Free Remote Working Software and Set-Up
Formus Pro Offer Support During COVID-19
Author: Jenny Wickett | Marketing Manager | Andrew Martin | General Manager | Formus Professional Software | April 2020
Supporting your Team With Technology During the Crisis
The COVID-19 global crisis has thrown a lot of things our way, not least for many of us the difficulties of working from home. We have found ourselves facing the challenges of balancing day to day life alongside what may already be a stressful position, all within the same four walls.
With all that is going on, the last thing we need is our technology (currently our only means of safe communication) causing us any more pain or concern.
We have received many reports coming in around the security and reliability of some of the software out there. Many of them highlighting apprehensions around the video conferencing app Zoom, but some of the worry is simply around technical issues, or complications of getting this new way of working set up and running smoothly.
Many organisations and groups have been turning to free, quick and easy apps in order to cobble together a remote workforce solution.
It is a reaction to a situation many couldn’t have possibly prepared for, but that doesn’t mean that hasty solutions have to be lived with indefinitely. In fact, now may be the perfect time to look at a new, modern workplace approach not just for today but for the future?
If you are already set up with a few different apps or if you still haven’t got a system for remote working, secure file-sharing or video conferencing, we would like to suggest another way.
Free Cloud-Based Microsoft Office Set-Up
In the face of the crisis, Microsoft announced it would give away 6 months of cloud-based office software (the Office 365 E1 license) to all businesses in need.
Microsoft has a long-standing history of delivering quality software. 1.2 billion users worldwide use some kind of Office product or service so this is a fantastic offer. However, we have found that not all organisations who could benefit from this have done so.
Why? Put simply, time, perceived complexity and human resource.
This particular application is not that complex to install but right now anything that involves, setting up, troubleshooting or getting to grips with something new for the whole workforces is a bit daunting.
As a Microsoft partner, we are supporting and supplying the free MS Office Software offered by Microsoft, but we are also offering something else… our help in setting it all up for you!
E1 Microsoft Office 365 + Free Setup from Formus Pro Staff
- Web-based Office apps and business services. Office desktop apps not included
- Get email, file storage and sharing, meetings, and instant messaging
- Five layers of security and monitoring help keep your data safe
- Pain free set-up of software for you and your staff
What You Get
The Important Stuff
- Exchange (Outlook) Online Plan 1
- Microsoft Planner
- Microsoft Teams (Teams1, Teams IW)
- Office Online
- SharePoint Online Plan 1
The Extras
- PowerApps for Office 365 Plan 1
- Microsoft Whiteboard
- Flow for Office 365 Plan 1
- Forms
- Stream
- Sway
- Yammer Enterprise
+ Set-Up
- Free Office 365 installation
- Full team set-up
- Supportive help and advice on software
The initial free E1 Office 365 licence is eligible to business to have not trialled or used Microsoft E1 Office cloud services before.
The free licence period is for 6 months, after which there would be no automatic renewal or any charges. If you wanted to continue using the setup, Formus Professional Software would offer you a discounted rate.
Up to 500 licenses can be provisioned per organisation.
We, as an individual organisation are offering an additional free Office 365 set up service. Ask us about our offering.
Note: If you have already used E1 and need an upgrade from E1 to E3 or Business Premium we are offering an upgrade discount at this time. Unfortunately, existing paid licenses cannot be cancelled and replaced with this trial.
Getting You Set Up
We exist to try and make the complicated simple. On top of the free software, we will get your remote workforce set up on your chosen Office 365 (not just the free E1 package), at no extra cost to you.
All we need to know is the following:
- What Office 365 package you would like (the free one is E1)
- Number of users (500 Max)
- Names and emails of users
- Type of organisational client email server (e.g. On-Premise/exchange/AD)
- Website domain/tenancy details (nameofbusiness.org.uk or nameofbusiness.onmicrosoft.com for example)
- Existing licensing numbers/types/provider (if you have one)
NFP credentials with Microsoft (charity registration with Microsoft) if you’re a charity or Not For Profit.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all the info to hand, we are here to help so give us a call to discuss the above if you need to. We’re happy to receive your call.
Contact Formus Professional Software on 01432 345 191
Formus Professional Software hope that by providing a friendly, support technician to answer as much of the technical work needed, it will not only take the pressure off achieving a more integrated remote workforce, but also give you a good starting point for what Microsoft calls the new “modern workplace” approach.
A setup that, no matter what that future may hold, it will support you and your workforce wherever you choose to operate from.
Whether you know it or not, you are already on your way to the digital setup of the future.
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