Professional Services and FastTrack Ready in local Government
The Customer Challenge
The customer had reached a breakpoint in its software supply contract and early in 2018 put out a tender for a new Channel Partner with a specific requirement for improved support and guidance in the areas of licensing options and implementation.
They needed support with their Microsoft Enterprise Agreement licensing strategy to help get the most out of what was a complex licensing estate. They were also seeking support with the adoption of Microsoft 365 applications and services across the organisation – particularly SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams. Ultimately, they were hoping to work with a proactive and agile partner who could bring them greater efficiencies across the Microsoft stack.
Our contact, a Senior IT Analyst and Microsoft lead at the local authority, explains: “We had many issues with Microsoft 365 and were given poor info by our previous Channel Partner about our licensing agreement. It was disappointing and frustrating, and we wanted a partner who could help and address those challenges and be proactive.”
Why Trustmarque was selected as a partner
As a select Microsoft FastTrack Ready partner and with a market-leading base of Microsoft licensing expertise and Professional Services capability, we were in a unique position to support this local authority with their vision, implementation and roadmap.
About the Customer
The customer is a large local authority of around 2,500 seats in the north west of England. Due to the nature of their role in providing public services and privacy restrictions set by the customer, we are not able to provide the name publicly. Please contact us for more details.
Tailored solutions by Trustmarque
As their leading Channel Partner, we worked with the customer on a number of projects to help drive operational efficiencies across the organisation. Our approach included:
- Professional Services – Trustmarque provided a range of Professional Services to help the customer optimise their licensing position – saving them time and money and allowing them to buy at a pace aligned to their roadmap.
- FastTrack Ready – We deployed our FastTrack Ready programme to help them to get up and running with Microsoft 365 in order to meet the immediate needs for remote working. This included Exchange migration, supporting mail migration to Office 365, PowerBI consultancy and the implementation of SharePoint Online. We also worked with the customer to roll-out Microsoft Teams so that all users could collaborate from home.
- Security Services – The consultation included support with their security governance and policies and the use of Microsoft Intune Device Management.
About FastTrack Ready
FastTrack Ready is Microsoft funded programme designed to help eligible customers to access the benefits of Microsoft 365 faster – shortening the deployment and adoption time scales.
“There is still a long way to go with our hybrid strategy but we know we can lean on Trustmarque when needed”.
Feedback on the Partnership
The Senior IT Analyst reveals how working with Trustmarque has been “seamless and fluid” and that they are pleased to work with a partner they trust and respect.
They added: “To regain ground, we needed a top level of skill and guidance. Since bringing Trustmarque in have received the help and guidance we need, particularly on licensing, which helped us to formulate a business cases for the IT service. It is a huge project and Trustmarque has been invaluable in coming back to us quickly and providing the info we need – we are certainly now getting what we need out of a partner.”
They also praised the calibre of professionals that they have been able to lean on for guidance, including a “great relationship” with the Account Manager. Our contact explains: “The Professional Services we required worked really well – the people who come in are all experts and know the areas inside out. We have regular meetings with the FastTrack Manager. It might just be a 5 min catch-up to get the info we need or ideas about training materials. We had none of this before.”
Overall, they have been very impressed. “There is still a long way to go with our hybrid strategy strategy, but Trustmarque have brought us back on course and we know we can lean on Trustmarque as and when needed”.
Microsoft Teams is revolutionising how we work
According to the local authority, Teams has been pivotal to their transition to remote working. Our contact added: “I think Teams is excellent platform for collaboration and it really saved us when everybody went home. It has allowed us to keep colleagues connected. It is revolutionising how we work but we need a review of how we use it and we need to structure it differently.”
They explained they now plan to bring all employees up-to-speed on the full range of features and capabilities via user training to optimise the use of Teams. They also hope to utilise Team Chats to deliver more effective communications.
Next Steps
As well as optimising the use of Teams, the customer plans to progress their SharePoint strategy including migrating Exchange mailboxes, improving the integration with Teams and a review of their retention policies. Trustmarque will be utilised to support them with their SharePoint infrastructure and data migration.
With regards to the future of remote working, our contact added: “The myth around home working in local government has gone. This has proved that it can be done depending on which department you work for. I certainly think there will be more flexibility in the future.”
Why choose Trustmarque for Microsoft Teams
As a leading Microsoft partner, we’re ideally placed to support with your Microsoft Teams or wider Microsoft 365 adoption. Our Microsoft Certified technical experts can provide your organisation with direct remote assistance to discuss your requirements. We’re also one a select number of Microsoft FastTrack Ready Partners, a funded programme designed to shorten the adoption of Microsoft 365 for eligible customers.
