For decades Microsoft has been focused on creating individual stand-alone applications that solve specific business problems.  Over the past ten years, however, Microsoft has shifted its technology focus to developing collaborative applications whose customer benefits are derived from how well they work together.

Microsoft’s modern workplace initiative defines how business processes can be streamlined and more productive by working collaboratively.  For example, Microsoft Skype, which used to be a separate stand-alone product, has now been integrated with Microsoft Teams.  As a result, the same tool that business users can utilize to share files, coordinate schedules, and host meetings can now also provide Business Voice telephony services.  In addition, users no longer have to jump out of one application to use the services of another.

Microsoft provides all the services of Office, integrated with the phone, calendaring, e-mail, file management, and data services through the cloud using Microsoft Azure.  As a result, customers can access their programs, files, and data from anywhere in the world, using any device (phone, tablet, or desktop.) In addition, these integrated systems can be managed, deployed, and secured using integrated tools from a central cloud administration screen.

When the pandemic pushed workers home, Modern Workspace provided employees with the same collaboration skills and interactions they had when they were all working from the same office.