Boost Productivity with Microsoft 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and Power Platform

Helping your people work smarter is essential in today’s challenging business environment. Chess Productivity Services bring together Microsoft 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and the Microsoft Power Platform so your teams can collaborate easily, reduce manual work and stay secure — wherever they are. Backed by trusted UK specialists, we make IT work for you.

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The Cost of Unreliable Productivity and Collaboration Tools

Fragmented apps, legacy systems and outdated devices slow your people down and introduce avoidable risk. When tools don’t work well together, productivity drops, customers wait longer and costs rise. A secure and well‑designed Microsoft cloud environment can transform how your organisation works.

Pain Points:

  • Lost time switching between disconnected tools.
  • Poor customer experience caused by slow responses and unclear updates.
  • Security risks when staff use unapproved apps to get work done.
  • Higher costs maintaining legacy systems and duplicate licences.
  • Inflexible working that limits remote and hybrid productivity.
  • Lack of insight, making it difficult for leaders to identify improvements.

Ready to improve productivity and reduce waste?

Speak to Chess about Simplifying Your Technology Stack

Employees spend up to 20% of their time searching for information they need to do their job.

McKinsey Global Institute

Productivity Services from Chess

Every organisation wants to collaborate better, keep data secure and control costs. Chess helps you design a modern workplace using Microsoft cloud services, tailored to both SMEs and large enterprises.

Microsoft 365 — Secure Productivity Suite

Integrated Office apps, cloud services and advanced security to help your people work from anywhere.

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Azure Virtual Desktop — Work from Anywhere

Secure Windows desktops and apps delivered from the cloud to any device.

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Microsoft Power Platform — Automate & Innovate

Low‑code tools to replace manual processes and create real-time dashboards.

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Microsoft 365 — Secure Productivity Suite

Microsoft 365 combines the Office 365 apps you know — Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams — with Windows 10/11 and Enterprise Mobility + Security. Delivered through the Microsoft Cloud, it enables secure collaboration from any location. Chess helps you choose the right licences, deploy quickly and get more value from your investment.

Best for:

  • Organisations wanting one secure, unified productivity platform.
  • Hybrid teams that need to collaborate in real time.
  • IT leaders wanting to simplify licensing and security.
  • Organisations with compliance or data protection requirements.

Benefits:

  • Work securely from anywhere, on any device.
  • Reduce app sprawl and simplify management.
  • Strong identity, device and data protection.
  • Predictable, scalable per-user pricing.
  • Expert support from Chess when choosing
  • Business, Enterprise, F Plans or sector‑specific licences.

See how SharePoint simplifies document management

Azure Virtual Desktop — Work from Anywhere

Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly Windows Virtual Desktop) gives your people a full Windows experience from almost any device. Hosted in Azure, it enables secure access to apps and data while reducing the need for new hardware. Chess designs, deploys and manages AVD environments tailored to your workforce.

Best for:

  • Remote, field or contract workers.
  • Organisations running legacy or resource-heavy applications.
  • Businesses wanting to extend the life of existing devices.
  • IT teams needing strong governance and access control.

Benefits:

  • Work from anywhere on any device.
  • Built-in Microsoft security and compliance.
  • Fast deployment with Chess experts.
  • Lower hardware and support costs.
  • Easily onboard and offboard staff.

Discover the power of a modern intranet

Microsoft Power Platform – Automate Work and Unlock Insight

Power Apps, Power Automate and Power BI help you replace manual tasks, spreadsheets and emails with apps, workflows and real-time dashboards. These low-code tools support quick wins without large development projects. Whether you’re looking at Expense approvals, Onboarding workflows, Service request apps, Stock or asset tracking, KPI dashboards or even Department handover processes Chess can guide you from discovery through to delivery and adoption.

Best for:

  • Teams using emails or spreadsheets for processes.
  • Organisations wanting fast digital improvements.
  • Leaders needing better reporting and dashboards.
  • Businesses wanting to maximise their Microsoft 365 investment.

Benefits:

  • Automate routine tasks and approvals.
  • Reduce errors and manual data entry.
  • Gain real-time insight with Power BI.
  • Empower “citizen developers” safely with governance from Chess.
  • Integrates directly with Microsoft 365, Teams and Azure.

Request a Power Platform Discovery Session

Compare Our Productivity Services

Not sure where to begin? Many organisations use a mix of Microsoft 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and the Power Platform. Here’s a quick view of how they fit together.

Microsoft 365 Azure Virtual Desktop Power Platform
Focus Collaboration & security Secure remote desktop Automation & analytics
Best For All employees Remote/contract workers, legacy apps Process improvement
Devices Installed apps & web Any device Web, mobile, apps in Teams
Benefits Integrated tools Lower hardware cost Save time & reduce errors

Speak to Chess for a Tailored Productivity Roadmap

Case Study

Recharging the Workplace: How Scottish Power Transformed With SharePoint Online

Scottish Power modernised its document management by replacing legacy network file shares with SharePoint Online. Working collaboratively with Chess, the organisation redesigned its information environment around standard features, clearer governance and real user needs.  

The new platform improves search, security, collaboration and scalability, provides a much better user experience and now underpins future digital innovation.

Read Scottish Power's Case Study

Choosing the right technology partner matters.

As a certified Microsoft Solutions Partner, Chess has proven capability in delivering secure, modern and high‑performing cloud solutions across Microsoft 365 and Azure. Our people are trained, accredited and experienced in helping organisations improve productivity, protect data and modernise their workplace.

Digital & App Innovation – Azure

Delivering applications and digital solutions that help you innovate and improve how your teams work.

Data & AI – Azure

Helping organisations unlock insight, automate reporting and make smarter business decisions.

Infrastructure – Azure

Modernising servers, desktops and networks with scalable cloud infrastructure.

Security with Specialism in Cloud Security

Protecting identities, devices, data and cloud environments using Microsoft’s best‑practice frameworks. Advanced expertise in protecting cloud environments and securing access, identities and data.

Modern Work with specialism – Calling for Microsoft Teams

Supporting organisations to modernise voice services and enable secure, cloud‑based calling within Microsoft Teams.

Security, Compliance & Reliability

  • Built on trusted Microsoft platforms with secure, enterprise‑grade foundations
  • Aligned with standards such as ISO and Cyber Essentials
  • Governance and access controls designed around your data and policies
  • Ongoing monitoring and optimisation to keep your AI solutions reliable

Making IT Work For You

Chess is one of the UK’s leading independent and trusted technology service providers, employing more than 240 skilled people across the UK, supporting over 18,000 organisations.

We believe IT should work for you, reduce costs, deliver efficiency, keep you secure, enhance your work-life balance, improving performance. At Chess, we’re passionate about our unique culture and our continuous investment in our people to be industry experts.

We’re extremely proud that our people voted us No.1 in ‘The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for’ list 2018, and we continue to celebrate more than 17 years in the top 100.

Frequently asked questions

Office 365 includes Foundational productivity apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, email, and cloud storage where as Microsoft 365 includes everything in Office 365, plus Windows, built‑in security, and device and identity management on a single platform. It also includes Windows for Enterprise.

Azure Virtual Desktop gives your people a secure Windows desktop in the cloud that they can access from almost any device, including older or personal hardware. It’s ideal for remote, seasonal or contract workers who need access to key apps and data. Chess designs, deploys and manages Azure Virtual Desktop as part of your modern workplace strategy.

The Microsoft Power Platform helps you automate manual tasks, build simple apps and create real-time dashboards. Common use cases include approvals, onboarding, service requests, stock management and reporting. Chess works with you to identify quick wins and build solutions that integrate with Microsoft 365, Teams and other systems.

Yes – when set up correctly, Microsoft 365 and Azure offer strong security, including encryption, identity and access controls, and detailed audit logs. Chess helps you configure your environment, apply best-practice policies and monitor for risks so you can meet your security and compliance requirements.

Yes. Chess supports SMEs and larger enterprises across the UK. We offer flexible services, from simple licence reviews and deployments through to fully managed productivity and modern workplace solutions. We’ll tailor the approach to your size, sector and in-house IT capabilities.

A good first step is a productivity and modern workplace assessment. We review your current Microsoft 365 setup, devices, apps and processes, then recommend a clear roadmap using Microsoft 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and the Power Platform. Contact Chess to book an assessment with our experts.

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