June 1st 2025
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MICROSOFT 365 LICENCE
Remember the days of purchasing Microsoft products outright? While seemingly straightforward then, this model meant businesses often missed out on crucial updates and new features as newer versions were released.
Today, businesses license Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) through a subscription. Aside from always receiving the latest software updates, Microsoft 365 offers businesses a lot more than the conventional Office 2024 licence.
If you want to move to Microsoft 365 or need help using it, we’ve compiled our top tips for maximising your subscription.
3 Tips for Maximising Your Microsoft 365 License
- Choose the Right Microsoft 365 Licence for Your Business
- Keep Communications within Microsoft Teams
- Use Microsoft 365 Apps to Their Full Potentia
1 - Choose the Right Microsoft 365 License
Making the most of Microsoft 365 starts with choosing the most cost-effective license.
There are two categories: business and enterprise. If you’re an SME with less than 300 employees, you’ll need a Microsoft 365 Business plan. Here’s our summary on which business tier is best based on needs:
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: This plan is for those who only want the basics. You’ll get all the standard apps, decent cloud storage, security and online calls, chats and video with Microsoft Teams.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: Upgrade to this tier if you want to work offline, host webinars or improve data management via Microsoft Access.
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium: This is the most comprehensive plan, and it includes advanced security features, such as Microsoft Intune, to help protect endpoints and sensitive information.
- Microsoft 365 Apps for business: Want just the apps? This plan gives you this and a generous amount of cloud storage per user (1 TB).
If you have more users, switch to an enterprise plan. These plans are built for different types of workforces, so if your team predominantly works at a desk, you’d need a Microsoft/Office 365 E (Information Workers) plan.
Frontline workers, such as nursing staff or factory workers, would benefit more from a Microsoft/Office 365 F (Frontline) plan. Feeling lost? Speak to our experts, and we’ll help you choose the best plan for your team.
2 - Keep Communications within Microsoft Teams
When you work online, it can be easy to lose track of information. Where did you leave last week’s minutes? What tasks do you have planned for today? When is your next meeting? Through Microsoft Teams, you can bring together messages, notes, files and meetings so you’ll never lose track.
You can also make and receive calls from clients with PSTN numbers by adding Teams Voice. If you’re currently using multiple solutions, migrate your comms to Teams, where everything is managed in one hub.
3 - Use Microsoft Apps to Their Full Capacity
Microsoft is constantly updating its apps, which means new features are being added that can significantly improve your team's collaboration.
It's essential to keep your team informed about these updates to truly maximise productivity and collaboration. For example, Microsoft's recent release, CoPilot (an add-on), uses AI to automate tasks, freeing up your employees' time to focus on work that matters.
By actively exploring and integrating these newer features, including AI-powered tools, your team will start using Microsoft 365 to its full capacity. This means you'll get more value from your existing software licenses.
Get the Best Microsoft 365 Plan for Your Business with Lily
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, we can help your business enrol in a Microsoft 365 license that best suits your needs. Speak to our team today to find out more.