Running a business is time-consuming work. Thankfully, there are tools that make the workday easier so you can develop, market and analyze the applications that your company puts out to ensure a positive customer response.
For efficient business workflow, and tools that maintain your control over development, Microsoft offers three main tools that are sure to deliver.
1. Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure, formerly known as Windows Azure, is a collection of cloud-based services that are perfect for your business needs. Its primary function is to provide a platform for your applications and give you greater control over their management and execution. Tasks such as running websites and web applications become a breeze with Azure’s Web Apps function. Or if you would prefer, you may choose to run a Virtual Machine for greater control of the underlying web servers.
Azure can be deployed anywhere you need it. It recognizes programming languages you are already familiar with, such as C-based languages, Java, PHP and more. Azure also integrates will with programs and frameworks such as Visual Studio, a staple in programming apps and web pages.
With the cloud services Azure offers, you can quickly and efficiently move your data from your machine to the cloud, creating greater reliability should your primary storage fail. You won’t lose data anymore with this innovative piece of technology.
Cloud security is just one of the basket of features that Azure offers. You also get greater control over your applications and can develop them faster without compromising quality. The built-in portal allows you to manage your apps, storage, data and more with just a simple click.
Azure’s strength when it comes to your business extends even to your customers, providing you the tools to analyze and predict trends, giving you an edge in your field.
2. BizTalk
Biztalk is Microsoft’s solution to communicating within your business. More specifically, BizTalk allows for you to better manage and monitor your business with greater control and security than other business-to-business (B2B) programs.
What Biztalk does is it sends your message and converts it to a message of another type, one that the other party can read and understand. For example, sending an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) message to another company can be transformed into an XML document.
Even if you don’t use B2B, BizTalk is a tool that helps streamline your workflow and maintain greater control over your business’s daily tasks. Of course, you could write your own .NET framework to do the things BizTalk does; however, BizTalk already has all the tools you need and more to ensure fluid management and data flow.
With its compatibility with other Microsoft tools such as Azure, you have an infinite number of ways to manage and run your business from your desk.
3. SharePoint
SharePoint, in simplest terms, acts as a container for important documents throughout the company. With this tool, you can collaborate, adjust, plan and analyze documents and data all from one place, and the information held within SharePoint will be visible to all members of your company. This transparency means that documentation will always be up-to-date, without having to sort through many different versions manually.
SharePoint also helps improve team cohesion and collaboration, with tools that show which of your employees possess certain skills that work for the job at hand. SharePoint utilizes a search function that lets you quickly and easily search for employees, documents, spreadsheets, data and more. For business owners, this tool is crucial to organize and plan time, ensure that your team is up-to-date on the latest policies and set deadlines.
Which Microsoft Business Tools Do You Need?
In conclusion, these tools are a boon to have in the office space, for developing applications or just to communicate.
With Microsoft Azure, you have a powerful development platform for you to manage your apps with greater accuracy. Azure’s cloud storage guarantees you will never have to worry about a lost file again. BizTalk provides you with the means to communicate between two or more businesses, or you can use it to streamline your development process. Finally, SharePoint is the ultimate collaborative tool as it can quickly and easily merge documents, calendars, policies and notices throughout the office as well as enable you to rapidly and efficiently form a team by searching for.