Measuring Productivity: Microsoft Adoption Score

As I mentioned in the first article in this series, when we talk about measuring ‘workplace productivity,’ what we’re really describing is the analytics around how well a team or individual gets their work done within Microsoft 365 and related tools and platforms. It’s all about doing things efficiently and effectively — and as I often say, you cannot manage what you are not measuring.

When tackling this complex topic, a great place to begin is with the Microsoft Adoption Score.

The Microsoft Adoption Score, once known as the Microsoft Productivity Score, is a dynamic, analytical feature within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center that helps organizations gauge their adoption of Microsoft 365 services. The score aggregates usage data across four main areas and quantifies how the organization works using Microsoft 365 for communication, teamwork, mobility, and content collaboration. It presents a detailed, real-time view of how individuals, teams, and the organization as a whole are utilizing Microsoft 365 tools like SharePoint, Teams, Exchange, and OneDrive. It also tracks the performance and health of your hardware and software, and overall network architecture.

Your Adoption Score is based on the combined scores of your people and technology experiences categories. Each category is weighted equally, with a total of 100 points, with the highest possible score of 800. Score categories include:

• Communication
• Meetings
• Content collaboration
• Teamwork
• Mobility
• Endpoint analytics
• Network connectivity
• Microsoft 365 Apps Health

The true power of the Microsoft Adoption Score lies in the depth and breadth of the insights it offers. You can see which tools are heavily used, which are underutilized, and how usage trends change over time. These insights enable a detailed understanding of collaboration habits and technology adoption rates across your organization, allowing you to better understand where your company is strong and where it needs improvements to your productivity goals. Moreover, by comparing your score to organizations of similar size or industry, you can gain perspective on how your digital adoption measures up.

By identifying gaps in technology utilization, the Microsoft Adoption Score can direct targeted improvements. For example, if Teams usage is lower than expected, a training session or awareness campaign about Teams’ benefits could boost its adoption. Similarly, if SharePoint usage peaks during specific periods, understanding the reason can help manage load and maintain optimal performance.

The insights derived from the Adoption Score can help formulate focused, data-driven training and development initiatives. By identifying which tools or features are not being used to their full potential, targeted training can be provided to increase employees’ comfort and proficiency with these resources. Furthermore, understanding usage trends can help tailor training to specific teams or roles, making it more relevant and impactful.

The Microsoft Adoption Score is not a fixed value—it’s a dynamic indicator of your organization’s digital progression. Consistently tracking this score allows you to observe your organization’s developmental trajectory, comprehend the influence of initiatives you have launched, and persistently adjust your digital transformation strategies as needed.

In short, it is a comprehensive tool for understanding, tracking, and enhancing digital productivity within your organization. It allows businesses to capitalize on their Microsoft 365 investment, ensuring that these vital tools are effectively driving collaboration, productivity, and business value.

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In my next post for this series, I’ll discuss out-of-the-box Microsoft 365 reporting.