The office productivity suite that you choose for your business can have an impact on more of your staff members than those who are directly using it. You also have to keep in mind the way that these software suites have to be administered by your already-overworked IT team, and that can be a time-consuming and frustrating task. Keeping track of active licenses not only helps keep your costs under control, but it can also protect your business from unwanted infiltration by hostile actors. See the pros and cons of the two leading office productivity suites: Microsoft Office 365 and Google’s G Suite for Business.
Microsoft Office 365
Long considered to be the gold standard for office software around the globe, Microsoft is utilized by millions of organizations of all sizes. If you are working with an IT managed services provider, they will almost certainly be familiar with implementing Office 365 and might even be able to obtain favorable pricing for your business. The majority of business personnel will be familiar with the platform and be able to work effectively in it without a great deal of training. The software is stable, well-known and receives regular security patches and upgrades.
The core software that comes with standard Microsoft Office 365 for Business includes desktop, installed versions of the following programs:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft Publisher (PC only)
- Microsoft Access (PC only)
Each of these popular programs also comes with a Mac-friendly version unless otherwise stated. One value-add of utilizing Office 365 instead of the onsite version — Office 2019 — is that your team will also receive access to web-based versions of the popular programs. Each license provides a single user with access to Office app on 5 phones, 5 tablets and 5 PCs or Macs per user. Phone support is available 24/7 with each license, and your staff members will also gain a fully-hosted email with up to 50 Gb of storage.
Google G Suite
While Google’s G Suite has come a long way in recent years, it’s still a relatively new entrant into the productivity software market. Staff members may not be familiar with the interface, but it’s quite intuitive and can be learned quickly. This fully web-based software doesn’t include a version that is installed directly on your device, but you can use the tools offline if necessary. Saving and basic functions are quite intuitive and allow for easy collaboration — one of the strongest points of the software suite. Google’s basic plans start out with free options, a version for startup businesses and even a version that is suitable and scalable for enterprise use. Google’s G Suite includes:
- Google Docs
- Google Sheets
- Google Slides
- Gmail for Business
- Google Calendar
With Google, you’re missing the seldom-used database functionality and desktop publishing functionality as well as the installed software. However, G Suite also includes 24/7 support for each user and can be significantly cheaper for your business if you have extensive licensing needs. You’ll also receive Alert Center and a controls dashboard, that improves administration for your team and gives you greater transparency into the number of licenses that are currently being utilized.
Both Office 365 and Google’s G Suite are built for collaboration and work on-the-go, but the difference truly comes down to the powerful additional functionality that is included in the Office 365 suite that is missing in G Suite and usability. Need help determining which platform you should use for your business? Contact the professionals at Alltek today at 863-709-0709 or fill out our online form for a quick call back.