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HCL Connections vs Microsoft 365 Business comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
7.2
Users achieved ROI from HCL Connections in nine months by encouraging daily use and eliminating redundant features like chat.
Sentiment score
8.3
Microsoft 365 Business enhances ROI through improved communication, cost savings, scalability, security, and efficient home-based work support.
It also provides good security and the ability for normal users to create simple applications without needing developers.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.5
HCL Connections' customer service varies, with mixed reviews on support responsiveness and challenges in reaching knowledgeable staff.
Sentiment score
7.1
Microsoft 365 Business customer service feedback is mixed, with helpful support but issues like slow response and inconsistent quality.
We have had good support from Microsoft, with responsive and well-trained staff who are very polite.
It would be beneficial if Microsoft had more expert customer support staff.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
HCL Connections offers high scalability with effective IBM WebSphere support, despite Solr search limitations and manageable storage challenges.
Sentiment score
6.6
Microsoft 365 Business offers scalable, cloud-based solutions for various industries, enabling easy user expansion despite potential cost concerns.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
HCL Connections is stable on WebSphere but needs tuning for performance; IBM support addresses occasional instability effectively.
Sentiment score
5.5
Microsoft 365 Business is highly regarded for its stability and reliability, with minimal user-reported issues across work environments.
The file-sharing feature in Microsoft 365, specifically using OneDrive, is unreliable.
The stability of Microsoft 365 Business is rated nine out of ten.
 

Room For Improvement

HCL Connections needs better document management, interface customization, third-party integration, collaboration, and cloud stability for improved usability.
Microsoft 365 Business needs better integration, pricing, security, performance, and support enhancements to improve user experience and scalability.
Providing Power BI for a lower package, such as e3, would be beneficial.
The comprehensive nature of the solution justifies the cost.
Microsoft has very poor security, and Defender is ineffective.
 

Setup Cost

HCL Connections pricing varies widely, offers discounts, flexible licensing, and competitive pricing compared to Jive or SharePoint.
Microsoft 365 Business offers comprehensive features but is seen as costly, with variable pricing and annual discounts available.
The solution might be considered pricey for some, however, the comprehensiveness of the suite justifies its cost.
Microsoft 365 is cost-intensive, and alternate options like OpenOffice, LibreOffice, or Google Workspace are not as expensive.
It could be more affordable.
 

Valuable Features

HCL Connections enhances collaboration with file sharing, tool integration, expert profiles, mobile access, and efficient content management.
Microsoft 365 Business offers integrated collaboration tools, cloud storage, security, and continuous updates for effective communication and productivity.
The subscription model of Microsoft 365 Business is beneficial since it provides continuous updates, including functional updates and transformations of the product.
Microsoft 365 Business integrates well and improves communication, cooperation, and security.
It sometimes proves to be easier than using other tools, and it could be any spreadsheet at all since I'm not using any of Microsoft's exclusive features.
 

Categories and Ranking

HCL Connections
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
55
Ranking in other categories
Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals) (6th), Enterprise Social Software (11th)
Microsoft 365 Business
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
244
Ranking in other categories
Mobile Device Management (MDM) (2nd), Content Collaboration Platforms (9th)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Messaging and Collaboration solutions, they serve different purposes. HCL Connections is designed for Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals) and holds a mindshare of 3.4%, up 2.5% compared to last year.
Microsoft 365 Business, on the other hand, focuses on Mobile Device Management (MDM), holds 8.0% mindshare, down 10.1% since last year.
Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals)
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
 

Featured Reviews

Hasnain Zahid - PeerSpot reviewer
A stable tool useful to manage marketing-related activities
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten. Sometimes, the portal hangs because I find that if I am on a web page, I have to log out, and then I have to log in to the portal again. Since I see that the portal hangs at times, I have to move from one side of the portal to the next, making me feel that some things are scattered in the product. I attended a meeting with IBM recently, and they are improving a few of the things, in my opinion. The concerns that I have related to the product are being improved since I think many other users have reported issues similar to the ones I faced.
Luca Turco - PeerSpot reviewer
Subscription model ensures continuous updates and connectivity across devices
The subscription model of Microsoft 365 Business is beneficial since it provides continuous updates, including functional updates and transformations of the product. This contrasts with older perpetual licenses that rarely received updates. The overall suite is very complete, and being tied to a vendor that improves week by week is of great value. Implemented features like sharing calendars and access to emails on multiple devices enhance basic functionalities that were previously lacking.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
29%
Financial Services Firm
21%
Media Company
9%
Real Estate/Law Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
17%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Healthcare Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about HCL Connections?
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
What needs improvement with HCL Connections?
The support is an area where the product can improve. My company faces some support-related issues because whenever we create or generate a ticket, it takes two days for the product's support team ...
What is your primary use case for HCL Connections?
I use HCL Connections for marketing purposes. The IBM product in our company already provides us with direct links to the marketing and HR sides.
What do you like most about Microsoft 365 Business?
The product's initial setup phase was straightforward.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft 365 Business?
The solution might be considered pricey for some, however, the comprehensiveness of the suite justifies its cost. It is generally still worth the money and is cost-effective when considering the pr...
What needs improvement with Microsoft 365 Business?
Price is an area for improvement, as spending less money would always be preferable. However, the comprehensive nature of the solution justifies the cost.
 

Also Known As

IBM Connections, Lotus Connections
Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 F1, MS 365 Business
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Yamato Financial Co. Ltd., University of Zurich, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., Telus, Rabobank, Christian Brothers Services, Grupo Financiero Banorte, The Loft Group, Dow Water & Process Solutions, JGC Corporation, College of Medicine, Swansea University, solvito GmbH, Loft Group, Hamm-Reno Group GmbH, Geno SA
Urban Agriculture Co., The Detroit Wallpaper Co., TransBlue Facility Management, Garner Food Company
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Atlassian, Liferay and others in Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals). Updated: April 2025.
850,236 professionals have used our research since 2012.