Advisory review
Microsoft 365 licensing review: what you own, what you use, what to stop paying for.
Most companies know what they pay Microsoft each month and very little about which parts anyone uses. We list every license and add-on, and set the cost against what staff actually use. Then you get a written recommendation with the cost of each option, and a renewal calendar. Buy wherever you like.
Sample client, month 2. Illustrative license inventory.
In one sentence
A written assessment on every Microsoft license you pay for: what you use, what to drop, what you pay.
- Advisory review
- Delivery
- Monthly watch
One engagement, in this order. You can start at the stage that fits you.
Advisory review
What this work involves
Most companies know what they pay for Microsoft each month and very little about which of it is used. The Microsoft 365 licensing review answers that: every license, every add-on, and the person or group it is assigned to.
From there we set cost against use. Unused licenses, add-ons that duplicate a higher plan, upgrades no one asked for, and the base license Copilot actually needs are all normal findings. So is the opposite: a gap that will cost more later than it costs now.
Nothing here obliges you to buy anything from us. You get the recommendation, the options, and the renewal calendar. Buy through our marketplace, through your existing partner, or direct from Microsoft: the advice does not change.
Who does what
You keep your team, and we take this part.
- You — Decide what to keep, drop, or add.
- Third Shift — Count it, price the options, and hand over the calendar.
- Your IT firm — Assign the licenses and manage the accounts.
- Microsoft — Supplies the licenses and runs the service.
Who it is for
A fit when
- Companies within two quarters of a Microsoft renewal date
- Leadership that cannot say which licenses are actually used
- Firms about to buy Copilot and unsure what it needs
Scope
What it is not
- Not a pitch to move your licenses to us. Buy from us, another partner, or Microsoft direct
- Not day-to-day license administration. Changes and renewals are handled on request
- Not a legal read of your Microsoft agreement. We read what you own and what it is used for
Where this has run
Profiles using this work.
- Two Microsoft accounts, one renewal, and Copilot waiting.
Regional insurance agency · ~70 staff
Who buys this
Industries that start here.
- Light manufacturing and industrial — An unenforceable ban upstairs, and a monthly report assembled from three exports by hand.
- Nonprofits and associations — Grant reports that take a week, volunteers using free AI on donor lists, and no IT staff.
- Insurance agencies and brokerages — Two systems of record, shared carrier logins, and a renewal calendar no one watches.
The order
Part of the sequence, not the whole of it.
This is the entry point for most engagements. The first conversation covers the setup and this work is scoped from what it finds.
This listing is part of the Microsoft 365 practice, which starts with a read of your Microsoft account and licenses rather than a purchase.
Questions
Questions about microsoft 365 licensing review
What does a Microsoft 365 licensing review cover?
A Microsoft 365 licensing review lists every license and add-on in your Microsoft cloud account, what each one costs, and who actually uses it. We set that cost against real use: unused licenses, add-ons that duplicate a higher plan, upgrades no one needed, and the base license Copilot requires. You get a written recommendation with the cost of each option and a renewal calendar.
Do we have to buy licenses through you?
No, you do not have to buy licenses through Third Shift. The recommendation stands on its own, and you can buy wherever you like: through your existing partner or direct from Microsoft. If you would rather have it in one place, buy from us in the marketplace and the licenses land on your one monthly bill.
Will a licensing review save us money?
A licensing review usually saves money, because unused licenses and overlapping add-ons are the norm. We do not promise a number before reading the account. If there is nothing to fix, the review says so and you keep the budget you have. Either way you leave knowing exactly what you pay for.
Does Copilot need a more expensive license?
Copilot is licensed per person on top of a qualifying Microsoft 365 license, so whether it costs more depends on what you already own. The licensing review sets out who qualifies today, who needs a cheaper upgrade first, and what each path costs per month. No one should buy Copilot licenses before that is known.
Start here
Start with the review.
The first conversation covers your environment, and this work is scoped from what it finds.