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HCL Connections vs Microsoft Teams comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

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
6.5
Microsoft Teams enhances collaboration and efficiency, integrating with tools like Word and SharePoint, though some see no added benefit.
 

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
6.2
Users have mixed experiences with Microsoft's support, ranging from satisfactory responsiveness to challenges in reaching assistance, often relying on internal teams.
Microsoft support is excellent, offering instantaneous assistance through either robo support or live personnel.
I have logged tickets for Office 365 and received responses within 24 hours, depending on the severity.
 

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
7.7
Microsoft Teams offers robust scalability and seamless integration, effectively supporting diverse organizational needs and large remote meetings.
Microsoft Teams is scalable, and I have successfully conducted sessions with close to forty people without significant issues.
 

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
7.6
Microsoft Teams is generally stable, with minor issues mainly caused by network conditions, maintaining high reliability for daily use.
Microsoft Teams is stable once the setup is completed properly.
 

Room For Improvement

HCL Connections needs better document management, interface customization, third-party integration, collaboration, and cloud stability for improved usability.
Microsoft Teams users seek improved UI, stability, integration, and AI features, alongside better file sharing and customization options.
Microsoft could take into consideration specific use cases with some restrictions, such as improving the compatibility between cloud and non-cloud setup.
Microsoft Teams could be improved through more synchronization with other platforms like Calendly and Gmail.
The biggest issue with Microsoft Teams is switching identities, especially when communicating with external organizations.
 

Setup Cost

HCL Connections pricing varies widely, offers discounts, flexible licensing, and competitive pricing compared to Jive or SharePoint.
Microsoft Teams offers competitive pricing within Office 365 bundles but can be costly with additional security features for large user bases.
Microsoft Teams comes with Office 365 licenses like E3, but there are options for those who prefer not to pay for Teams by using alternative products like Slack.
Microsoft Teams is economical when purchased as part of an Office 365 bundle.
 

Valuable Features

HCL Connections enhances collaboration with file sharing, tool integration, expert profiles, mobile access, and efficient content management.
Microsoft Teams enhances productivity through seamless Office 365 integration, clear communication, flexible access, and user-friendly collaboration tools.
Microsoft Teams is also noted for its compliance with GDPR and SOC 2, ensuring data security and compliance.
The platform is user-friendly and has positively impacted our communication, allowing us to communicate with people from different countries and cities in real time.
It serves everything in one place and improves communication within organizations.
 

Categories and Ranking

HCL Connections
Ranking in Enterprise Social Software
12th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
55
Ranking in other categories
Corporate Portals (Enterprise Information Portals) (5th)
Microsoft Teams
Ranking in Enterprise Social Software
1st
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
169
Ranking in other categories
Virtual Meetings (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Enterprise Social Software category, the mindshare of HCL Connections is 1.2%, down from 1.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Teams is 14.5%, down from 14.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Enterprise Social Software
 

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.
Arun Srivastav - PeerSpot reviewer
Seamless presentation and collaboration enhance organizational productivity
There are three main areas for improvement: Firstly, AI capabilities should be integrated into Microsoft Teams to provide better transcript services and offer multiple language support. Secondly, it should allow participants to remain visible during presentations, enhancing interaction. Lastly, it needs broader integration capabilities with other products, like Salesforce ( /vendors/salesforce ), which is currently limited.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Performing Arts
19%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Media Company
10%
Educational Organization
9%
Financial Services Firm
22%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Educational Organization
8%
Government
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 Teams?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Teams for us is the ability to share files from OneDrive seamlessly.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Teams?
I have no information about the cost as these are subsidized when procured by companies. Getting a home version cheaper or free would be a better option so students or college-goers can utilize the...
What needs improvement with Microsoft Teams?
I am unable to determine which features of Microsoft Teams are the most valuable because we do not have full capabilities due to our Exchange server being on-premise and OneDrive not being authoriz...
 

Also Known As

IBM Connections, Lotus Connections
MS Teams
 

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
Honeywll, AIRFRANCE, AccuWeather, Lilly
Find out what your peers are saying about HCL Connections vs. Microsoft Teams and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
864,155 professionals have used our research since 2012.