Coroplast relies on Microsoft Teams

The family-owned Coroplast, which was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Wuppertal, has achieved worldwide success in such business areas as Coroplast Tape (adhesive tapes), Coroflex (cables and wires), and WeWire (wiring harnesses). Coroplast is once again turning to Microsoft 365 to network all of its business areas and countries of presence. By switching from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams, it was able to deploy a uniform communication and collaboration solution for the entire Coroplast Group.

Background

The Coroplast Group has been using Microsoft 365 for years. In addition to Office and Exchange, it has also successfully implemented such services as OneDrive for Business and Microsoft Intune. The most important solution that it used for chat and video conferences was Skype for Business Online, which had to be replaced due to discontinuation of support by Microsoft on July 31, 2021. Coroplast advised and supported the company on its switch from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams, which was the logical successor.

It was particularly important for Coroplast to take into account the needs of its users. The switch from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams had to be made as easy and straightforward as possible in order to achieve a high level of user acceptance.

Solution

The technical prerequisites needed to accommodate the switch to group-based services were addressed as part of a regular project. Specific communication and training measures were approved as part of the managed service package. In particular, a SharePoint Online-Based User Adoption Portal (“Knowledge Hub”) was established as a central source of information on Microsoft 365 services, and a Teams Community was set up to offer users a forum where they could ask initial questions and thus facilitate their switch to Microsoft Teams.

At the onset of the project, preparations were made for the implementation of services based on Microsoft 365 Groups, such as Microsoft Teams and Planner, as a result of consultations and drafting a concept. Then the tenant configuration was adapted to the discussed rollout goals and checked for best practices. The Microsoft 365 Managed Service for User Adoption was activated by netgo in order to provide users with the ongoing best possible level of support for the constantly changing Microsoft 365 environment. During a transition phase, the customizable User Adoption Portal was implemented as part of SharePoint Online, and then all communication and training measures were basically defined during the course of a workshop.

The following were created at the workshop:

• A bilingual feedback form to evaluate the seamless transition from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams,
• Ready-to-send email templates for launch communications in both German and English,
• A Microsoft Teams-based community, which would act as the first point of contact for user questions and customization requests, including tips and tricks for dealing with Microsoft Teams

Result

The Coroplast Group has successfully taken the next step in digital transformation and globalization: With the switch from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams, all business areas and countries are now able to benefit for the first time from a globally standardized solution that helps, especially in times of pandemic, to bridge together distances both within and outside the company. With the switch from Skype for Business Online to Microsoft Teams, a uniform communication and collaboration solution was able to be introduced for the entire Coroplast Group. Particular attention was paid to the users.

Advantages for customers

Introduction to the standard

Even if the implemented services always must meet the company’s own business requirements, Coroplast takes the position of first trying to utilize all of the capabilities of a standard solution. With Microsoft 365 services in particular, this enables the company to accelerate technical implementations, quickly benefit from updates, and make optimal use of its investments.

Long-term support

The digital transformation is less of a sprint than an endurance run. Therefore, quick fixes are not enough for a proper implementation. With managed services, topics can be considered over both the short and medium terms, and measures can be adapted to the customer’s upcoming rollout plans. The continuous support service also gives netgo the opportunity to give proactive advice on changes at Microsoft and to determine the direction of the measures together with the Coroplast Group.