If your business is still purchasing and operating its own IT assets, you know all too well how expensive and time-consuming it can be to keep everything updated and functioning. Hardware and software can be a tremendous expense for the small or midsize business. Still, businesses are moving steadily toward cloud-based technologies, which provide greater benefits than the traditional model of multiple single-solution purchases. One such option worth your consideration is Office 365 for small business.
Why Office 365 for Small Business?
When it comes to responsible budgeting for IT, cloud services can help reduce software investment while still providing a powerful productivity experience. Office 365 is a collection of cloud services offered by Microsoft that can be customized to meet a multitude of business needs. The Software as a Service (SaaS) model of software delivery isn’t new, but Office 365 makes this option more economical and flexible for businesses. With Office 365, you can:
- Increase revenue
Focus on revenue-generating activities while Microsoft handles the ownership and management of infrastructure. Additionally, monthly billing for SaaS is typically much more manageable than the considerable expense of purchasing and maintaining hardware.
- Improve productivity
Office 365’s collaboration tools help your employees to connect and share. Plus, your staff has the advantage of using the exact same version of the same software – no issues with compatibility.
- Decrease costs
Eliminate hardware expenses, reduce downtime, and bring down overhead. Per-user pricing allows you to scale your costs as your business fluctuates. Updates are automatic and part of your service agreement.
- Manage risk
Data redundancy and security, encryption, and business continuity are all a part of your service agreement. Your information is secure in the cloud and accessible at any time, even if your business experiences a disaster.
What You Get With Office 365
If your business has followed the traditional path of purchasing single-use licenses for software, Office 365 can be a game-changer. As a subscription-based plan, Office 365 allows each business to customize a suite of business tools according to their needs. Office 365 includes access to Office applications as well as other services available in the cloud, including:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- OneNote
- Outlook
- Publisher
- Skype for Business
These applications can be installed across multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones. As part of your subscription, your business is billed per user, per month based on the options you choose. Because the subscription model is scalable, you can add and remove users as needed and hold the line on costs.
In addition, Office 365 allows your business to take advantage of a powerful suite of productivity tools, including:
In addition to the cost savings that come from Office 365’s scalability, your business can also benefit from the fixed expense of monthly billing. You can reduce or eliminate your company’s need for expensive investments in equipment or upgrades to technology. In fact, with the SaaS model of Office 365, you can be assured that every member of your staff has access to the most current version of software. When all your employees use the same version of a business tool, productivity can soar.
What’s Right for Your Business?
Companies using Office 365 can customize a software package that meets their needs and pay less overall as compared to purchasing multiples of standalone software. Office 365 allows businesses to reduce or eliminate their dependence on hardware and software for such business basics as email, spreadsheets, word processing, calendars, and more.
Lieberman Technologies can help your company to assess its needs and guide you in the selection of an Office 365 plan that is suitable for your business. What’s more, as a Managed Services Provider (MSP), we can help you manage your Office 365 subscription as well as the rest of your technology. If you’d like to know more, contact us!