An all-around productivity tool for small businesses
Microsoft 365 Business Basic is a business and productivity tool that offers a compelling suite of tools tailored for small to medium-sized businesses. Designed to support up to 300 users, this package provides essential services that enhance collaboration, communication, and efficiency within an organization.
Despite being the entry-level tier, Microsoft 365 Business Basic includes a wide range of features that make it a strong contender for businesses seeking cost-effective yet powerful office software. It can also provide businesses and their employees with access to essential tools like Teams, OneDrive, Word, and Outlook among others.
Various Microsoft apps at your employees’ fingertips
One of the standout features of Microsoft 365 Business Basic is its integration of web and mobile versions of popular Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. While these are not full versions, they offer substantial functionality for creating, editing, and collaborating on documents in real-time. This ensures that employees can work from anywhere without the need for individual installation on each of their devices. The ability to simultaneously edit documents with colleagues also streamlines the collaboration process and boosts productivity.
Email and calendar management are handled through Outlook, providing each user with a business-class email account and a generous 50 GB mailbox. This professional email service is further enhanced by custom business email addresses which add a layer of professionalism and brand consistency to communications. The integration with Microsoft Teams elevates communication by combining chat, voice calls, video calls, and meetings into one cohesive platform. This app also includes features like screen sharing and virtual meeting rooms, making remote collaboration seamless.
Security and efficiency are integral
Storage and file management are covered by 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user. This ample storage space allows employees to store, share, and collaborate on files securely from any location. Beyond the core office applications, Microsoft 365 Business Basic also includes over 10 additional apps tailored to various business needs. These include Microsoft Bookings—which simplifies appointment scheduling with a web-based booking calendar—and Microsoft Planner and Forms—which aid in task management and data collection, respectively.
Security is a critical concern for any business and this basic plan addresses this with automatic spam and malware filtering. This protection helps safeguard sensitive information and maintain the integrity of business communications. Furthermore, Microsoft's around-the-clock phone and web support ensures that help is available whenever needed. Another interesting addition is Copilot, which is available as an add-on. This feature can offer AI-driven assistance to enhance productivity and streamline workflows—though you do have to pay an additional fee.
A reliable business tool
Overall, Microsoft 365 Business Basic presents a comprehensive and cost-effective solution that smaller businesses can greatly make use of. It provides a myriad of features that support various operational needs. While it lacks the desktop versions of certain apps, the web and mobile versions offer sufficient functionality for most business tasks. The inclusion of business-class email, extensive support, and strong security features make it a reliable choice for organizations looking to enhance their productivity and collaboration capabilities. If you want more features available, the higher-tiered Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available, too.
