You will answer questions such as:
An experienced communications provider will be able to guide you through this process and ask the questions that you didn’t think to ask yourself.
Determining your objectives for migrating to Microsoft Teams is a crucial part of the process. Your team might be seeking a means of streamlining operating expenses. Other common goals include:
Documenting these goals will help your team assess the success of the migration post-implementation.
Also read: How CBTS is integrating Hosted UCaaS with Microsoft Teams for improved collaboration
After you know what success looks like, you can sort through the many features available in MSTV and prioritize. Several standard calling features include:
Microsoft offers several phone plans with differing features:
CBTS engineers can help you select the appropriate option; they can assist with porting features over from the option you did not choose to create a truly customized experience.
Learn more: Key Advantages of Microsoft Teams Operator Connect
Migrating to Microsoft Teams might lead to an uptick in bandwidth usage for your organization. As a result, it is imperative to test and vet the strength of your network in the following categories:
There are numerous compliance laws revolving around emergency 911 calling and no-call lists. Regulations vary from state to state and throughout the world. CBTS can ensure you thoroughly understand what it will take to stay compliant before migrating to Microsoft Teams.
Migrating hundreds or thousands of employees to Microsoft Teams is a process. Take the time to carefully map out how you will maintain customer service and internal communications during system upgrades.
Other things to consider include:
Learn more: How to train your organization to use Microsoft Teams
Migration to Microsoft Teams is a long-term project, with optimization and refinements that could last years. One way to set your enterprise up for success is to choose an experienced UCaaS provider.
CBTS has guided many companies through successful migrations and provides ongoing 24x7x365 support once the solution is in place. In addition, CBTS is a Microsoft Solution Partner with an advanced specialization in Calling for Teams. So, not only is CBTS a highly experienced provider, but our team serves as an integrator, helping you get the most out of your MSTV investment.
Contact us today to begin your Microsoft Teams Voice journey.