We don’t know all of the details of how Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn will play out, but one thing is for sure — it will certainly make our lives easier. It will also begin to seamlessly integrate our daily business processes with social media, whether we’re ready or not.

Microsoft’s $26.2 billion purchase of the professional social media network gives the company access to more than 430 million LinkedIn users who use the network to connect with other professionals, search for jobs and share industry news. Four hundred million people already use Microsoft Outlook for email, as well as a place to store contacts and a daily schedule. The integration of the two networks means LinkedIn will get a turbo charge the likes of which we haven’t seen in the professional world.

Businesses should establish a strong presence on LinkedIn or risk missing out on some important operational efficiencies that will likely come as a result of the pending acquisition by Microsoft.

Imagine a world where your email and customer relationship management system (CRM) are automatically updated each time one of your LinkedIn connections changes jobs. When you’re stuck on a project in Excel, you could click a tab to either register for an Excel class on Lynda.com or be connected with an Excel expert on LinkedIn. You could schedule and make calls with your contacts through a single platform that integrates Outlook, LinkedIn and Skype (which Microsoft purchased in 2011). Cortana, Microsoft’s digital assistant, could compile and deliver background information about attendees for upcoming meetings.

Given that potential, if your company is setting up email or needs a CRM system, give serious thought to a Microsoft product. The more functionality you can gain through the impending Microsoft-LinkedIn acquisition, the more benefit your company and employees will reap in terms of productivity and time management.

What other kinds of changes might the LinkedIn acquisition bring? Here are just some of the possibilities:

• Emails sent through Microsoft Outlook could be auto-populated with the sender’s LinkedIn photo and a link to the person’s professional profile.
• LinkedIn Messaging could be replaced by Outlook 365, which offers better functionality and spam protection.
• Users could accept or reject LinkedIn connection requests directly in Outlook and view presentations and infographics in their email instead of having to log onto the social network. This is similar to how Google has integrated YouTube and Google + functionality into Gmail.
• A customized newsfeed focused on a professional’s network, industry and profession could provide additional advertising opportunities, especially for B2B companies.

Sure, you’re thinking that sounds great, but what if a company isn’t even on LinkedIn yet? Don’t despair, there are some simple things one can do to prepare.

• If your company doesn’t already have a LinkedIn company page, create one. Decide what kind of content you want to share with your followers on the page (industry news, job postings, etc). Create and follow a standard posting schedule to establish a consistent presence.
• Ensure that all of your employees are on LinkedIn and have a completed profile. Offer training if necessary. Each employee should have a photo, accurate and complete job descriptions and history. Employee profiles should be focused on what each individual can provide to customers and clients, as opposed to simply being an electronic resume. Consider having a unified company message and sales strategy on LinkedIn.
• Monitor employee LinkedIn profiles to ensure that they continue to represent your brand appropriately. Encourage employees to expand their networks to increase company visibility.

Assuming there are no roadblocks on the road to acquisition, Microsoft’s integration of LinkedIn appears to be the next step in the world of social media. Instead of having stand-alone social networks, they will slowly meld into our daily lives, including work.

If you want to be ahead of the curve, you should begin now to leverage the advantages that LinkedIn offers.