Get the Most out of Your Microsoft Office 365 (O365) Purchase – The Fundamentals User

Most Microsoft Office 365 users are getting a lot more than they know about with this expansive suite. Rather than continue to leave value on the table, we want to show you the additional apps and services you can use to better your business. Whether you consider yourself a Fundamentals or Moderate User of Microsoft O365, we’re here to take you to the next level and ultimately, be a Power User!

Migration to Office 365 is typically done for two reasons: efficiency– your company wanted to migrate all email online in order to eliminate on-premises email servers or installed software like Exchange; and/or, budget. In today’s cloud-based world, paying for costly office suite licenses is not always practical. Instead, you now have a subscription-based product which can be tailored to your unique needs.

Many companies simply maintain average or habitual use after purchasing the product, and don’t turn the corner into mastering the suite–a move that can make a significant difference in the way you work. Understanding these apps and services will help you move beyond the basics and maximize your organization’s effectiveness with Office 365.

Many companies simply maintain average or habitual use after purchasing the product, and don’t turn the corner into mastering the suite–a move that can make a significant difference in the way you work.

What’s actually included in my Office 365?

In previous versions of Microsoft Office, businesses had to consider which MS Office desktop programs were necessary and purchase licenses accordingly. Today, it’s a bit different.

Depending on your subscription package: Business Essentials, Business, or Business Premium, you’ll have access to a multitude of apps and services. They include Office, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (the original Microsoft Office suite you likely already know), as well as OneNote, Access (PC only), Exchange, PowerApps, OneDrive, SharePoint, Publisher, Skype for Business, Flow, and Teams. Further expert add-ons include PowerBI and Dynamics 365. With all these assets available, are you using your O365 to its fullest potential?

Let’s start with the basics: the Fundamentals User.

Level 1: The Fundamentals User

These are the basic apps and services most of us know and love, only improved.

– Microsoft Word Desktop: Word processing and document creation. O365 subscriptions also come with Editor to improve grammar and style, as well as Researcher to help with format and citations.

– Microsoft Excel Desktop: Spreadsheets, data organization, and data manipulation. Excel can also create charts and graphs based on data input.

– Microsoft PowerPoint: Presentations. PowerPoint has evolved with the PowerPoint Designer feature, which automatically suggests layouts based on content as users create slides.

– Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Online: You’re now able to use all three of these without downloading anything. Users can use any web browser to log in and work, which means any device is now capable of high-output performance. This also creates a seamless transition for working from home or on the road.

– Microsoft Exchange Online (Business Premium or Business Essentials packages): A comprehensive mail and messaging server that integrates with all other aspects of the 365 suite, including calendars and contacts. Exchange includes enhanced security for your devices and messages.

RFA’s Pro-Tip: Your package includes collaboration abilities, so be sure your teams make use of them. Gone are the days of sending a Word document (or Excel sheet) back and forth with “View Markup” enabled in order to see others’ feedback. Now, you can see the comments and changes of other contributors live. These live documents ensure that all users see the same document in real-time – which makes for an easier collaboration environment.

Once you have the basics down – what’s next? Stay tuned for the next level: The Moderate User.