Sertec (2024) – Microsoft 365, Power BI, Planner, and Power Automate

Case Study: Sertec – Empowering Workforce Through Microsoft 365, Power BI, Planner, and Power Automate Training

Client Overview:

Sertec is a leading global manufacturer and supplier to the automotive industry, specialising in high-quality engineering solutions. With a focus on innovation and efficiency, Sertec serves some of the largest car manufacturers in the world. As the company continued to grow, they identified a need to streamline internal processes, enhance data visibility, and improve project management across departments.

To address these challenges, Sertec sought to upskill their workforce with training in Microsoft 365, Power BI, Planner, and Power Automate. These platforms were essential for improving productivity, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making within the organisation.

Objective:

Sertec aimed to:

1. Enhance the digital skill set of employees across different departments.
2. Leverage Microsoft Power BI to gain better visibility and insights from their operational data.
3. Improve project management and collaboration through Microsoft Planner.
4. Automate repetitive workflows using Power Automate to improve efficiency.
5. Maximize the potential of their existing Microsoft 365 tools for communication and collaboration.

The primary objective was to ensure seamless integration of these platforms into daily operations while building a digitally capable workforce.

Challenges:

Before the training, Sertec faced several challenges:

1. Low utilisation of Microsoft 365: Although the company had already adopted Microsoft 365, many employees were not fully utilising the collaboration and productivity tools.
2. Manual processes: Several workflows, such as data collection, approvals, and reporting, were manual and time-consuming, resulting in inefficiencies.
3. Data visibility: The company struggled to aggregate data from various departments for analysis, making it difficult to make informed business decisions.
4. Inconsistent project management: Different departments used separate tools or ad-hoc processes for managing projects, leading to lack of coordination and delayed project timelines.

Solution:

To address these challenges, Sertec partnered with a specialised training provider to deliver comprehensive training in Power BI, Planner, Microsoft 365, and Power Automate. The approach was structured as follows:

1. Microsoft 365 Training:
   • Conducted workshops focusing on Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint to improve communication and collaboration.
   • Emphasised best practices for file sharing, version control, and collaborative workspaces.
   • Introduced advanced features such as Microsoft Forms and Outlook productivity tips to streamline day-to-day tasks.
2. Power BI Training:
   • Delivered customised training sessions to data analysts, operations managers, and department heads.
   • Training covered data modelling, report generation, and dashboard creation, allowing employees to build reports independently.
   • Emphasised how to connect Power BI to multiple data sources (ERP, CRM, Excel) and use interactive dashboards for real-time decision-making.
3. Planner Training:
   • Introduced teams to Microsoft Planner for structured project and task management.
   • Sessions focused on organising projects, assigning tasks, tracking deadlines, and improving transparency and accountability within teams.
   • Showcased integration of Planner with Microsoft Teams for enhanced collaboration on projects.
4. Power Automate Training:
   • Provided hands-on training to automate repetitive tasks and workflows.
   • Focused on creating automated approval processes, notifications, data collection, and integrating Power Automate with Microsoft 365 apps (Outlook, Excel, SharePoint).
   • Teams were encouraged to build and customise workflows that could save significant manual effort.

Results:

The training programs yielded significant improvements across Sertec’s operations:

1. Increased Adoption of Microsoft 365: Employees across the organisation became more adept at using Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive. The enhanced collaboration and communication features of Microsoft 365 improved overall productivity and reduced reliance on email.
2. Data-Driven Decision Making: With Power BI, Sertec was able to streamline their data reporting process. Department heads now have access to real-time dashboards that offer insights into key performance metrics. This has enabled faster, more informed decision-making across the organization.
3. Improved Project Management: Microsoft Planner’s adoption created a standardised project management framework across departments. The visibility of tasks, deadlines, and resources has improved significantly, leading to more efficient project execution.
4. Automated Processes: By implementing Power Automate, Sertec was able to automate several internal workflows, including approval processes, daily task reminders, and data transfers. These automations reduced time spent on manual tasks, freeing up employees to focus on higher-value activities.
5. Enhanced Employee Engagement and Satisfaction: The hands-on nature of the training increased employee engagement with the tools, resulting in higher confidence levels and greater job satisfaction.

Conclusion:

Through targeted training in Microsoft 365, Power BI, Planner, and Power Automate, Sertec empowered its employees to harness the full potential of modern productivity tools. This digital transformation improved collaboration, streamlined workflows, and provided data-driven insights, ultimately increasing efficiency and supporting the company’s continued growth in a competitive market.

The successful deployment of these tools has laid the foundation for ongoing digital innovation and continuous improvement at Sertec.