Microsoft are adding a range of new apps to Office 365 Business Premium – and by extension – to the newly announced Microsoft 365 Business (more on this in another post). These are:
Microsoft Connections
This Mailchimp-esque tool is designed to help organisations create email marketing campaigns with a host of templates for different scenarios.
It also features many of the key metrics needed to track the success of an email campaign, such as:
- Open rate
- Clicks
- Sign ups
- Unsubscribes
and more. Connections will be available via the web and also Android & iOS apps.
Microsoft Listings
This tool helps business manage their business information across a range of key sites including Facebook, Google and Bing.
Updating once in Microsoft listings will push the changes out to the various platforms and the web dashboard will also give a single place to see page views and reviews.
Microsoft Invoicing
Another tool aimed at making business easier for smaller organisations, this tool helps create and track invoices and also connects with PayPal and QuickBooks for added functionality. Invoicing can be accessed via the web and Android & iOS apps.
Microsoft Business Center
This is a web based, unified dashboard for the newly added apps – giving organisations one place to see their outstanding invoices, the success of their email campaigns, their online standing and more.
Availability
These are currently rolling out in Preview to users in US, Canada & UK, starting with those set to “First Release”.
MileIQ
Microsoft purchased MileIQ in 2015, and a now adding it into Office 365 Business Premium. The iOS/Android app is used for mileage logging, when using a personal car for business purposes, and making it easier to claim back the expenses.
Microsoft’s aim
These new additions are aimed at making things easier for smaller businesses and, as Microsoft say, to make Office 365 Business Premium “more valuable for your small business”. Microsoft are looking to move this far beyond “hosted email” and for organisations to see Office 365 as an integral tool across multiple parts of their business – helping them win new business and reduce costs at the same time.
Adding new features and increased value is a key aspect of success for vendors in the new, SAAS world as every year, customers have the option to choose to leave. As a manufacturer, if your product isn’t giving your customers what they want, it is now often easier for them to move to a competitor than ever before.
