Navigating the Microsoft Office Landscape: Should You Upgrade to Microsoft 365?

Microsoft's official website reports Office Home and Business 2021 editions priced around ? 28000 for a one-time purchase. The company has also bundled the entire Office suite as Microsoft 365, relinquishing the name MS Office. But is upgrading to Microsoft 365 the right choice for everyone?

Considering the Needs of Small Businesses

I reside in a small town on the outskirts of Kolkata, where there are a couple of vendors who rely on photocopying and selling printouts of official documents. For these small businesses, MS Office is a workhorse. However, they often use unsupported legacy versions of Windows 7 and MS Office 2007. These vendors are hesitant to upgrade their PC hardware or software due to the additional expenses it would incur.

Migrating to Google Workspace for Cost Savings

A couple of months ago, I visited the local headquarters of a large manufacturing company. They are currently using the Office suite released a decade ago in 2013 and are slowly migrating towards Google Workspace. One of the key reasons for this shift is the potential cost savings and reduced business expenses that Google products offer.

Enhancing Productivity with Microsoft 365

One of my students, a freelancer involved in data entry, data cleaning, data formatting, and dashboard creation, was using Office 2010. I recommended that he upgrade to a monthly subscription of Microsoft 365 to access the latest features and enhance his productivity. He agreed to the recommendation and has found the upgrade beneficial.

Making an Informed Decision

The decision of whether or not to upgrade to Microsoft 365 depends on your specific business requirements. While the latest version provides access to the latest tools and support, if cost is a major concern, sticking with older versions may be a more prudent option.

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