Top Microsoft Business Apps of 2020: Essential Tools for Every Business

Microsoft has established itself as a dominant force in the enterprise software market. While many are familiar with its flagship products like Windows OS and the Office suite, Microsoft’s range of business applications has expanded significantly in recent years. As cloud computing technology continues to grow in popularity, Microsoft has embraced the cloud transition, reshaping the way businesses operate with a broad spectrum of innovative tools. The company’s shift to the cloud has proven to be one of the most impactful moves in the IT industry, offering solutions that are both powerful and adaptable for businesses of all sizes. This article takes a deep dive into the top Microsoft business apps of 2020, highlighting how these solutions can enhance efficiency, productivity, and collaboration within organizations.

1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a comprehensive, cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that seamlessly integrates Customer Relationship Management (CRM) capabilities, making it an essential tool for modern businesses. With its advanced features and integration with other Microsoft applications, Dynamics 365 empowers organizations to make smarter, more data-driven decisions. The platform provides businesses with a suite of tools that not only streamline their processes but also enhance customer interactions and boost overall productivity.

Overview of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM

Dynamics 365 is designed to help businesses engage more effectively with their customers by offering a unified view of all customer data and interactions. Through its powerful CRM and ERP modules, businesses can manage everything from sales and marketing to customer service and finance. The tool provides in-depth insights into customer behavior, preferences, and needs, which enables companies to anticipate customer expectations and deliver tailored solutions.

One of the key advantages of Dynamics 365 is its flexibility. As a cloud-based solution, it allows businesses to easily scale their operations, enabling them to adapt the platform according to their specific requirements. Whether you’re a small business looking to improve customer relations or a large enterprise with complex customer engagement needs, Dynamics 365 offers a comprehensive solution that can grow with your organization.

Core Features of Microsoft Dynamics 365

Dynamics 365 provides an array of features that help businesses optimize their sales processes and improve customer satisfaction. The system is built on a modular structure, allowing businesses to select the tools that best meet their needs. Some of the core features include:

• Sales Management: Dynamics 365 offers advanced sales tools that empower sales teams to track leads, manage opportunities, and close deals more effectively. By integrating AI and machine learning, the platform offers real-time insights that help sales teams prioritize tasks and identify potential opportunities.

• Marketing Automation: With integrated marketing tools, businesses can run targeted campaigns, segment customer data, and optimize their marketing strategies. Dynamics 365 enables businesses to track customer behavior across multiple channels, providing a more comprehensive view of marketing performance.

• Customer Service: Dynamics 365 includes a set of customer service features designed to improve support operations. These tools help businesses manage customer inquiries, resolve issues more efficiently, and maintain high customer satisfaction levels.

• Finance and Operations: The ERP component of Dynamics 365 integrates financial data, allowing businesses to manage accounting, inventory, and supply chain operations more effectively. This integration ensures that all departments have access to accurate, real-time information, leading to better decision-making and increased operational efficiency.

• AI and Mixed Reality: One of the most innovative aspects of Dynamics 365 is its incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) and mixed reality. By leveraging AI, the platform provides predictive analytics and actionable insights that help businesses make informed decisions. Additionally, mixed reality capabilities allow companies to visualize products in new ways, enhancing the customer experience.

Pricing and Licensing

Dynamics 365 offers a flexible pricing model that allows businesses to choose the modules they need. Pricing starts at £37.70 per user/month, but the cost can vary depending on the specific modules and features selected. This flexibility ensures that businesses only pay for the tools they need, making it a cost-effective solution for organizations of all sizes.

Additionally, Microsoft provides various licensing options, including cloud-based and on-premises solutions, which means businesses can choose the deployment method that best suits their infrastructure and requirements. The scalability of Dynamics 365 ensures that it can accommodate businesses of different sizes, from startups to large enterprises.

Why Choose Microsoft Dynamics 365 for CRM?

There are several reasons why businesses should consider adopting Microsoft Dynamics 365 as their CRM solution. First and foremost, the platform provides a unified solution for managing all aspects of customer engagement, from sales and marketing to customer service and finance. This integrated approach enables businesses to deliver a more cohesive and personalized experience for their customers.

Another key benefit of Dynamics 365 is its seamless integration with other Microsoft applications. For businesses already using tools like Office 365, Outlook, and LinkedIn, the integration with Dynamics 365 ensures that data flows effortlessly between systems, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors. Furthermore, Dynamics 365’s cloud-based architecture provides businesses with the flexibility to access their data from anywhere, at any time, using any device.

Finally, the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning in Dynamics 365 helps businesses gain deeper insights into customer behavior, allowing them to create more effective sales and marketing strategies. The ability to analyze large volumes of data in real-time ensures that businesses can stay ahead of customer expectations and make proactive decisions that drive growth.

Who Should Use Microsoft Dynamics 365?

Dynamics 365 is suitable for businesses of all sizes and industries, from small startups to large corporations. Whether you are in retail, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, or any other sector, Dynamics 365 can be tailored to meet your specific needs. The platform’s modular design ensures that businesses can select the features that are most relevant to their operations, ensuring maximum value from the system.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can benefit from Dynamics 365’s affordability and scalability. For these businesses, the platform offers a powerful CRM and ERP solution without the complexity and cost of traditional enterprise systems. On the other hand, large enterprises with more complex requirements can take advantage of the platform’s extensive capabilities, including advanced analytics, AI-powered insights, and customized solutions.

2. Data Analytics: Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is an advanced and intuitive business analytics tool that plays a pivotal role in the modern data-driven enterprise. As businesses are increasingly focusing on leveraging data for decision-making, Power BI stands out as one of the most powerful and accessible platforms for data analysis and visualization. By offering a dynamic interface and seamless integration with multiple data sources, Power BI empowers organizations to gain real-time insights, improve business performance, and ultimately make smarter decisions that drive success.

Overview of Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is designed to help businesses transform raw data into actionable insights by presenting it in visually engaging ways. This cloud-based platform enables users to create detailed, scalable dashboards and interactive reports that are easy to share across teams and organizations. Its core functionality revolves around datasets, dashboards, and reports, all of which work together to streamline the entire data analysis process. Power BI ensures that businesses have a unified platform to not only analyze and visualize their data but also to collaborate on key findings and strategies.

What truly sets Power BI apart from other data analytics tools is its simplicity and flexibility. The platform provides an interface that is highly user-friendly, ensuring that employees with varying levels of technical expertise can make use of its robust features. Whether you are in marketing, finance, sales, or any other department, Power BI allows everyone to access and interpret business data in a meaningful way. This democratization of data analysis ensures that all decision-makers have the tools they need to monitor performance, track key metrics, and identify areas for improvement.

Core Features of Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI offers a wide range of features that make it a versatile tool for any business. Some of the core functionalities include:

1. Data Integration: Power BI integrates with more than 70 data sources, including Excel, SQL Server, Google Analytics, Salesforce, and even social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. This connectivity makes it easy for businesses to pull in data from various departments, external sources, and cloud services. Whether your data resides on-premises or in the cloud, Power BI ensures that it can be accessed, integrated, and analyzed with ease.

2. Interactive Dashboards and Reports: One of the most powerful aspects of Power BI is its ability to create highly interactive dashboards and reports. With drag-and-drop functionality, users can build customized views of their business data. These dashboards allow businesses to track real-time metrics, monitor KPIs, and visually compare data trends. Power BI’s reports are dynamic, meaning users can drill down into specific data points for deeper insights, providing flexibility in the way data is interpreted.

3. Advanced Data Visualizations: Power BI supports a wide range of visualization options, including bar charts, line graphs, scatter plots, pie charts, and geographic maps, among others. These visualizations make it easy to present complex data in an understandable and actionable way. By using these tools, organizations can better communicate their data insights to internal and external stakeholders, helping decision-makers grasp key findings quickly.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: As part of its AI capabilities, Power BI allows businesses to use advanced algorithms to predict trends and outcomes. The platform offers built-in machine learning models that enable users to analyze historical data and make predictions about future performance. This feature is particularly useful for sales forecasting, financial analysis, and operational planning.

5. Real-Time Analytics: With Power BI, businesses can track real-time data and receive updates as conditions change. This feature is vital for operations that require immediate action or monitoring, such as inventory levels, customer service metrics, and marketing campaign performance. The ability to act on real-time insights helps businesses stay agile and responsive in a rapidly changing market environment.

6. Collaboration and Sharing: Power BI allows users to easily share their findings and collaborate with others. The platform enables businesses to share dashboards and reports with other users within the organization or with external stakeholders. Reports can also be embedded into websites, blogs, or applications, ensuring that decision-makers have access to key data at any time, regardless of location.

7. Data Governance and Security: Microsoft Power BI ensures that your business data remains secure and compliant. With built-in data governance tools, businesses can set permissions, track user activity, and ensure that sensitive information is protected. Role-based access control ensures that the right people have access to the right data, preventing unauthorized users from making changes or viewing sensitive information.

Pricing and Licensing

Power BI is available in various pricing tiers to suit the needs of businesses of all sizes. The basic version of Power BI is free, but it comes with limited features. For organizations that require advanced features, the paid versions offer more capabilities, including the ability to publish to the web, access more data connectors, and share reports with a wider audience.

• Power BI Pro: Starting at £7.50 per user/month, this version allows for more advanced features such as sharing and collaborating on reports with others in the organization.

• Power BI Premium: For larger businesses or enterprises, the Premium version offers additional features, such as larger data capacity, better performance, and more advanced AI capabilities. Pricing for Premium is based on capacity and varies depending on the specific needs of the organization.

The flexible pricing model allows businesses to choose the version that best suits their data analysis needs and budget. As Power BI is a cloud-based solution, it can be easily scaled to accommodate growing businesses.

Who Is Microsoft Power BI For?

Power BI is designed to be an inclusive tool that benefits businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. Its flexibility allows companies to customize the platform to meet their specific needs, whether it is for individual departments or cross-functional teams.

For small businesses, Power BI provides an affordable and powerful way to access data analytics without the complexity of traditional data analysis tools. The easy-to-use interface ensures that business owners and team members with minimal technical experience can still make data-driven decisions, improving efficiency and helping small businesses compete in data-driven markets.

Larger enterprises can also benefit from Power BI’s enterprise-level capabilities. For large organizations with complex data needs, Power BI offers advanced features such as AI-driven insights, custom visualizations, and data security tools. By using Power BI, enterprises can streamline their data analysis, improve collaboration between departments, and make smarter decisions at scale.

Benefits of Using Power BI

1. Improved Decision-Making: Power BI enables businesses to make data-driven decisions by providing accurate, real-time insights. By visualizing data and identifying key trends, businesses can make more informed decisions that lead to better outcomes.

2. Increased Efficiency: With Power BI, businesses can eliminate the time-consuming task of manually analyzing data. The platform’s automated reports and dashboards save time and reduce human error, allowing employees to focus on higher-value tasks.

3. Better Collaboration: Power BI’s collaboration features ensure that teams can work together on data-driven projects. Sharing dashboards and reports with team members helps keep everyone on the same page, improving coordination and communication across the organization.

4. Cost-Effective: Compared to traditional data analysis tools, Power BI is an affordable solution that delivers powerful analytics capabilities. Its flexible pricing options make it accessible for businesses of all sizes, providing a high return on investment.

5. Scalable and Adaptable: Power BI can be easily scaled to accommodate growing data needs, making it suitable for businesses that need to adapt quickly to changing market conditions. Whether your organization is growing rapidly or already large, Power BI can scale to meet your evolving needs.

3. File Management: Microsoft SharePoint

In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficient document management is crucial for maintaining productivity, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Microsoft SharePoint, a comprehensive document management and collaboration platform, has become one of the leading solutions for businesses looking to improve file storage, sharing, and overall team collaboration. With its robust capabilities, SharePoint enables businesses to centralize their documents, streamline workflows, and create secure environments where team members can easily access and manage files from anywhere.

Overview of Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is a cloud-based platform that allows businesses to create custom workflows, manage documents, and collaborate on projects in a centralized, secure, and easily accessible environment. It is a highly versatile tool that enables organizations to improve productivity by providing seamless access to shared documents, eliminating the complexities of traditional file systems.

The platform’s strengths lie in its ability to integrate with other Microsoft Office tools such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for businesses to manage information, collaborate on tasks, and automate repetitive processes. SharePoint is ideal for teams of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, and is used by organizations worldwide to streamline their operations and enhance their collaboration efforts.

Key Features of Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is packed with a variety of features that make it a highly effective tool for businesses looking to manage their documents and collaborate on projects more efficiently. Some of the key features include:

1. Document Libraries: SharePoint provides businesses with a centralized location to store documents, ensuring that all team members can easily access important files. This feature replaces traditional file folders and offers powerful metadata tagging, making it easier to categorize and search for documents. SharePoint also supports version control, which allows businesses to track changes to documents, ensuring that everyone is working with the most up-to-date information.

2. Collaboration Tools: One of SharePoint’s standout features is its ability to enable team collaboration. With SharePoint, users can create shared workspaces where team members can co-author documents, discuss tasks, and share files. This fosters real-time collaboration and eliminates the need for emailing attachments back and forth. SharePoint also integrates with Microsoft Teams, allowing users to hold discussions, conduct meetings, and share documents within the same interface.

3. Custom Workflows: SharePoint allows businesses to automate business processes by creating custom workflows. Whether it’s an approval process for documents, managing tasks, or tracking project progress, SharePoint workflows help reduce manual effort and improve efficiency. The platform’s flexibility allows businesses to design workflows that align with their specific needs and operations, ensuring that processes are streamlined and optimized.

4. Data Governance and Compliance: For businesses that need to ensure compliance with industry regulations, SharePoint offers robust data governance and security features. It allows organizations to define access controls and permissions to ensure that sensitive data is only accessible to authorized users. SharePoint also provides audit logs, retention policies, and encryption, making it easier for businesses to meet compliance requirements and protect their data from unauthorized access.

5. Integration with Other Microsoft Tools: SharePoint integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft tools, such as Office 365, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams. This integration allows businesses to leverage their existing Microsoft infrastructure, creating a unified ecosystem that ensures smooth workflows and easier access to information. Users can share files, collaborate on documents, and manage projects using the same platform, enhancing overall efficiency.

6. Mobile Access: With SharePoint, team members can access documents and collaborate on tasks from any device, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. The platform’s mobile-friendly design ensures that users can stay productive while on the go. This feature is particularly valuable for businesses with remote teams or employees who need to access documents outside of the office.

7. Advanced Search Capabilities: SharePoint offers powerful search functionality that enables businesses to find documents and information quickly. Whether you’re searching for specific files or looking for content within a document, SharePoint’s search engine is optimized to help you locate relevant data efficiently. The platform uses metadata, keywords, and tags to make searching more accurate and comprehensive.

8. Document Security and Control: SharePoint provides advanced security features to protect business-critical documents. Permissions can be configured at various levels, allowing businesses to control who can view, edit, and share specific documents. Additionally, SharePoint’s data loss prevention (DLP) tools help identify and protect sensitive information, ensuring that it is not inadvertently shared with unauthorized parties.

Pricing and Licensing

SharePoint offers flexible pricing options that cater to businesses of all sizes. The platform is available as part of Microsoft 365 and can be licensed on a per-user basis, starting at £3.80 per user/month. Microsoft provides different tiers of SharePoint plans, with additional features and functionality available at higher pricing levels. For example, businesses that require more advanced document management features, better security, or enhanced collaboration tools can opt for SharePoint Online Plan 1 or Plan 2, which offer additional benefits such as unlimited cloud storage and enhanced administration controls.

Who Is Microsoft SharePoint For?

Microsoft SharePoint is a versatile platform that can benefit businesses of all sizes, from small organizations to large enterprises. Its flexibility and scalability make it a great option for businesses looking to streamline their document management processes and improve team collaboration.

• Small Businesses: SharePoint is perfect for small businesses that need an affordable, cloud-based solution for managing documents and collaborating on projects. With SharePoint, small businesses can create customized workflows, store documents in a centralized location, and share information across teams easily. The platform’s cost-effective pricing and user-friendly interface make it accessible for businesses that don’t have extensive IT resources.

• Medium-Sized Businesses: For medium-sized businesses, SharePoint provides advanced document management capabilities that help increase productivity and improve collaboration. With its customizable workflows and integration with other Microsoft tools, SharePoint enables businesses to streamline operations and ensure that employees are working efficiently. The platform’s scalability ensures that it can grow with the business as its needs evolve.

• Large Enterprises: Large enterprises with complex document management needs can benefit from SharePoint’s enterprise-level features, including advanced security controls, compliance tools, and robust search capabilities. SharePoint enables large organizations to manage vast amounts of data and collaborate across departments, making it an essential tool for improving business efficiency and communication at scale.

Benefits of Using Microsoft SharePoint

1. Improved Collaboration: SharePoint enhances collaboration by providing a centralized platform where team members can access and share documents in real time. By allowing users to co-author documents, manage projects, and communicate seamlessly, SharePoint fosters teamwork and drives productivity.

2. Increased Efficiency: SharePoint’s customizable workflows and document management tools help businesses streamline their operations. By automating repetitive tasks and providing easy access to important documents, SharePoint ensures that employees can focus on high-value tasks and make better decisions faster.

3. Better Document Security: SharePoint’s advanced security features ensure that sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access. With role-based permissions, audit trails, and data encryption, businesses can have peace of mind knowing that their documents are secure.

4. Scalable Solution: SharePoint can scale with the growth of your business. Whether you’re a small business expanding your operations or a large enterprise managing millions of documents, SharePoint offers the flexibility and tools needed to support your business needs.

5. Mobile Access: SharePoint’s mobile-friendly interface ensures that team members can stay productive even when they’re on the go. Whether you’re in the office, at home, or traveling, SharePoint allows you to access your documents and collaborate with your team from anywhere.

Overview of Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is a cloud-based platform that allows businesses to create custom workflows, manage documents, and collaborate on projects in a centralized, secure, and easily accessible environment. It is a highly versatile tool that enables organizations to improve productivity by providing seamless access to shared documents, eliminating the complexities of traditional file systems.

The platform’s strengths lie in its ability to integrate with other Microsoft Office tools such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for businesses to manage information, collaborate on tasks, and automate repetitive processes. SharePoint is ideal for teams of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, and is used by organizations worldwide to streamline their operations and enhance their collaboration efforts.

Key Features of Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is packed with a variety of features that make it a highly effective tool for businesses looking to manage their documents and collaborate on projects more efficiently. Some of the key features include:

1. Document Libraries: SharePoint provides businesses with a centralized location to store documents, ensuring that all team members can easily access important files. This feature replaces traditional file folders and offers powerful metadata tagging, making it easier to categorize and search for documents. SharePoint also supports version control, which allows businesses to track changes to documents, ensuring that everyone is working with the most up-to-date information.

2. Collaboration Tools: One of SharePoint’s standout features is its ability to enable team collaboration. With SharePoint, users can create shared workspaces where team members can co-author documents, discuss tasks, and share files. This fosters real-time collaboration and eliminates the need for emailing attachments back and forth. SharePoint also integrates with Microsoft Teams, allowing users to hold discussions, conduct meetings, and share documents within the same interface.

3. Custom Workflows: SharePoint allows businesses to automate business processes by creating custom workflows. Whether it’s an approval process for documents, managing tasks, or tracking project progress, SharePoint workflows help reduce manual effort and improve efficiency. The platform’s flexibility allows businesses to design workflows that align with their specific needs and operations, ensuring that processes are streamlined and optimized.

4. Data Governance and Compliance: For businesses that need to ensure compliance with industry regulations, SharePoint offers robust data governance and security features. It allows organizations to define access controls and permissions to ensure that sensitive data is only accessible to authorized users. SharePoint also provides audit logs, retention policies, and encryption, making it easier for businesses to meet compliance requirements and protect their data from unauthorized access.

5. Integration with Other Microsoft Tools: SharePoint integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft tools, such as Office 365, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams. This integration allows businesses to leverage their existing Microsoft infrastructure, creating a unified ecosystem that ensures smooth workflows and easier access to information. Users can share files, collaborate on documents, and manage projects using the same platform, enhancing overall efficiency.

6. Mobile Access: With SharePoint, team members can access documents and collaborate on tasks from any device, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. The platform’s mobile-friendly design ensures that users can stay productive while on the go. This feature is particularly valuable for businesses with remote teams or employees who need to access documents outside of the office.

7. Advanced Search Capabilities: SharePoint offers powerful search functionality that enables businesses to find documents and information quickly. Whether you’re searching for specific files or looking for content within a document, SharePoint’s search engine is optimized to help you locate relevant data efficiently. The platform uses metadata, keywords, and tags to make searching more accurate and comprehensive.

8. Document Security and Control: SharePoint provides advanced security features to protect business-critical documents. Permissions can be configured at various levels, allowing businesses to control who can view, edit, and share specific documents. Additionally, SharePoint’s data loss prevention (DLP) tools help identify and protect sensitive information, ensuring that it is not inadvertently shared with unauthorized parties.

Pricing and Licensing

SharePoint offers flexible pricing options that cater to businesses of all sizes. The platform is available as part of Microsoft 365 and can be licensed on a per-user basis, starting at £3.80 per user/month. Microsoft provides different tiers of SharePoint plans, with additional features and functionality available at higher pricing levels. For example, businesses that require more advanced document management features, better security, or enhanced collaboration tools can opt for SharePoint Online Plan 1 or Plan 2, which offer additional benefits such as unlimited cloud storage and enhanced administration controls.

Who Is Microsoft SharePoint For?

Microsoft SharePoint is a versatile platform that can benefit businesses of all sizes, from small organizations to large enterprises. Its flexibility and scalability make it a great option for businesses looking to streamline their document management processes and improve team collaboration.

• Small Businesses: SharePoint is perfect for small businesses that need an affordable, cloud-based solution for managing documents and collaborating on projects. With SharePoint, small businesses can create customized workflows, store documents in a centralized location, and share information across teams easily. The platform’s cost-effective pricing and user-friendly interface make it accessible for businesses that don’t have extensive IT resources.

• Medium-Sized Businesses: For medium-sized businesses, SharePoint provides advanced document management capabilities that help increase productivity and improve collaboration. With its customizable workflows and integration with other Microsoft tools, SharePoint enables businesses to streamline operations and ensure that employees are working efficiently. The platform’s scalability ensures that it can grow with the business as its needs evolve.

• Large Enterprises: Large enterprises with complex document management needs can benefit from SharePoint’s enterprise-level features, including advanced security controls, compliance tools, and robust search capabilities. SharePoint enables large organizations to manage vast amounts of data and collaborate across departments, making it an essential tool for improving business efficiency and communication at scale.

Benefits of Using Microsoft SharePoint

1. Improved Collaboration: SharePoint enhances collaboration by providing a centralized platform where team members can access and share documents in real time. By allowing users to co-author documents, manage projects, and communicate seamlessly, SharePoint fosters teamwork and drives productivity.

2. Increased Efficiency: SharePoint’s customizable workflows and document management tools help businesses streamline their operations. By automating repetitive tasks and providing easy access to important documents, SharePoint ensures that employees can focus on high-value tasks and make better decisions faster.

3. Better Document Security: SharePoint’s advanced security features ensure that sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access. With role-based permissions, audit trails, and data encryption, businesses can have peace of mind knowing that their documents are secure.

4. Scalable Solution: SharePoint can scale with the growth of your business. Whether you’re a small business expanding your operations or a large enterprise managing millions of documents, SharePoint offers the flexibility and tools needed to support your business needs.

5. Mobile Access: SharePoint’s mobile-friendly interface ensures that team members can stay productive even when they’re on the go. Whether you’re in the office, at home, or traveling, SharePoint allows you to access your documents and collaborate with your team from anywhere.

4. Cloud Solutions: Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is an expansive suite of cloud-based services designed to help businesses develop, deploy, and manage applications. With its wide array of tools, Azure supports everything from application development and data analysis to virtual machine hosting and e-commerce management.

Pricing: Variable, depending on use (pricing calculator available)

Azure offers tools for artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, database management, and security, making it one of the most powerful cloud platforms in the world. Businesses can leverage Azure for building scalable applications, managing complex IT infrastructure, and supporting digital transformation initiatives. Azure’s flexibility allows companies to choose the right tools based on their unique needs, ensuring they can optimize their cloud-based operations.

Who’s it for? While Azure offers a broad range of services, it is particularly valuable for medium to large businesses that require advanced cloud capabilities. Smaller businesses may find Azure’s vast array of tools overwhelming but can still benefit from its scalable solutions tailored to specific needs.

5. Communications: Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that integrates video and audio calls, meetings, file sharing, and team discussions all in one place. Teams fosters a seamless communication experience that improves collaboration, regardless of physical location.

Pricing: Free or £4 per user/month (Office 365 Business Essentials)

Designed to support teams of all sizes, Teams ensures that communication remains uninterrupted, whether your team consists of just a few members or thousands. The app also integrates with Office 365, providing a comprehensive solution for file sharing, chat, and document collaboration. Teams’ user-friendly interface makes it simple for organizations to communicate in real-time, facilitating quick decision-making and efficient problem-solving.

Who’s it for? Teams is ideal for businesses of any size. Whether you have a small team or a large, distributed workforce, Teams makes it easy to collaborate and stay connected across multiple communication channels.

6. AI Solutions: Microsoft Dynamics 365 AI

Microsoft Dynamics 365 AI is an advanced suite of artificial intelligence tools designed to help businesses leverage AI to enhance their decision-making processes. The platform provides AI-powered insights across sales, customer service, and market trends, as well as fraud detection and virtual customer support.

Pricing: Varies depending on the service (e.g., Sales Insights costs around £30 per user/month)

With services like Sales Insights, Market Insights, and Fraud Protection, Dynamics 365 AI empowers businesses to increase profitability and enhance customer relationships. The platform also includes a virtual customer support system that provides businesses with AI-powered agents capable of improving customer service.

Who’s it for? Ideal for businesses looking to adopt AI to streamline processes and gain valuable insights into customer behavior and market trends, Dynamics 365 AI is especially beneficial for sales and marketing teams.

7. Automation: Power Automate

Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) is a tool designed to help businesses automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. With a simple point-and-click interface, users can create automated processes without requiring coding knowledge.

Pricing: £10 per user/month

By integrating with over 200 Microsoft and third-party applications, Power Automate helps businesses automate a wide range of processes, from managing emails to handling data inputs. This enables companies to save time and reduce errors by eliminating manual, repetitive tasks.

Who’s it for? Power Automate is perfect for businesses looking to automate their workflows and enhance operational efficiency. Whether you’re looking to automate HR processes, financial workflows, or IT tasks, Power Automate offers a simple solution to help businesses run smoothly.

8. Security: Cloud App Security

Microsoft Cloud App Security is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that adds an extra layer of security to Microsoft’s cloud services. It provides control over data movement and uses analytics to detect and mitigate potential security threats, such as rogue applications and ransomware attacks.

Pricing: £2.50 per user/month

This security tool helps businesses ensure that their data is protected across all Microsoft cloud apps. With advanced threat detection and risk mitigation features, Cloud App Security offers businesses the peace of mind they need to operate securely in the cloud.

Who’s it for? Cloud App Security is essential for businesses that rely heavily on Microsoft cloud services and need to safeguard their data against potential cyber threats. This tool is particularly useful for organizations that need additional layers of security to protect sensitive information.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s suite of business applications offers powerful tools that drive productivity, collaboration, and operational efficiency across organizations of all sizes. From customer relationship management with Dynamics 365 to data analytics with Power BI and team communication via Microsoft Teams, these solutions are designed to help businesses make smarter decisions, optimize processes, and stay ahead of the competition. The integration of these tools into a cohesive ecosystem not only streamlines operations but also empowers businesses to act on data insights, enhancing decision-making and enabling greater collaboration across departments.

As Microsoft continues to evolve its cloud offerings, businesses adopting these tools can expect significant improvements in operational efficiency, workflow automation, and data-driven decision-making. With seamless integration across applications, Microsoft enables businesses to create a connected environment where sales, marketing, customer service, and financial operations can be managed more effectively. The right combination of training and certification ensures that businesses can fully leverage the capabilities of these apps, unlocking their full potential in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Microsoft Dynamics 365, with its CRM and ERP capabilities, offers a robust solution for businesses aiming to streamline operations, improve customer engagement, and drive growth. The platform’s advanced AI features and customizable modules enable businesses to tailor the system to their needs, whether they are a small startup or a large enterprise. Dynamics 365 offers a scalable solution that can grow with the business, providing tools to manage everything from sales and marketing to customer service and financial management. Its affordability, flexibility, and innovative features make it an indispensable tool for businesses looking to stay competitive in today’s marketplace.

Similarly, Microsoft Power BI empowers businesses to harness the power of data analytics to make informed decisions. With real-time data visualization, interactive dashboards, and AI-driven insights, Power BI ensures that businesses can not only track performance but also anticipate trends and adjust strategies accordingly. The tool’s ease of use, coupled with its affordability, makes it an ideal choice for organizations looking to gain valuable insights into their operations, no matter their size.

Lastly, Microsoft SharePoint provides an essential platform for document management and team collaboration. With its customizable workflows, document libraries, and integration with other Microsoft tools, SharePoint enables businesses to centralize information, automate processes, and collaborate in real time. Whether for small businesses or large enterprises, SharePoint’s scalability and security features ensure it can adapt to any organizational need, improving overall productivity and efficiency.

Together, these Microsoft business apps help companies optimize their operations, improve collaboration, and stay ahead in an increasingly digital world.