As of April 11, 2023, Microsoft will cease supporting Workplace 2013. The choice to finish assist for Workplace 2013 ought to come as no shock. Over the previous a number of years, Microsoft has been slowly ending assist for its one-time buy merchandise to encourage adoption of subscription-based alternate options. With all that’s altering, IT groups have lots to contemplate as they determine how one can proceed.
For a lot of organizations, transitioning to Microsoft 365—the cloud-based productiveness suite that may really feel most acquainted to Workplace 2013 customers—makes probably the most sense. Nonetheless, no matter which suite firms change to, migrating to a brand new answer requires cautious planning and consideration. To tell their determination, IT leaders ought to establish the alternatives and challenges forward and perceive one of the best practices to observe for profitable migrations.
Advantages of switching to a contemporary productiveness
Although end-of-life transitions will 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 newest model of the software program as an alternative of being caught with the options obtainable from the one-time funding. IT groups that change to a cloud-based possibility gained’t need to pay for periodic upgrades of bodily software program or miss out on the latest-and-greatest options since they’ll get the newest model robotically 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 benefit from the newest options Microsoft affords. As IT leaders know, safety is advanced and doubtlessly costly from a value and administration standpoint. Having the ability to leverage Microsoft’s appreciable sources and experience—relatively 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 typically power firms to make an unplanned transfer as an alternative of a proactive change—which may imply the migration course of is lower than best. Enterprises may even have to expend funds to entry Microsoft 365 or one other enterprise productiveness software program. They’ll additionally need to stability the price of coaching workers on the brand new system and lowered productiveness as staff modify 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 assist are far larger. Utilizing a product that’s now not being up to date or supported might appear to be a great way to keep away from added expense and headache, however it could possibly truly trigger larger issues down the road. Going with out software program updates and assist means bugs gained’t get mounted, which implies potential publicity to safety points. If one thing doesn’t work correctly in Workplace 2013 after assist ends, Microsoft gained’t have the ability to assist.
Given some great benefits of Microsoft 365 and different cloud-based choices, migrating to a brand new productiveness suite is a brilliant long-term funding. However migrations aren’t all the time simple or simple. Implementing a change that requires an enormous adjustment in the way in which folks work may trigger extra resistance and end in frustration, points finishing duties and lowered 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 cost method may have an effect on firm money move and funds, so the enterprise might have to flag this for his or her accounting division.
One other essential consideration earlier than starting a migration is how different inside methods shall be impacted by the transition. Take into account if and the way essential plug-ins and important instruments will work with the brand new answer. For instance, firms that leverage a software like Salesforce will wish to know the way the mixing shall be impacted by a brand new software.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the worth of preparation and coaching. Taking the time to put together for the migration and develop a sensible coaching method is crucial to success. Earlier than getting began, IT leaders ought to search for locations the answer may have issues in the course of the improve, to allow them to handle them upfront. If wanted, IT groups can put alternate instruments in place that may both substitute particular functionalities or function an alternate answer.
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 clean.
Plan forward
Planning is important to seamlessly migrate from one ecosystem to a different, since no two ecosystems are utterly equivalent. Prematurely of the migration, IT professionals ought to achieve a agency understanding of the variations between Workplace 2013 and the brand new answer. This information shall be helpful for growing coaching applications and reasonable, complete migration timelines. It additionally offers IT leaders time to unravel any compatibility points that might come up between the brand new software and present integrations the corporate depends on.
By growing a plan, IT workers can gauge how a lot knowledge must be moved, the place it must be moved and what timeframe it must be moved in. “In the end, firms can depend on the the channel to assist finish customers throughout this course of—serving to them to extra precisely plan their knowledge migration, so no issues come up,” mentioned Lon Clark, world 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 each 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 inside customers to see what hiccups emerge and modify accordingly. IT leads can conduct pilots with totally different teams throughout the group—similar to HR, accounting, gross sales, and many others.—and compile findings to uncover widespread ache factors. Outcomes must be shared extensively, 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 answer.
Predict surprises
If the pilot part reveals that almost all of the corporate is just not proud of the brand new suite, IT leaders can think about an alternate possibility. As an example, some firms might uncover that shifting to a browser-based answer merely doesn’t work for the group and impedes workers from being productive. Selecting the best answer from the get-go prevents potential roadblocks and can save firms cash in the long term.
Procure the best instruments
Migration instruments can function lifelines to make sure the transition is profitable and minimally disruptive for finish customers. The advantage of utilizing a migration answer is that IT groups gained’t have to expend extra time and vitality studying how one can 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 essential parts of a migration. As soon as the corporate has migrated to the brand new answer, IT groups ought to provide trainings to workers who aren’t conversant in it. This may 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 software. Coaching also needs to embody sources and ongoing assist that workers can use as wanted in the course of the transition.
Laying the groundwork now
With assist 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. Making ready upfront and following finest practices will shield firms from widespread challenges that might hinder the success of their migration.
By Frank Suglia, VP of technical companies at BitTitan
