Assigning a licence usually fails for one reason: the subscription has no unused seats. The message that comes back does not always make that obvious, so a failed assignment gets read as a broken request.

Checking what is available before assigning turns a confusing failure into a clear one, and takes one extra sentence.

A licence also takes a few minutes to become usable after it is assigned, which is long enough for somebody to report that it did not work.

Before you begin

Know which licence you actually want. Generic words like Business or E3 often match more than one subscription in a tenant.

Have the person’s email address ready.

Ask Avvi

1. Open chat.
2. Ask what is available first. For example: what licences does this client have available?
3. Read the list and pick the exact subscription name you want.
4. Ask for the assignment, naming both. For example: assign Microsoft 365 Business Premium to jane@example.com.
5. Read the confirmation, then confirm.

Avvi reports the assignment once it is accepted.

Good to know

Provisioning takes one to five minutes. Access to mail and apps appears after that, not the moment Avvi confirms.

If more than one subscription could match what you asked for, Avvi asks which one you meant rather than choosing. Answering with the exact name from the availability list is the fastest way through.

Verify it worked

Wait five minutes, then ask Avvi which licences the person now has.

Ask the person to sign out and back in. A newly licensed app often does not appear until they do.

If something doesn’t look right

If the assignment failed, ask what is available. Zero free seats is the most common answer and needs more seats bought rather than a different request.

If the person has the licence but an app is still missing, wait the full five minutes and have them sign in again before escalating.

If Avvi keeps asking which licence you mean, use the exact subscription name from the availability list rather than a shortened one.

If seats are available and the assignment still fails, open a support conversation from the Help drawer. Include the client name, the person’s email address, and the exact subscription name.

FAQ

Q: How long until the person can use it?

A: One to five minutes. Signing out and back in helps it appear.

Q: Avvi says no licences are available but the client bought some.

A: Newly bought seats take a while to become assignable. Check availability again shortly.

Q: Can I assign to several people at once?

A: Yes. Name them all in one request and Avvi works through them.