So is Office 365 really the best productivity software available? Office 365 offers Office 2013 along with some new collaboration features. Most importantly, the major update to this version of Microsoft product is its acceptance of cloud. Initially Targeted at consumers, the Microsoft product is now upgraded to suit business and enterprise needs.
Google’s relentless push with its enterprise Google Apps service has forced Microsoft’s to up its game. Having initially updated Office 365 for consumers, Redmond has now rolled out an upgrade for its business and enterprise users. So, what exactly is included in this new version of Office 365? Well, besides the usual Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access, also included are SharePoint and Lync which ease collaboration. The software also allows users to access Exchange online. A new feature is that Microsoft has now embraced cloud. This means that applications are uploaded to cloud, allowing users to work at their desired time and location. Files will always be kept safe and backed up. Let us look below at the pros and cons of this software.
Interface
The interface of Office 365 is said to be almost impeccable. Startign with the administration panel to the website builder, the features on the software are clearly laid out and easy to follow. For instance, users now have the facility of dragging and dropping items as well as right clicking on Office 365 files in the web browser to access the menus. However, initially, new users may need to spend some time familiarising with what’s where. However, overall, the software is largely user-friendly and users should be able to quickly adapt to it. It is said that some of Office 2013’s headline features have been carried over to Office 365, especially with regard to the web-based applications.
Accessible
One impressive feature which Office 365 has is the ability for users to work anywhere. For instance, Office 365 Small Business Premium includes the latest versions of the Office desktop suite comes preinstalled with Word 2014, Outlook 2013 and so on. With the inclusion of cloud to the software, employees and employers will have an easier time handling work. Files can easily be uploaded onto cloud and will be there waiting for the recipient to work on them. By default, these files are stored and kept synced in SkyDrive. Each Office 365 subscription is linked to one user account. Therefore, what one on the move needs to simply do is to get an internet connection and log on. This software is bound to boost mobile working. By simply logging on to the Office on Demand service, employees or employers can then stream a wholly personalised version of any core Office application and work on a document. When these documents are hosted on SkyDrive, end users can then get access to them wherever they are. Collaboration is also enhanced between groups through sharing OneNote meeting notes from Outlook appointment.
Drawbacks
Having said this, there are some issues that may affect the user experience of this software. Firstly, in order to be access certain features of this software, one will need to rely on network and bandwidth. When the internet is down, then enterprise software cannot be accessed. It is also important to remember that data is stored in Microsoft’s data centre rather than by the organization creating the data. As such, some organizations may feel uncomfortable with the notion of data lurking somewhere. However, in this case, one can sign up for enterprise licensing of Office 365. This makes it possible for organizations to store confidential data on site.