Updated February 2022
Microsoft Office used to be a simple thing. You’d buy a box of software and install Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint – and that was it. That all changed with the launch of Office 365 (now Microsoft 365) however. A shift to a subscription model with a monthly fee and a host of cloud services, bundling what had been Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite of hosted Office server products with the familiar desktop Office apps. Not only that, but the many features and benefits of Office 365 can often be overlooked and misunderstood by businesses. We’ve put together this article to help you understand it a bit better as a tool and to highlight some of the features of Office 365.
Pros of using Office 365
Work Anywhere, Anytime
One of the biggest advantages of Office 365 is the ability to work from anywhere at any time, as long as you have an internet connection. The programme provides web-enabled access to emails, documents, contacts and calendar on devices including PCs, Macintosh computers, laptops and smartphones.
Collaborate Easily
If working in teams is at all part of your company or if there is often several people working on one document, you will appreciate the collaboration features of 365.
Everyone who needs to contribute to or edit a document (presentation, spreadsheet, word document etc.) can work on the same version with real-time changes, rather than being locked out or having multiple versions floating around.
You can also share direct access to your files, rather than sending files as attachments. This again means that people can make changes to one file rather than having multiple copies. This can help to save time.
Subscription-Based Payment
Office 365 is a subscription-based service. Meaning you pay a low manageable monthly fee (per user) rather than a lump sum up front. We know this can be extremely helpful from a cash flow perspective.
Security Features
With built-in security features you can help ensure your company’s data is kept safe. Some of these include encrypted email, data loss prevention and advanced threat analytics.
Easy to Use
It’s straightforward to use. Meaning you don’t need to take the time to learn new software, install complicated systems or learn new jargon.
Portal to Productivity
At the heart of Office 365 is the Office Portal, a web-hosted service which allows your IT service provider to manage the software and users. They are able to do everything remotely including important updates, taking the hassle away from the business and its employees. Not only that, but you’ll also have access to the latest versions of Office at no additional charge.
Cons of using Office 365
Post Migration
Do you have support readily available? There are a number of companies that are willing to help you set up Office 365 – or you may have set it up yourself. However, what is your plan once that has been done? Businesses often find that they need after care support.
Get in touch today
Whether you think your business could benefit from the many features of Office 365, whether you are already using the software and would like some advice or if you would just like some more information get in contact with the team at WestSpring today.