Microsoft Office has long been the standard business suite for companies of any size. In the past, when you just purchased the latest version to gain access to new features, now you have two options to upgrade to Microsoft Office 2016 (the 17th software release) at a one-time fee, or you can consider Office 365 – the monthly subscription option of the software, which comes with additional cloud-based advantages.
Office 2016 vs. Office 365
Microsoft Office 2016 is the latest version of Office that you’re familiar with—a one-time cost grants you the right to install the program on a PC within your network. Additionally, Office 365 is a cloud service that provides users access to a Microsoft suite of apps for a monthly or annual cost.
The differences do not stop there, However. Microsoft’s cloud-based version has additional benefits but raises more questions, including compatibility and usability issues. Here are the essential concerns to remember when deciding between Microsoft Office 2016 and Office 365.
Problems of usability as well as “look and feel.”
One of the primary reasons that the Office suite is the most widely used software for businesses to employ is that everybody knows how to use it (or, at minimum, they know how to). For everything from projects at school to work, many people have used Microsoft Office extensively.
While some might be happy to use web browsers to run Microsoft Office, others desire the familiarity of software installed on your desktop. In this respect, Microsoft Office 2016 may therefore outdo Microsoft Office 2016 over the Office 365 Business Essentials package. However, Office 365 Business and Office 365 Business Premium can bring Outlook, Powerpoint, Word, Excel, and Access to your desktop.
Compatibility with older Office documents
Another issue for many companies is how Office 365 integrates with existing documents created using Microsoft Office – internally or externally (such as those created by clients). Office 365 enables a seamless connection between the two. You can utilize Office 365 to edit documents made in Office 2016 or earlier or even move documents created using Microsoft Office into the cloud if you would like to.
The ability to update software for Office 2016 as compared to Office 365
The purchase of Microsoft Office 2016 will only give you the features available at the time, and you’ll receive security and bug-fix updates for free. But, Office 365 offers continual upgrades to the latest features in the subscription, keeping outdated software.
Many businesses have been able to work with older versions of Office for many years, and it’s optional for all businesses. Suppose that support will likely end for this application and that cloud services have caused many employees to anticipate regular updates on a normal course. In that case, There’s something to be applauded for Office 365’s fast and low-maintenance updates.
Security capabilities
The most significant benefit Office 365 brings over Microsoft Office 2016 is its enhanced security features. By integrating the Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite with Office 365, for instance, lost and stolen devices can have their data remotely deleted. The cloud also allows automatic updates to the most current antivirus and malware programs.
Collaboration and online storage
Apart from remote working advantages, OneDrive and SharePoint Online allow your employees to work on the same document simultaneously and have their changes show up across the monitor. This is a vast improvement over the use of a shared server which means you’re not able to access editing a document if anyone is using it open on their device.
Ability to work remotely and BYOD
Microsoft Office 2016 can only be installed on a single computer per license. Users typically access and save documents on local drives or a shared server. But, since more than three-quarters of employees utilize personal mobile devices for work, The cloud-based benefits of Office 365 are endless.
Employees can not only use Word and Outlook using any browser or through Android and iOS applications, but documents can be stored and accessed online traveling with OneDrive (which is included in every Office 365 plan) or SharePoint Online (which can be purchased separately or as a component the package of Office 365 or individually) and improve productivity.
