The National Association of German Cooperative Banks (Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken: BVR) has launched operations with the full Microsoft 365 Office suite. This transformation has been accompanied by q.beyond AG. With its consulting services, the cloud and modern workplace specialist has supported the central association of Germany's cooperative banking group, the Genossenschaftliche FinanzGruppe, through all stages of the project and especially in the change processes resulting from the new Microsoft-based IT architecture.

q.beyond developed a roadmap for BVR that illustrates all key steps and success factors. Among others, these included designating "champions", that is specific employees who were particularly open to the upcoming transformation process and familiarised their departments with the new processes. Other aspects of the roadmap included gaining the buy-in of the Works Council at an early stage and data protection.

With q.beyond's assistance BVR also built a SharePoint-based intranet. As a communications platform, this has provided orientation and facilitated the transition to the digital workplace and beyond. Another result of introducing Microsoft 365 is that BVR has further improved its data protection and cybersecurity processes.

In cooperation with q.beyond, BVR initiated the processes required for a cloud environment and raised awareness among the workforce for the amended security requirements.