How MSPs Can Accelerate Digital Transformation with Microsoft and AvePoint

Digital transformation – which McKinsey defines as the continuous deployment of tech at scale to improve customer experience and lower costs – is essential for businesses. Companies are increasingly investing in digital transformation initiatives to drive growth and remain competitive.

KPMG’s 2023 study found that businesses keen on investing in emerging technologies rose more than thrice since last year to 32%. Still, according to the Association for Intelligent Information Management (AIIM) 2023 report, only 6% of companies have achieved “complete” digital transformation. The biggest group (39%) have only completed multiple projects, while 29% have “basic” initiatives underway.

For companies looking to push forward their digital transformation strategies, managed service providers (MSPs) can play a massive part in helping ensure that their data is secure, compliant, and easily accessible.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the challenges that companies face today and how MSPs can accelerate digital transformation efforts for their clients with the help of Microsoft and AvePoint.

Propel Digital Transformation: 3 Key Points to Address

Digital transformation initiatives can be daunting for businesses, especially when leaders face pressure to prioritize more critical tasks, such as generating revenue faster. At AvePoint, we understand that MSPs must address both the technological and cultural challenges their customers face today if they want to help them digitally transform.

We had a fantastic opportunity to catch up with Microsoft Singapore’s Chief Partner Officer, Kevin Chan. We identified critical challenges companies encounter on the road to digital transformation.

Here are the top three key points MSPs must address:

1. Data transformation in the cloud

As organizations move to the cloud, the biggest challenge becomes ensuring data is migrated securely and efficiently from legacy systems without data loss or corruption. With the proliferation of data sources, types, and formats, integrating all this data into the cloud can be overwhelming for business owners.

Our survey found that cloud-related services, such as on-premise to cloud transitions (66%), cloud-to-cloud migration (63%), and cloud backup and data protection (53%), are the top services MSPs offer today.

For 25% of MSPs, cloud migration services contributed most to their annual revenue growth.

MSPs need to ensure that data from different sources are organized and that data can be translated into sets of information that are understandable and beneficial to their customers.

MSPs can implement data validation checks, remove duplicates, and correct errors during migration, ensuring that data sets in the cloud are accurate and consistent.

Recommended Reading: Digital Workplace Enablement: Ensuring Data Lands in the Right Place During Cloud Migration

2. Unlocking Productivity

Digital tools and new ways of working should aim to empower employees, not hinder them. If the tools are not user-friendly, or if proper training is not provided, employees may find it challenging to use them effectively, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.

Successful adoption requires understanding employee pain points and mapping digital solutions to address those needs while providing the necessary support systems. This balancing act will boost adoption and realize the productivity promise of digital investments.

MSPs could play a pivotal role in driving productivity for companies through a comprehensive suite of services that enable businesses to streamline operations and enhance their overall performance.

MSPs have the power to gear companies with tools, such as data analytics and easy-to-use collaboration platforms, to drive productivity.

By providing expert guidance and support, MSPs can assist organizations’ employees with navigating new systems, ensuring they can fully capitalize on the benefits of new technologies.

3. Data protection

As organizations rely more heavily on data and internet-enabled technologies, their attack surface and vulnerability grow. Case in point: 52% of MSPs’ customers have been attacked by ransomware; 5% of businesses aren’t even certain if they have been victims of such attacks. This speaks highly of why cybersecurity and data governance must be top priorities from the start, not afterthoughts.

The rapid shift to digital transformation can also lead to data management and governance issues, potentially causing security risks and compliance concerns – not to mention financial and reputational damage.

According to our survey, data governance and security are among the leading demands from businesses served by MSPs. Proactive planning for risks related to external threats, internal policies, and regulatory obligations is also paramount.

MSPs can help organizations design and implement robust data security strategies, ensuring data is encrypted during transit and at rest in the cloud. MSPs can also put in place effective tools that help manage data access within the organization and solutions that can block malicious activities from external parties.

The Role of Microsoft in Digital Transformation

One of the key players in digital transformation is Microsoft, which offers a broad spectrum of software solutions that cater to various aspects of a business. From cloud computing with Azure to productivity tools with Microsoft 365 to business applications with Dynamics 365, Microsoft provides an all-encompassing platform for digital transformation.

MSPs can offer Microsoft tools for cloud computing and collaboration that are designed to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and drive innovation. This is particularly crucial in the current era of remote work, where digital collaboration tools are no longer a luxury but a necessity.

But as collaboration increases with the use of cloud tools, so does the data generated by organizations. And with volume and complexity come risks, whether intentional or accidental, from internal and external sources.

That’s why it’s not enough for MSPs to simply help their clients gain access to productivity tools or migrate their data to the cloud; they need to help customers manage, protect, and prepare data for sustained digital transformation.

How AvePoint Helps MSPs Support Digital Transformation

AvePoint provides the most advanced platform to optimize SaaS operations and secure collaboration. By partnering with us, MSPs can modernize their customers’ digital workplace across collaboration environments like Google, Salesforce, and especially Microsoft.

With over 20 years of teamwork with our friends at Microsoft, we’ve built a solid foundation to support our MSP partners as they implement – as well as optimize and secure – Microsoft technologies for their clients. We were one of the first independent software vendors (ISVs) when SharePoint debuted in 2001 and have been named Global Microsoft Partner of the Year five times since then.

From modernization to control and resilience, our platform enables the organizations you support to migrate to the cloud and keep their data secure, resulting in increased collaboration and productivity.

By partnering with AvePoint, you can offer collaboration security services and accelerate digital transformation for your clients – allowing you to build more streams of recurring revenue while helping your customers stay competitive in a fast-evolving landscape.

To learn more about our Partner Program for MSPs and how you can boost revenues, visit our website.