Microsoft Teams: The Ultimate Collaboration Platform for Modern Work

Microsoft has confirmed its roadmap to phase out Skype for Business Online in favour of Microsoft Teams, the ultimate collaboration platform. For businesses worldwide, this is more than a change, it’s a strategic opportunity to consolidate communications and elevate teamwork.

At Commercial Networks, we’re helping businesses migrate from Skype to Microsoft Teams, gaining a unified hub for messaging, meetings, voice, and video, all built to work seamlessly within Office 365.

Why Skype for Business Migration Matters for Teams Adoption

Microsoft Teams offers advanced capabilities beyond Skype for Business. From intelligent meeting tools to integrated chats and file sharing, it redefines how teams collaborate.

Pre-meeting prep: Access relevant files and participant information directly from the meeting interface.
During meetings: Real-time transcription, closed captions, and name attribution enhance productivity and accessibility.
Post-meeting: Cloud recordings, transcripts, shared notes, and files are saved in Teams channels – fully searchable for future use.

These innovations make Microsoft Teams a game-changing collaboration platform.

Teams is not just about convenience, it’s about embedding context and insight into every interaction. With easy access to content and conversation, your organisation can work smarter, not harder.

Migrate from Skype: What You Need to Know

Microsoft is leading the transition. New Office 365 tenants (≤500 seats) no longer include Skype from October 1, while existing customers can stay on until they choose to migrate. From November 1, upgrades to Teams will start rolling out automatically via the Office 365 Message Centre.

Seamless Upgrade Paths to Microsoft Teams

Admin Centre Upgrade: Administrators can migrate individual users or entire organisations from Skype to Microsoft Teams via the Teams & Skype for Business admin portal. Policies for messaging, meetings, and guest access can also be managed here.

PowerShell Cmdlets: Ideal for advanced or large-scale deployments, IT teams can script and automate settings during the Skype for Business migration.

Once the upgrade is complete:

Chats, calls, and meetings move entirely to Teams
Skype client remains installed but disabled
Pre-existing Skype meetings continue uninterrupted
Mobile users must uninstall Skype manually
Sign‑in attempts to Skype will redirect users to Teams

Why Teams Is the Future-Ready Collaboration Platform

Migrating from Skype on-premise brings several compelling benefits:

Unified hub: All communication and collaboration in one place
Productivity gains: Auto-transcripts, intelligent file-sharing, and integrated tools
Scalability: Fits SMEs and enterprise environments equally well
Smart integrations: Deep links to Office/Microsoft 365 apps, bots, and task automation

Teams helps businesses build connected, efficient, and collaborative cultures.

Beyond internal communication, Microsoft Teams also improves external collaboration. With secure guest access and third-party app integrations, businesses can work closely with partners, clients, and suppliers, all within the same workspace. Teams supports direct file sharing, co-authoring in real time, and chat history retention, making follow-ups more effective. Additionally, its compatibility with Microsoft’s compliance and security tools ensures sensitive data is protected. Whether you’re in finance, healthcare, or retail, Teams adapts to your sector’s unique needs while keeping your workforce connected, agile, and informed.

Conclusion

The transition from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams unlocks smarter, more accessible collaboration, and helps you build a true collaboration platform for the future.

📞 Need help with your Skype for Business migration? Call us now at 0333 444 3455 for expert guidance from Commercial Networks and ensure a smooth transition to Microsoft Teams.