Microsoft 365 is now an integral part of daily work life at many companies. Emails are managed through Outlook, meetings take place in Microsoft Teams, and documents are created in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
Over time, however, information becomes scattered across various applications, email inboxes, and storage locations. Documents are saved multiple times, sent via email, or stored locally. This makes it more difficult to keep information up to date and retrieve it later.
This is exactly where the integration of ELO and Microsoft 365 comes in . It combines the familiar Microsoft work environment with ELO’s document management and workflow capabilities. Documents remain centrally managed, while employees can continue to work in the applications they use every day. To this end, ELO offers integrations for Outlook, Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams, and the Microsoft Office applications, among others. This allows documents and business processes to be tightly integrated with Microsoft 365.
Why do ELO and Microsoft 365 complement each other?
Microsoft 365 and ELO serve different purposes and therefore complement each other perfectly.
Microsoft 365 supports businesses in their day-to-day communication and collaboration. Outlook is used for email, Teams for coordination within projects, and Office applications for creating documents.
ELO, on the other hand, handles the structured management of information. Documents are centrally archived, versioned, tagged with metadata, and integrated into digital business processes.
The combination of both systems makes it possible to use information where it is generated, without having to forego centralized and traceable document management.
Outlook and ELO: Integrating Emails Directly into Business Processes
For many companies, a business process begins with an email. Quotes, contracts, orders, and invoices arrive in Outlook every day.
Thanks to the integration with ELO, emails and attachments can be archived directly or assigned to an existing case. This eliminates the need to manually save individual files to network drives or local computers.
Invoices received through a central Outlook mailbox can also be transferred directly into a digital invoicing process. At the same time, the
All communication is traceable, since emails and documents are managed together.
Collaboration with Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams has become the go-to collaboration platform in many companies. Information is often shared directly in chat or in project channels.
Thanks to the integration with ELO, documents from the document management system can be searched for, opened, and shared directly in Microsoft Teams. At the same time, tasks and workflows from ELO can be integrated into your familiar work environment.
This means that employees don’t have to constantly switch between different applications, yet they are always working with the latest version of the document.
Manage documents directly from Microsoft Office
Even the classic Office applications can be integrated with ELO.
Documents from Word, Excel, or PowerPoint can be saved and managed directly in ELO. Changes are versioned and documented in a traceable manner, ensuring that older versions are retained as needed.
This reduces the number of local file copies and makes it easier to collaborate on documents within the company.
A Real-World Example: Digital Invoice Management
A typical area of application for integration is digital invoice management.
For example, invoices arrive via Outlook and are then transferred to ELO. There, they can be automatically captured, assigned to the appropriate employees, and processed through a digital approval workflow. Once the process is complete, the documents are archived in accordance with auditing requirements and, if necessary, transferred to an ERP or accounting system.
We have explained the individual steps of invoice management—from invoice receipt through automatic data capture to approval—in detail in separate articles.
Other Possible Applications
The integration of ELO and Microsoft 365 is not limited to invoice management. It can be used in virtually all document-based business processes.
Typical areas of application include, for example:
- Contract Management
- digital personnel files
- Project Files
- Customer Files
- Quality Management
- technical documentation
- General Correspondence
This creates a central information platform that authorized employees can access regardless of their specific area of responsibility.
What are the benefits of integration?
The integration of ELO and Microsoft 365 helps companies manage information centrally while continuing to work in the familiar Microsoft environment.
The most important benefits include:
- Centralized Document Management
- fewer media breaks
- No duplicate copies of files
- faster access to information
- Traceable versioning
- better collaboration between departments
- Digital Workflows for Document-Based Processes
- Seamless integration into existing Microsoft 365 workflows
As a result, information is no longer scattered across different systems but is available to authorized employees in a centralized and up-to-date format.
Conclusion
Microsoft 365 is the everyday work environment for many companies. ELO complements these applications with structured document management and digital business processes.
By integrating both systems, you can centrally manage emails, documents, and information without having to give up the Microsoft applications you’re used to. This reduces media discontinuities, improves collaboration, and lays the foundation for efficient digital processes—from contract management to project files to invoice management.
As an ELO Business Partner, IT Titans helps companies seamlessly integrate ELO into their existing Microsoft 365 environments. Together, we develop solutions that are tailored to your existing workflows and effectively integrate document management with your everyday Microsoft applications.
