I have had the opportunity to deploy Microsoft 365 (M365) solutions for potential customers in the MENA region.
It has been an exciting journey, filled with learning opportunities and challenges.
I will talk about my experience in deploying M365 solutions for my customers.
To begin with, I would like to emphasize the importance of understanding the customer’s needs before deploying any cloud solution.
This involves conducting a thorough analysis of their existing IT infrastructure and identifying the gaps that need to be addressed.
It also involves understanding their business processes and how M365 solutions can help them achieve their goals.
Once we have a clear understanding of the customer’s needs, the next step is to recommend the appropriate M365 solution.
Microsoft offers a range of solutions, including Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange Online. Each of these solutions is designed to address specific business needs, and it’s crucial to choose the right one for the customer.
One of the challenges I encountered when deploying M365 solutions was resistance to change.
Some customers were hesitant to adopt cloud solutions due to concerns about data security and privacy.
To address these concerns, I had to put in place a strategy to convince them about the benefit of M365 cloud solutions, by providing contextual training programs (webinars, workshops, targeted sessions) to prioritize the security measures put in place by Microsoft to protect their data.
I also had to demonstrate the benefits of cloud solutions, such as scalability, cost savings, and accessibility to resources.
It was a challenging situation for me to work on large scale projects in the MENA region putting in place a process for adoption and change management strategy that helps decision makers value employee experience by gaining efficiency in communication and in return drives potential increased revenue.
Another challenge was ensuring a smooth transition from the customer’s existing IT infrastructure to the M365 solution, so I’ve been approached by various corporate organizations like SANLAM, the first insurance group in Africa, and OCP group with up to 8000 users in Morocco to engage employees and accelerate the adoption of M365 collaboration services, I’ve been also dealing with BATELCO and the Information Affairs Authority in Bahrain, to monitor the IT team and the end users on how to implement M365 solutions on their tenants and provide assistance and support needed to deploy real case scenarios.
It was essential to ensure that the transition did not disrupt their business processes.
During the covid and post covid pandemic era, Microsoft 365 technology has been and still the aim of the re-engineered educational system by being able to study online.
I personally assist the administrative, lecturers and students’ universities stuff of the American University of Bahrain, the Central University in Tunisia (Honoris: Rothschild Group), Buraimi and Ahlia University on administering accounts to make successful hybrid learning experience and online meetings using Microsoft Teams.
Overall, my experience of deploying M365 solutions for potential customers has been rewarding.
It has allowed me to work with customers from different industries and understand their unique business needs, one of them is the industrial sector that has been the object of our expertise, dealing with SIAAM manufacturing, I had the experience to work on automating processes related to their supply chain.
The project was extended on 3 months based on detailed specifications, we succeed on making crucial scenarios digitized and automated which added value to the company in more than one aspect:
- Data management has become modernized and more secure by shifting from paper processing to information technology using the latest software like power automate, power BI and power Apps.
- Cost and Time optimization.
- Financial reports help make optimal decisions based on Power BI generated reports.
It has also enabled me to develop my technical skills and knowledge of cloud solutions.
In conclusion, deploying M365 cloud solutions requires a deep understanding of each customer’s needs, careful planning, and effective communication.
As more businesses embrace cloud solutions to increase productivity, reduce costs, and enhance collaboration, the opportunities for cloud solution experts will continue to grow.
