FLEX is automation technology for Office 365 that drives digital transformation by empowering end users to self-serve.
Enterprises face the same opportunities as consumers with new technologies, but a more complicated route to adoption. Whilst technologies such as online collaboration and communication software can rapidly deliver business improvements, they often require considerable resources for IT to install, train users, and support solutions that the business was not set up to manage. At the current pace, no business can make the required changes without relying on end user self-service as the way to roll out rapid adoption of new business technologies.
No digital transformation without end user self-service
Self-service drove the consumer explosion, with mobile apps stores containing a myriad of self-service applications such as Facebook, Amazon, eBay, etc. Unlike most technologies that claim to be self-service, FLEX aims to automate the actual business end-user experience, rather than that of the typical IT user, as is common. FLEX is based on a state-of-the-art automation engine. The solution uses an intuitive, smartphone-based user experience. This allows users to be self-sufficient, avoiding the need to train users in the underlying technologies within Office 365.
Effective digital transformation is about freeing up better organisational capabilities. FLEX provides a way for business end-users to interact with the corporate technology stack, giving them an experience with options they understand. FLEX provides the intuitive and mobile-first experience that 21st century technology users expect, becoming the centre of their day. With an app store that lets them install powerful tools and social environments which boost productivity, it transforms businesses into digital-first organisations.
FLEX reduces the time and cost to deploy Office 365 (SharePoint/Yammer/OneDrive) by over 70 per cent
Office 365 is widely licensed in enterprises, yet 70 to 80 per cent fail to use anything like the full feature set. Office 365 is a fantastic engine for offering up further capabilities, yet users do not know how to apply the solution to their business needs. FLEX uses its automation technology and prebuilt Intranet, Collaboration and Digital Workplace to dramatically reduce the time and cost to deploy Office 365 compared to the traditional manual approach.
Martin Neale, CEO at ICS explained, “risual are IT leaders, and former Microsoft Partner of Year winners. I am extremely pleased that they will become our first accredited FLEX service partner. I believe that their highly respected, growing team of Office 365 experts and portfolio of IP add real value to FLEX customers. In selecting FLEX I believe risual have once again demonstrated thought leadership by recognising the pivotal role of automation technology in driving digital transformation, allowing enterprises to enable the self-service that true digital transformation requires.”
Alun Rogers, Director and Co-Founder of risual, said: “We’re proud to become a FLEX service partner with ICS Solutions. Their experience of being a Microsoft Gold Partner for over 20 years speaks volumes, and we’re delighted to work alongside them. Digital transformation is something risual are truly passionate about and we are excited to partner with an organisation that shares this.”
When end users don’t know how to use technology, or the organisation fails to adjust to new ways of working, the benefits will not be realised no matter how well it is deployed. Organisations partner with risual to ensure that technical deployment and change management align to deliver real benefits.
Laura Bouchard, Director of channel Sales, Microsoft UK, said: “I encourage our service partners to work with great ISVs because I believe this drives incremental value to our customers, so it’s fantastic to hear that Risual will be partnering with ICS and FLEX to drive digital transformation with Office 365.”
