Companies rely on productivity suites to produce documents, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and more—all essential programs for running a day-to-day business. Microsoft Office is the dominant productivity suite for businesses, but as anyone who uses it knows, it’s a pretty hefty investment that gets more expensive as the number of users in your office increases.
There are several cloud productivity solutions that offer lower costs, fewer IT hassles, and greater efficiency for businesses. Here, we’ll take a look at two of the best.
Microsoft Office 365
Microsoft’s ever-popular Office suite is available through the cloud as Office 365. The platform offers online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as Lync for collaboration and SharePoint for file storage. The online programs are compatible with desktop versions of Office software, but they can also be used alone.
Office 365 is accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection, and apps for both Android and iOS platforms deliver some functionality for mobile devices. The apps support email, instant messaging, and document access, and the cloud platform was recently updated to allow document editing from tablets. The cost for Microsoft Office 365 starts at $6 per user per month.
Google Apps for Business
Google Apps Logo – LargeWhile not a suite in the traditional definition of the word, Google Apps for Business provides many of the same features and functionalities as Office 365, though in a less collective approach. This cloud platform consists of an extensive array of apps that were designed for mobile users, but can be used through any Internet-connected hardware.
Google Apps for Business lets users create, edit, and collaboration with Office-style documents, including text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. There are apps for storing and sharing virtually any type of file, including audio, video, and images. The platform includes built-in email powered by Gmail and syncing for email, calendar, and contacts. This collection of apps costs $5 per user per month.
There are plenty of advantages to cloud-based productivity suites. Contact Informatix for help with migrating your business to the cloud, so you can enjoy all the benefits.