Office 365 is an essential part of the Windows experience. In fact, Office applications are so intricately linked to Windows that many people don’t realise that Office is not just part of the Windows package. And with Windows OS accounting for 31.6% (Statcounter) of the market share right now, it’s fair to say that Word and Excel aren’t going anywhere.
However, back in April 2020, Microsoft said goodbye the Office 365 as we then knew it and introduced us to Microsoft 365 Business. So, what’s the difference?
What was Office 365 Business?
First off, let’s clearly define Office 365. Essentially it was the cloud-based versions of the traditional office applications, all bundled into one subscription. The business license had a few additional features that were geared at professionals, for example additional OneDrive storage.
Those of you that have carried on using Office apps throughout the transition may not have picked up on any earth-shattering changes.
That’s because Microsoft have preserved the Office 365 apps that have become such an integral part of how we work. Office 365 was and is a productivity suite. Like Adobe Creative Cloud or Google Docs. A set of interconnected tools designed to make work faster and easier.
Microsoft Business is more than just a productivity suite.
What is Microsoft 365 Business?
New name, more features – same price
Microsoft 365 Business was launched to shift the focus away
from just productivity. Essentially, Office 365 has evolved to service a new generation
of workspaces and drive businesses forward.
Don’t get us wrong. Productivity has not been compromised. With
AI powered Office apps and real-time collaboration, the tools available are more
formidable than ever. Really, what’s changed is that there a more tools and a
greater emphasis on communication, collaboration and security.
Let’s look at some of the features that can now be accessed
with a Microsoft Business Standard license:
- Web & Mobile App Creation – Using Power Apps, you can build bespoke business apps for web and mobile. And you don’t need to be a coder.
- Intranet and Team Sites – SharePoint lets organisations create digital spaces for teams to connect ideas, content and expertise.
- Workflow Automation – Power Automate lets you set up notifications, collect data and synchronise files.
- Intelligent Search and Discovery – Find data and content across all Microsoft sources, including Office and SharePoint.
- Connection & Collaboration – Teams is more than just Skype 2.0. It’s a set of collaboration tools integrated with your calendar and other applications.
As you can see, Microsoft 365 is definitely not just cloud-based Office apps. It’s all the tool and features you know and love- and a lot more!
Businesses are still catching up with what is now on available to them. It’s understandable. At first glance, it might seem like not a lot has changed. Particularly as the pricing stated the same. However, it is well worth exploring what a fully realised 365 implementation could mean for your organisation.