Microsoft cloud transition customer success story

This is the dialogue that was created after the successful completion of a Microsoft cloud transition project delivered by Chilli Up  for The Vet Group.

The Vet Group: Leading large animal veterinary service in Australia

Would you recommend our services? If so, why and to whom?

• I would recommend the Chilli Up team to any small to medium enterprises wishing to take advantage of the potential that Office365/SharePoint can bring to their business. Warren’s business is not too small as to not have the skills, and not too large that you are just another customer.  He is prepared to go the extra mile to ease the transition and change process that your business requires.  I have come to learn that the transition process is so much about careful planning, and Warren planned the entire project so well that the entire process was flawless from the view of the end user.

What’s the most important thing people should know about working with us?

• Warren is a tentative listener and can tailor the solution to your particular business. If you have staff you are worried about in terms of their technical ability to accept change to their IT platform, Warren has a remarkable ability to support them through the change process and present the new applications and work processes in a non-confrontational manner.  Every business will have a number of staff members who are welded to their existing system, but with Warren’s personality it is impossible for them not to feel comfortable and relaxed as he walks them through a new way of performing their role.

What did you find as a result of buying this service/product?

• Greater business efficiency, and improved team collaboration.

What specific feature did you like most about this service/product?

• We are a business that needs a wide range of cloud based applications – and staff were forever forgetting passwords which was a significant impediment to adoption. The single-sign–on feature eliminated this problem overnight, and has improved adoption of new technology beyond our expectations.

Can you provide three other benefits about the services or product received?

• We operated a business across four sites and it has forever been a challenge to bring the team together and have them act as a single functional unit. I was initially hesitant about the yammer social network application, thinking that it was just another application that staff had to learn to use, but after a few weeks of operation I have been pleasantly surprised by the level of discussion that has been occurring and the extent to which it has helped us function as a more cohesive unit.
• Creating a central file repository via SharePoint and individual OneDrive access has removed our reliance on internally owned and managed servers and the associated complexities and cost. Having all our business files accessible from any device anywhere and anytime proved extremely valuable.
• With over 50 mobile devices and another 30 laptops, I have forever been concerned with security of our business information particularly with staff who utilise their browser to save passwords. Having Intune security has provided us with peace of mind that should any device be lost or stolen that we can take immediate action to safeguard our critical and commercially sensitive information.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

• Warren has a remarkable ability to accommodate users of different skill levels, and didn’t mind being challenged with difficult problems and doing the research to determine an appropriate solution. Every business is different, and he accommodated our specific needs very well.  He also supported those high end users who were prepared to explore the system on their own.
• SharePoint is such a complex system that we have only touched the surface of what it can do for our business now and into the future. Its ability to grow with us has positioned us well no matter what our IT challenges.  Whilst we initially envisaged the project with Warren as having a discrete end, and whilst we have achieved all we need to for the first phase, we are now planning additional phases and have created a long term relationship with Warren that will help us much more than we first envisaged.
• Selecting an IT provider to help with our Office365 / SharePoint project was a mine field. There are so many options, and it is difficult for a busy business to make sure that it selects a provider that is appropriate.  By chance we came across Warren, and took a gamble on his potential based purely on gut feel.  It is one of the best choices we have made and has come at a realistic price, with no surprises and he is now truly part of our business team.