Unlock the Hidden Potential of Your M365 Subscription

Are you getting the most out of your Microsoft 365 (M365) subscription? Many businesses are paying for applications they don’t even know exist, let alone use effectively. The value wrapped up in your M365 subscription might surprise you. Let’s explore some lesser-known M365 apps that could revolutionize your workflow and boost productivity.

Lesser-Known M365 Apps

Planner

Microsoft Planner is a lightweight project management tool built for Kanban boards and agile teams. If you need to organize or assign tasks, but a fuller project management solution is too bulky or complex, Planner is a compelling option!

Key features include:

• Visual task boards for easy organization
• Detailed task cards with descriptions, due dates, and attachments
• Team collaboration tools
• Integration with other M365 apps like Teams and Outlook
• Mobile access for on-the-go management

Whether you’re planning software sprints, managing marketing campaigns, or coordinating events, Planner offers the right balance of simplicity and functionality.

 Bookings

Scheduling meetings can be a huge time sink, especially for busy leaders and managers who hold regular one-on-ones with their staff. Bookings turns this process inside out: a department manager drowning in one-on-ones can use Bookings to set available hours. Then the manager can send a link to employees, inviting them to book the meetings.

Bookings offers:

• A customizable booking page
• Integration with Outlook calendar
• Support for multiple staff and service types
• Automated notifications

This tool is perfect for streamlining appointments, whether for internal meetings, customer consultations, or service bookings.

 To Do

To Do is more than just a to-do list app. It comes with categories, labels, a calendar, and deep integration with your Outlook calendar (and is available as a web app on your mobile device!).

To Do upgrades your task management so that you can get through your day-to-day responsibilities more efficiently. Features include:

• Multiple task lists for different categories
• “My Day” planning feature
• Recurring tasks and reminders
• File attachments
• Shared lists for collaboration
• Cross-device synchronization

Whether you’re managing personal tasks, coordinating team efforts, or tracking project to-dos, To Do has you covered.

 SharePoint

SharePoint is a powerful collaboration platform that allows teams to share and manage content in one place. It offers real-time version control, as well as integrations with the rest of the Microsoft 365 productivity suite.

Key capabilities include:

• Document libraries for file storage and version control
• Team sites for department or project-specific collaboration
• Intranet and internal website building
• Workflow automation
• Powerful search functionality
• Secure external sharing

If you’re striving for a more productive workplace with streamlined information sharing and collaboration, SharePoint is the tool to use!

 Forms

Forms lets you easily create surveys, quizzes, and polls. It offers customizable questions and real-time response tracking; it also integrates with apps like Excel for deeper analysis of recorded responses.

Features include:

• Multiple question types
• Branching logic for dynamic forms
• Customizable design options
• Real-time response viewing
• Easy export to Excel
• Integration with other M365 apps

Whether you need customer feedback, employee input, or educational assessments, Forms is your one-stop shop for all your form needs!

 Defender

Microsoft Defender goes by a variety of similar names depending on the package or context, but the gist is always the same: this is Microsoft’s threat detection and security service. It’s powered by AI and can help stop attacks before they occur across your Microsoft cloud footprint.
Defender offers:

• Comprehensive threat protection
• Endpoint security for various operating systems
• Cloud and identity protection
• Automated investigation and remediation
• Advanced security analytics

Most users will never see or interact with Defender, but it’s doing powerful, essential work behind the scenes and is a huge value-add within Microsoft 365.

 Lists

Lists is a flexible app for creating and managing structured information. It isn’t flashy, that’s for sure. But sometimes you just need a powerful list, and you don’t want to launch a resource-heavy app like OneNote.

Key features include:

• Customizable list types and templates
• Rich data types for various column formats
• Custom views and filtering
• Conditional formatting
• Real-time collaboration
• Integration with other M365 apps
• Mobile access

If you need to track assets, manage events, or organize project tasks, Lists provides a versatile solution. And of course, your Lists sync across devices and are available in other M365 apps.

 Maximizing Your M365 Investment with CinchOps

These apps are just the tip of the iceberg! Often, businesses are paying for applications they do not need because a similar or better option exists within the subscription they’re already paying for. You may have no idea about the amount of value currently wrapped up in your M365 subscription.

At Cinchops, we understand that many businesses are not fully leveraging the power of their M365 subscriptions. Our team of experts specializes in helping organizations unlock the full potential of these lesser-known M365 apps and integrate them seamlessly into your workflows. We can assess your current usage, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide tailored training and implementation strategies.

By optimizing your M365 environment, we help you streamline operations, boost productivity, and ultimately get the most value out of your existing investment. Don’t let powerful tools go unused – let Cinchops guide you in harnessing the full capabilities of your M365 subscription, ensuring you’re maximizing your return on investment and staying ahead in today’s competitive business landscape.

Discover more about our enterprise-grade and business enabling services on our IT Services page.

Contact Cinchops today to discover how we can help your business get the most out of what you’re already paying for in M365!

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