As of April 11, 2023, Microsoft will cease supporting Workplace 2013. The choice to finish help for Workplace 2013 ought to come as no shock. Over the previous a number of years, Microsoft has been slowly ending help for its one-time buy merchandise to encourage adoption of subscription-based options. With all that’s altering, IT groups have rather a lot to contemplate as they determine find out how to proceed.
For a lot of organizations, transitioning to Microsoft 365—the cloud-based productiveness suite that can really feel most acquainted to Workplace 2013 customers—makes probably the most sense. Nonetheless, no matter which suite firms swap to, migrating to a brand new resolution requires cautious planning and consideration. To tell their resolution, IT leaders ought to establish the alternatives and challenges forward and perceive the perfect practices to comply with for profitable migrations.
Advantages of switching to a contemporary productiveness
Although end-of-life transitions could be disruptive for companies and finish customers, the shift will profit some enterprises. Since instruments like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are cloud-based, customers get all of the bells and whistles from the most recent model of the software program as an alternative of being caught with the options out there from the one-time funding. IT groups that swap to a cloud-based possibility received’t must pay for periodic upgrades of bodily software program or miss out on the latest-and-greatest options since they’ll get the latest model mechanically with their subscription.
Past having probably the most up-to-date instruments at their fingertips, firms will profit from enhanced safety protocols. With Microsoft 365, firms can make the most of the most recent options Microsoft affords. As IT leaders know, safety is complicated and doubtlessly costly from a value and administration standpoint. Having the ability to leverage Microsoft’s appreciable assets and experience—reasonably than managing safety internally—is a big benefit.
Challenges of transitioning from Workplace 2013
Switching to a complete new productiveness suite isn’t with out its potential issues. Software program end-of-life deadlines usually power firms to make an unplanned transfer as an alternative of a proactive change—which may imply the migration course of is lower than superb. Enterprises may even must expend funds to entry Microsoft 365 or one other enterprise productiveness software program. They’ll additionally must stability the price of coaching workers on the brand new system and diminished productiveness as staff regulate to the brand new platform.
Regardless of the disruption that comes with transitioning to a brand new productiveness suite, the dangers of constant to make use of Workplace 2013 past its finish of help are far larger. Utilizing a product that’s now not being up to date or supported might look like a great way to keep away from added expense and headache, however it may truly trigger larger issues down the road. Going with out software program updates and help means bugs received’t get fastened, which suggests potential publicity to safety points. If one thing doesn’t work correctly in Workplace 2013 after help ends, Microsoft received’t be capable of assist.
Given the benefits of Microsoft 365 and different cloud-based choices, migrating to a brand new productiveness suite is a great long-term funding. However migrations aren’t all the time straightforward or easy. Implementing a change that requires an enormous adjustment in the best way individuals work may trigger extra resistance and lead to frustration, points finishing duties and diminished adoption charges. Understanding what to anticipate forward of time will help counter these points.
What to anticipate earlier than migrating
First, perceive that shifting from Workplace 2013 to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace means a shift from a software program buy mannequin to a subscription-based mannequin. A shift in fee method may have an effect on firm money move and funds, so the enterprise might must flag this for his or her accounting division.
One other necessary consideration earlier than starting a migration is how different inner methods will probably be impacted by the transition. Contemplate if and the way essential plug-ins and important instruments will work with the brand new resolution. For instance, firms that leverage a device like Salesforce will wish to understand how the mixing will probably be impacted by a brand new device.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the worth of preparation and coaching. Taking the time to put together for the migration and develop a practical coaching method is crucial to success. Earlier than getting began, IT leaders ought to search for locations the answer may have issues throughout the improve, to allow them to tackle them prematurely. If wanted, IT groups can put alternate instruments in place that might both exchange particular functionalities or function an alternate resolution.
As soon as the brand new productiveness suite has been chosen, IT workers can use the next steerage to make sure the migration course of is easy.
Plan forward
Planning is crucial to seamlessly migrate from one ecosystem to a different, since no two ecosystems are fully similar. Upfront of the migration, IT professionals ought to achieve a agency understanding of the variations between Workplace 2013 and the brand new resolution. This data will probably be helpful for creating coaching packages and reasonable, complete migration timelines. It additionally provides IT leaders time to unravel any compatibility points that would come up between the brand new device and present integrations the corporate depends on.
By creating a plan, IT workers can gauge how a lot information must be moved, the place it must be moved and what timeframe it must be moved in. “Finally, firms can depend on the the channel to help finish customers throughout this course of—serving to them to extra precisely plan their information migration, so no issues come up,” mentioned Lon Clark, international channel gross sales director at BitTitan. “With correct planning and procedures in place, finish customers can mitigate dangers and setbacks that may happen with migrations, serving to to make sure day by day operations don’t get disrupted and permit them the chance to plan for the change forward.”
Pilot with totally different teams
Planning forward additionally permits time to pilot the brand new software program with inner customers to see what hiccups emerge and regulate accordingly. IT leads can conduct pilots with totally different teams inside the group—akin to HR, accounting, gross sales, and so forth.—and compile findings to uncover widespread ache factors. Outcomes must be shared broadly, in order that persons are conscious of challenges they could encounter and really feel like they’re a part of the method of selecting the brand new resolution.
Predict surprises
If the pilot section reveals that almost all of the corporate isn’t proud of the brand new suite, IT leaders can think about an alternate possibility. As an illustration, some firms might uncover that shifting to a browser-based resolution merely doesn’t work for the group and impedes workers from being productive. Selecting the best resolution from the get-go prevents potential roadblocks and can save firms cash in the long term.
Procure the precise instruments
Migration instruments can function lifelines to make sure the transition is profitable and minimally disruptive for finish customers. The good thing about utilizing a migration resolution is that IT groups received’t must expend extra time and power studying find out how to carry out the migration. Migration options are additionally designed by consultants, leaving much less room for error within the course of.
Put together workers
Accessible, company-wide coaching is without doubt one of the most necessary parts of a migration. As soon as the corporate has migrated to the brand new resolution, IT groups ought to provide trainings to workers who aren’t accustomed to it. It will guarantee everyone seems to be on the identical web page and conscious of what’s altering. It additionally creates a deeper understanding of what it means to change platforms and the way workflows might change with the brand new device. Coaching also needs to embrace assets and ongoing help that workers can use as wanted throughout the transition.
Laying the groundwork now
With help for Workplace 2013 ending in only a couple months, IT groups can start laying the groundwork to transition to a different productiveness suite. Cloud-based choices provide extra safety and simpler cross-team collaboration, along with giving enterprises entry to the latest-and-greatest model of the platform. Getting ready prematurely and following finest practices will shield firms from widespread challenges that would hinder the success of their migration.
By Frank Suglia, VP of technical providers at BitTitan
