Unlock the Benefits of Office 365 - IBA Executive Briefing
Cloud computing brings connectivity and efficiency without compromise, complimentary IBA members’ briefing hears
Attendees at a recent executive briefing at IBA headquarters heard expert advice about how they can make their businesses more productive, effective and secure. The interactive, fast moving event was centered on how cloud technology gives brokers the potential to transform their business while safeguarding their important information. The event was focused on issues and needs facing IBA members.
It was the first in a series of complimentary executive briefings aimed at informing managers and business owners in the insurance sector about technology from a business perspective. The event was organised by SureSkills, an Irish-owned company that provides technology, knowledge and learning solutions to complex and challenging requirements, to help businesses achieve their potential.
“From discussions with the Irish Brokers Association, we know many members are concerned about rapidly changing technology trends, and they’re wondering how to get the best out of their IT,” said Mark Feldman, Senior Business Development Manager at SureSkills.
In the main presentation, Jonathan Eustace, Small and Midmarket Cloud Lead with Microsoft Ireland, outlined some of the business trends driving greater use of cloud computing. Email is increasingly accessed from a mobile device, and people are less tied to one desk in a branch or office. This is creating the need to access same business IT systems no matter whether people are at their own desks, in a different part of the office, or off-site with a customer.
Office365 is a full cloud service and its applications include Mail, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, accessible anywhere from many different types of devices including Apple iPhones or Android tablets.
Attendees heard how Acorn Life, a Galway insurance firm, began using Office365 to replace an inefficient paper-based system, which allowed it to increase its sales without doubling the size of its mobile sales force.
Several times during the focused fast-moving presentation, Eustace returned to the theme of security and trust in cloud computing. By virtue of their scale, cloud providers can apply higher levels of security and protection to critical data than a single company trying to do everything itself. Eustace gave the example of Goodbody Stockbrokers, which moved to Office365 because the company had confidence in the security of Microsoft’s cloud technology.
“Ultimately, we’re trying to reduce the complexity of managing IT solutions,” said Eustace. “Email is still a critical system, but do we need the headache of managing the server in the corner, or do we hand it over to a service provider to manage it for us?”
Eustace closed his presentation by referring to some of the other tools in the Office365 suite, including Skype for Business, which handles communication, and OneNote, a personal digital notebook.
Gerard Luiten of Dolmen Insurance Brokers said the briefing was useful and “to the point”. “The content covered gave you a real flavour of how Office 365 can enable your business and empower your staff to work more efficiently.”
Over the coming months, SureSkills, in partnership with market-leading technology providers, will be working closely with the IBA to cover a wide range of technology topics that are relevant to the insurance sector through a combination of executive briefings at IBA headquarters, articles in Irish Broker magazine, and a presence at the IBA Annual Conference in Croke Park on November 17th. The next executive briefing, covering ‘the future-ready workforce’, takes place on the morning of November 14th. Contact hazel@iba.ie to register.
SureSkills is also offering IBA members complimentary workshops to discuss one-to-one how to address technology concerns, incorporating areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and how best to prepare for the EU General Data Protection Regulation which comes into force in May 2018. For full details on these workshops, contact mark.feldman@sureskills.com