IT Specialist Databases at Botswana Open University
Real User
A stable and scalable solution with popular applications, but the price should be better for educational institutions
Pros and Cons
  • "Office products such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are strong points of this solution."
  • "Microsoft Teams can be improved. It is a bit taxing on resources and is resource-heavy on the devices. When you install it on a PC, it uses a lot of memory. They should look for a better price model for educational institutions, and it should be free. We are also using Google Suite, which is free for educational institutions. They charge business people, not nonprofit institutions."

What is our primary use case?

Students use it mostly for sending emails, storing their documents, and collaborating.

What is most valuable?

Office products such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are strong points of this solution.

What needs improvement?

Microsoft Teams can be improved. It is a bit taxing on resources and is resource-heavy on the devices. When you install it on a PC, it uses a lot of memory.

They should look for a better price model for educational institutions, and it should be free. We are also using Google Suite, which is free for educational institutions. They charge business people, not nonprofit institutions.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for some time.

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft 365 Business
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft 365 Business. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable. We have around 2,000 users, and we want to increase the usage.

How are customer service and support?

We get support from Microsoft through their local dealers. Their support is fine.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are also using Google Suite. Microsoft 365 has a price attached, whereas Google Suite is free for educational institutions. Microsoft 365 has got popular applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, whereas Google Suite has got similar products that do the same thing, but they are not very popular.

How was the initial setup?

It was straightforward.

What about the implementation team?

I installed it myself.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

They are always a bit pricey. They should reduce their prices or make it free because we already have other solutions, like Google Suite, which are cheaper or free.

What other advice do I have?

If you can afford it, then go for it. It is a good product.

I would rate Microsoft 365 Business a six out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Director Comercial at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Onscreen help and an improved user interface make this suite an improved standard business solution
Pros and Cons
  • "The interface is now more user-friendly than the previous versions of Microsoft Office."
  • "Bandwidth usage is not always the same depending on the network connection."

What is our primary use case?

I am not a technical person, I am from the sales side and more on the commercial side of things. Our company is in Mozambique and we are the main Dell EMC repair center and service provider.  

My main use case for Office 365 is really to type documents with Word, to prepare presentations with the PowerPoint, and also to do spreadsheets with Excel. The product in the suite that I use the most is Word. PowerPoint and Excel to a somewhat lesser extent. But I do use all three frequently.  

We also resell the product so we do deployments for our customers as well.  

What is most valuable?

With Office, the interface is now more user-friendly than the previous versions of Microsoft Office. The functionality and ability to work offline are also great. There are more helpful tools in the interfacer now. For example, if you are working with Excel and you are typing a formula, Office 365 gives you tips as you work if you do something wrong. It will identify what is wrong and then you can apply the corrections. Things like that make the product more intuitive and helpful. The previous version did not have that kind of help to this extent. So, the most valuable features are the ability to work offline, the ability to have tips when writing formulas, and the improved more user-friendly interface.  

I believe one thing I enjoy more about the experience of using the product is that it now the basic features that I use most frequently are easier to find, access, and manage. This helps to make my work easier and speed up productivity.  

What needs improvement?

Microsoft could still work on the bandwidth used with Office 365. It does not seem to behave the same depending on the networks that I am working on. Sometimes I can tell the program uses more or less bandwidth and actually measure the difference. I believe that this can be enhanced to be independent of the network that I am working on. The bandwidth consumption should always be about the same.  

Some features of specific products could be more user-friendly. For instance, in Excel, some functionalities like the Pivot tables are not always so easy to use. Right now if you want to create a new formula, you need to have some knowledge about programming in Visual Basic. It does not seem to me that this should be a requirement. So you can type a command and then set up a new formula that is not listed on standard functions supplied with Excel. For users who do not understand the basics of programming and VBA, that really becomes an impossible mission. They may know that they can create a formula and what they might want it to do but they do not know how to do it. So if they do not find the formula in what is provided, then they really have to forget using Excel for that type of solution. If they knew how to do the programming they can do virtually anything through Excel, but they need to have the ability to do the programming and develop the formula. It does not really have to be that way. Microsoft could expand those capabilities.  

One final issue we have has to do with the backups. Microsoft does not assure the backups of the information that you store at their data centers. So besides deploying Office 365 as a solution, you also need a backup solution specifically for Office 365 on the cloud. We definitely recommend Office 365, but unfortunately in our country — specifically for the public companies — it is not easy to sell because we have some strict policies and regulations regarding data. Public companies cannot store information outside of the country. So, since Microsoft Office 365 is a Cloud product some public companies can not go for that option. They still have to work with previous versions of the product. Private sector companies do not have this type of restriction. We can only recommend the product when interested customers can do it within the proper guidelines.  

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Office 365 for about one year now.  

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Office 365 is a stable product. Besides the issues with the bandwidth use where sometimes the product uses more bandwidth depending on the network, it performs well and it is very stable and very reliable.  

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have done sales and installations for SMBs (Small and Medium-sized Businesses) as well as for enterprise companies. The issues with scalability would be budget and Internet bandwidth. If the money is there it is not an issue.  

How are customer service and technical support?

My technicians deal with Microsoft support if they have to. Mostly they will take care of issues themselves. They have a dedicated contact and a direct portal for support purposes. So that is great. If a technician needs to open a ticket for a customer, the technician can open himself and go straight to the support portal to log the tickets and carry on from there. In terms of response time, I am not exactly sure because I am not directly involved.  

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, I was using Microsoft on a version from 2016. So it really is not a complete switch of products as it is still the Microsoft solution. It is just a newer version.  

How was the initial setup?

I do not think the installation was easy but that is because we have around a hundred users. I did not manage the installation, but I heard from the technical guys that it is generally easier than the previous versions. We signed an enterprise agreement with Microsoft. With that, we got the keys and we got the centralized management panel from where we deploy the Office on all the endpoints. So this made it easier. For the previous versions, the technical guy had to go to each user machine to make the installation through a compact disc. But with volume licensing installation is centralized and the IT manager deployed remotely to the endpoints.  

What about the implementation team?

We handle the setup and the deployment in house. We have a separate team with more-or-less 30 technicians. Some of them are specifically certified on Microsoft products through the partnership that we have with Microsoft. So, depending on the infrastructure that our customer has, we can send out as many as three technicians if it is to be deployed for say 200 users. When we need to do a mailbox migration, most of them have to be migrated at the same time. In that case, we allocate two to three technicians to do it as quickly as possible. If we are talking about enterprise companies with 1000 users — depending on what the customer requires in terms of delivery time — we might allocate as many as 20 guys. It is more likely we will allocate 10 guys. It basically depends on the customer's requirements.  

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing for the product is a bit of a tricky question. In terms of the total cost of ownership, I can say that it is expensive. It is a fair price, but in our country or another country with economies similar to  Mozambique, the pricing structure may be a little high and prohibitive. The first issue is the volatility of the exchange rate because our currency, the Metical, is very volatile related to the dollar. The problem here is the customer has an agreement and when he realized that he wants to add some other applications or services or something else, he has the expectation of price based on what he signed on the first agreement. But when he sees the new price, it could become a lot higher than expected because of the exchange rate. It would be nice if somehow Microsoft had some flexibility with the initial agreement so that pricing would not fluctuate dramatically because of the exchange rate.  

Another thing that factors into the pricing is that the Internet connection and Internet bandwidth is still very expensive here in Mozambique. So it is not always an easy decision to make the migration to Office 365 due to these two variables.  

What other advice do I have?

I recommend the Microsoft Office 365 product to clients. We are able to do proofs-of-concept with clients who are interested and carry forward from there.  

On a scale from one to ten where one is the worst and ten is the best, I would rate Microsoft Office 365 as eight-and-a-half.  

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft 365 Business
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft 365 Business. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Solutions Architect at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
MSP
Top 20
Stable program with an easy initial setup process
Pros and Cons
  • "Microsoft 365 Business's most important feature is mobility."
  • "The program's UI could be faster."

What is most valuable?

Microsoft 365 Business's most important feature is mobility. I have the application on my system and many other devices.

What needs improvement?

The program's UI could be faster. Additionally, more customization and cheaper pricing would be good.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used the latest version of Microsoft 365 Business for over three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the stability of the program a nine out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the scalability of the program an eight out of ten. There are approximately 100 users in our organization.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, we used Google Workspace but switched to Microsoft 365 Business because our users were more comfortable with the program.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward. I rate the process a ten out of ten. It is deployed on-premises and on the cloud in our organization. The deployment process took around three months. We required two people for the implementation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the pricing of the program a seven out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Microsoft 365 Business an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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PeerSpot user
Marketing & Sales Services at a pharma/biotech company with 201-500 employees
Real User
A flexible solution which is stable, scalable and boasts good tech support and easy installation
Pros and Cons
  • "I consider the installation to have been very easy."
  • "The solution should have better integration with other platforms."

What is our primary use case?

The solution can be used for everything, including shared point outlook and recommendations teams. 

What is most valuable?

The solution's best feature is its flexibility.

What needs improvement?

The solution should have better integration with other platforms.

We are making a huge financial investment in processing that system and in finding the right software solution. We are trying to optimize this process and to find the ideal solution for  integrating our Microsoft software with the rest of our processing systems

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Microsoft 365 Business for five or six months, although I believe that my company, in which I am new, has been doing so for five or ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is definitely stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is definitely scalable. 

How are customer service and support?

Tech support is fine.

When I encounter a problem, I get in touch with the IT department and they resolve it for me. As such, I do not have a clear picture of the response time. I can say that Microsoft's response time is very fast. 

How was the initial setup?

I consider the installation to have been very easy. 

It took 30 minutes per day. 

What about the implementation team?

The installation can be done on one's own. 

When it comes to the deployment and maintenance of the solution, we are talking about a big organization. As such, we have 40 people in management roles, 20 in engineering and several workers in the production department who use the solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The licensing of the solution is monthly.

What other advice do I have?

While I don't have a clear picture of the financial outlay we are making for this kind of software, I believe that it can cover everything, including the processing of that system and that which relates to our CAC customers. All things considered, the software can support all of our use needs during our work time. 

We will certainly continue to use the solution.

I would absolutely recommend the solution to others. It is easy to use, which is its greatest feature. 

There are around 1,000 customers making use of the solution in our organization.

I would estimate that 90 percent of our workforce makes use of the solution.

I, for sure, have plans to continue using the solution. 

I rate Microsoft 365 Business as a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior System & Security Administrator at a legal firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Easy to use, good user interface, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "Microsoft 365 Business applications are very used to use and have a good interface."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Microsoft 365 Business for documentation, Teams, OneDrive, and Exchange Online.

    What is most valuable?

    Microsoft 365 Business applications are very used to use and have a good interface.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Microsoft 365 Business for approximately five years.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution is scalable.

    We have approximately 100 users using the solution.

    How are customer service and support?

    We have a contract with Microsoft for support, we can open a support ticket and they will contact us within two hours by phone or email. The time frame for a resolution can depend on the issue we are facing. They have been very helpful.

    How was the initial setup?

    Microsoft 365 Business is easy to implement. It takes approximately one hour to complete.

    What about the implementation team?

    For the deployment and maintenance of the solution, we have a team of three or four technicians and one manager.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The price of the solution could be reduced, it is expensive. We recommend customers purchase annual subscriptions because they receive a discount of two free months.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution to others.

    I rate Microsoft 365 Business a nine out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    DevOps Strategist at a marketing services firm with 1-10 employees
    Real User
    Easy to use and has good scalability
    Pros and Cons
    • "Business 365 is very scalable and easy to use. I need to explore the features more, but I'm more or less happy with the features we are using right now."
    • "The price can always be improved."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are using Microsoft 365 for Outlook. SharePoint is on the backend of Teams and we store all our documents with that. But on the frontend, we are using Teams by itself rather than hooking onto SharePoint directly. We have about 12,000 users in the organization working with 365. 

    What is most valuable?

    Business 365 is very scalable and easy to use. I need to explore the features more, but I'm more or less happy with the features we are using right now.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using Microsoft for almost more than a year now.

    How are customer service and support?

    I haven't contacted Microsoft support directly. The backend team responsible for server management may have contacted them, but  I'm not aware of that.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The price can always be improved. It's an organization-wide license, so I don't really handle that end of things. 

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Sundaresan Subramanyan - PeerSpot reviewer
    Founder and Managing Director at Analytic Brains Technologies Private Limited
    Real User
    It's very user-friendly
    Pros and Cons
    • "It's very user-friendly."
    • "Microsoft 365 could be less expensive."

    What is our primary use case?

    We're an organization with about 30 employees and we use Microsoft 365 for some who are working remotely to provide them with Microsoft Word, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable thing about Microsoft 365 is its ease of use. It's very user-friendly.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We've been using Microsoft 365 for about a year and a half.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    We have not had any problems with stability. It depends on the features you use. The Microsoft 365 products like Microsoft Word or Outlook have a lot of features, but users really only use about 10% or 20% of the features at any given time.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    We haven't used 365 at the kind of volume to really find out whether it's scalable or not.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Microsoft 365 could be less expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would rate Microsoft 365 eight out of 10 and recommend it to other businesses if they're willing to pay the cost.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Microsoft Azure
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Quadria Rouen Agency Director at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
    Real User
    Highly scalable, reliable, and beneficial collaboration
    Pros and Cons
    • "The collaboration is very good."
    • "The integration is good but could be better."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are using Microsoft 365 Business for our organization's productivity. We use many of the applications in the package, such as Outlook, Excel, and Word. Additionally, we use it for collaboration.

    What is most valuable?

    The collaboration is very good.

    What needs improvement?

    The integration is good but could be better.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Microsoft 365 Business for approximately five years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Microsoft 365 Business is scalable.

    We have approximately 6,000 users using this solution.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    The support from Microsoft has not been very good in my experience and it is expensive.

    How was the initial setup?

    The installation is not very easy.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    We are on a monthly subscription for the use of Microsoft 365 Business. There is an additional fee for support.

    What other advice do I have?

    I rate Microsoft 365 Business an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Distributor
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Microsoft 365 Business Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: March 2024
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Microsoft 365 Business Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.