Digital transformation through Microsoft 365 adoption

Sheffield identified 375 digital champions across various departments, including social workers, IT staff and senior leaders. These champions were trained to become local experts and support their colleagues in using Microsoft 365 tools effectively. They acted as on-the-ground support, helping their teams transition to new ways of working.

Inform provided Sheffield with bespoke training sessions covering both foundational and advanced Microsoft 365 skills. Training was delivered in a way that allowed employees to learn at their own pace, ensuring everyone could comfortably adopt the new technology. Inform trainers worked closely with staff to address specific challenges and offer solutions tailored to their daily work.

Before rolling out the champions programme, Sheffield conducted a digital skills survey to assess current capabilities and identify gaps. A pilot programme was also run with five departments to refine the approach based on their unique needs. This pilot overcame initial resistance by demonstrating tangible benefits, leading to broader acceptance across the Council.

As part of the rollout, Sheffield hosted ‘speed-dating’ Q&A sessions where champions answered colleagues’ questions about Microsoft 365 tools in an interactive format. This broke down barriers and created a fun, engaging way to address real-time challenges.

The champions programme proved highly successful, with 375 champions now supporting their colleagues across different departments. Champions have become key drivers of digital adoption, helping their teams save time and work more efficiently.

Microsoft 365 applications such as Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive have been widely adopted, leading to better collaboration and reduced duplication of work. Employees now work together on shared documents in real time, ensuring that everyone uses the most up-to-date information. Collaboration tools have also enabled hybrid meetings, breaking down silos between departments and making teamwork seamless.

The Council’s focus on people-first digital transformation has fostered a culture of continuous learning. Employees who were initially hesitant about adopting new technology have embraced Microsoft 365 after seeing its benefits first hand, resulting in increased productivity and job satisfaction.

The champions’ support significantly reduced service desk inquiries, allowing IT staff to focus on other critical tasks. As Rob Ellin from IT Support noted, “The champions act as a bridge between IT and users, empowering employees to solve issues themselves”.