Office 2016: Should You Upgrade?

Office 2016 is here! The latest Microsoft suite brings cloud computing to your PC to enhance mobility, collaboration, and organization. Office 2016 has a lot to offer businesses, particularly for employees looking to work on numerous devices, outside the office, and on a team.

With all of the modern features Office 2016 brings to computing, will it benefit your organization? To help you decide if upgrading to the new suite will optimize your company’s workflow, here’s a closer look at Office 2016.

GET INTO THE CLOUD

Office 2016 takes us into the cloud. The new suite enables users to create, open, edit, and save files straight into the cloud with Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service. By working with OneDrive, users can access devices from anywhere and any device – whether it’s from the office, home, or on the go.

REAL-TIME COLLABORATION

Storing files using Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service enables users to work in documents simultaneously, regardless of the device being used. Co-authoring is one of the biggest wins of Office 2016, bringing real-time collaboration as users work together on files. See where coworkers make edits and view their updates as it happens, and don’t worry about forgetting to hit that save button – changes are automatically synced and updated in the cloud.

MOBILE AND FREE

Microsoft moves across devices with cross-platform, cross-device capabilities. Working in documents in Windows, Android, and Apple devices is now a unified experience with a consistent look and feel. Office 2016 makes it easy to switch from one device to another without missing a beat.

SEARCH THEN FIND

Microsoft is bringing a few tools to the rescue to help users get what they need, when they need it. Tell Me is a new search tool that enables users to search features that they can’t find in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Simply type in a word or two that explains a feature and Tell Me will find it for you. Another great tool is file history. This feature allows users to lookup, restore, and compare previous document versions. Microsoft is making it a lot easier for users to undo errors.

THE FULL SUITE

Office 2016 is all about user experience. On top of collaborative, search and mobile tools, Microsoft has added enhancements to help us navigate information:

• GOODBYE CLUTTER. Microsoft knows we all receive too many emails, and has created a Clutter feature to prioritize messages with a Focused Inbox which puts low priority items in a separate folder with daily reminders.
• MODERN ATTACHMENTS. Attach documents to email using recently accessed items, whether it’s in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or elsewhere.
• FINGER FRIENDLY. Office 2016 is finger friendly. The suite has touchscreen capabilities, making scrolling, tapping, and swiping part of the user experience.
• SMART LOOKUP. Highlight text in your document and use Smart Lookup to fact check your information with a feature box that pulls information in from the web.
• SHARING MADE EASY. Sharing is simplified with the new Share button on ribbons in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

OFFICE 2016: SHOULD YOU UPGRADE?

Office 2016 is here with an enhanced user experience. With added mobile, collaborative, search and organizational functions, this suite is made to optimize your company’s workflow. However, the benefits Microsoft brings to your company comes at a price (for some). The new suite is free for Office 365 subscribers and those with Software Assurance, which makes upgrading that much easier for select users. For those without Office 365, upgrading to the latest Office 365 Business is $10.50 monthly per user and with Office 365 ProPlus, it’s $15.20 monthly per user.

While the cost may not be a deciding factor, looking at how your business works will determine if the benefits outweigh the price. If employees at your organization work on numerous devices, outside the office, and collaboratively on files, Office 2016 is likely worth the investment.

If you’re still not decided on Office 2016, learn more about the suite improvements, or contact us to navigate options for your company’s unique requirements. If you’ve decided Office 2016 is right for your business, contact us to ensure a smooth upgrade to the new suite.

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