Last month, we ran a 3-part series on GSuite and how it can help you to begin and sustain your business, as well as appeal to the Millennial crowd in your group of employees. However, there is another tech giant out there worth taking a look at for your business needs. Meet Microsoft! While Microsoft and Google can do similar things, and the decision regarding what software to utilize can boil down to a matter of personal preference.We are going to take a look at some of the attributes of Microsoft vs. GSuite. Let’s get ready to rumble!
Battle Background
At first, Google and Microsoft did not appear to be in direct competition. Google was merely a search engine, and Microsoft was a software platform. Microsoft threw the first punch at competing with Google when it launched the search engine Bing in 2009. Considering that Bing only accounts for 34% of web searches (and the fact that Google is now considered to be a verb), Microsoft was never a serious threat to Google’s search engine domination.
Google struck back at Microsoft in 2012 with the launch of Google Docs, a competitor to Microsoft Office. One of the biggest draws of Google Docs was the ability to collaborate with others in real-time on documents, spreadsheets, slides, and more. Microsoft answered by with Office Live Workspace, which offered live collaboration and more storage then Google offered at the time. And on it went until both services offered similar features in different ways. But how do they stack up against each other in areas such as storage, pricing, and accessibility?
Battle of the Bucks
When it comes to pricing, GSuite and Microsoft 360 are fairly similar, depending on what version you purchase for your business. This article gives a comprehensive overview of the various packages, features, and add-ons that are available on both platforms. It is safe to say that the cost of either type of software won’t make or break your decision.
Email Engagement
On the surface, it appears that the email storage capabilities GSuite outpace Microsoft. However, Microsoft 360 offers a feature called “auto-expanding archiving” that gives you more room to store archived emails. An advantage that GSuite has over Microsoft is that because GSuite is so popular, a greater number of third-party apps are compatible with GMail. On the flip side, GMail doesn’t allow you to sort or group mail as efficiently as Office 360. Depending on your business setup and goals, this category may also be a toss-up between GSuite and Microsoft 360.
Every business needs email and is concerned about monthly operating costs. However, next week we will be taking a look at how Microsoft and GSuite stack up against the unique challenges faced by remote workplaces and teams. Video chatting, collaboration, and desktop features all play a role in the productivity of a virtual workspace, so stay tuned for our input for your business next week!