These are big and impressive statistics. Microsoft Teams has been an amazing success. If Teams actually reach 75% of organizations (most likely U.S. businesses) within its first eight years, we’re talking dominance unlike anything we’ve seen since the Bell System. Microsoft deserves credit for taking bold steps with Teams before the market is ready. Skype for Business is still growing, and a cloud-native, messaging-centric solution like Teams is just leading the market.
Return to Competitive Tests
My conclusion is that Teams are often driven to – not pulled by – enterprise users. I agree that Teams is a great messaging platform but so are a few others. Competitive alternatives are great, and many offer almost the same set of features. Cisco Webex, RingCentral Glip, Zoom Chat, and many more can be used to support enterprise-wide messaging/workstream collaboration, meetings, and/or telephony. If the competition differences are less noticeable, how does a product get 75% penetration?
The Microsoft 365 bundle is usually tied to email and the Office Suite. While these applications work well on operating systems, the dominance in the Windows market is insignificant. SaaS offerings such as Salesforce, Oracle, and ServiceNow also place less reliance on back-office server apps. All Microsoft 365 subscriptions include Teams, and Microsoft has made its subscriptions the most effective way for businesses to get Office. This can create an annoying feeling of double payment when it comes to app comms.
So, the question that comes to mind is whether a Microsoft 365 subscription is good for businesses? Let’s look at three paths: First, alternatives to Office and Email, then alternative ways to get Microsoft Office, and third, the status quo in Microsoft 365.
Many available alternatives for Office and email are available, as well as additional services such as shared drives, directory services, and more. If an organization can skip Microsoft 365 subscriptions across the enterprise, we are likely to see a more competitive vendor landscape in enterprise communications. Here are two alternatives to consider:
1. Google Workspace
Google Workspace is probably the most mainstream alternative to Microsoft 365. Like Microsoft, businesses can choose from multiple subscription levels. Google Workplace subscriptions run $ 6-18 per user/per month, plus an Enterprise plan that requires a custom quote. All plans include email, office productivity apps, video conferencing, and cloud storage.
Recently, Google re -launched G Suite as Google Workspace. Changes include new apps for messaging and conferencing (Google Chat and Meet) and a refreshed UI in Gmail. All Workspace apps are cloud-native and browser-based, but many of them are available offline. Google offers an end-to-end experience in both Chrome (app and OS) on Windows, MacOS, and Linux machines.
Workspace apps are pretty basic compared to Microsoft Office. Some users may still need individual Office licenses, especially spreadsheet power users. The same can be said for enterprise communication applications such as Google Voice. There is a basic offer for a single-vendor solution, but there are opportunities for a competitive landscape.
2. Zoho
When I first encountered Zoho, it looked very similar to G Suite with a set of integrated, browser-based applications. The company now offers more than 50 applications that can be obtained individually, in bundles, or as a complete package called Zoho One. Its core solution range is centered on Zoho CRM. Zoho claims over 75 million customers.
Zoho is really attractive for smaller organizations because its integrated, browser-based suite simplifies things for IT. However, Zoho also says that 90% of Fortune 500 companies use some of their apps. Zoho Workplace starts at just $ 3/mo/user and includes Mail, WorkDrive, Zoho Office Suite, Meet (meetings), and Cliq (messaging). Zoho does not try to serve all customers. Zoho Meet, for example, is ready for casual meetings, and it leaves webinars and meeting rooms for other providers.
Zoho works to be a sustainable company. This avoided debt and borrowing. It builds, rather than acquires, its suite and hosts them in its data centers. It employs approximately 10,000 worldwide. The company recently moved its U.S. headquarters from Silicon Valley to an agricultural site near Austin, where it encourages employees to grow organic food for their own use.
Many other options are also available. Reputable mentions to Apple Office Suite/iWork, Apache Open Office, FreeOffice, LibreOffice, and expert cloud providers like Box and Dropbox. However, Microsoft Office is hard to beat in terms of features and polish.
Since Microsoft still sells Office licenses, another strategy for businesses to consider is a virtual desktop.
Amazon WorkSpaces: Another Way to Get Microsoft Office
Amazon WorkSpaces is a virtual desktop infrastructure service from AWS End User Computing. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) offers Windows (or Linux) desktops as a service. WorkSpaces is a fully managed virtualized desktop service that can be accessed from a PC, Mac, Chromebook, or mobile device.
Customers select the WorkSpaces bundle that includes the operating system and performance details. The desktop is accessed, like an application, from a browser or WorkSpaces client. Yes, you have to pay the VDI provider for hosting it, but you can save money with lower spec hardware and reduced support costs. The repetitive desktop starts exactly where a user left off-even if they change devices.
Virtual desktop software can include any software that an organization may already own. Thus, Microsoft Office licenses can be reused or obtained directly from AWS upon subscription to Workspaces. Remember, MS Office does not include Teams because it is not a standalone software product. Subscriptions to workspaces are available under hourly and monthly models.
Workspaces can be integrated with other AWS services such as WorkDocs, Amazon’s version of Office and SharePoint. Also, WorkMail for email and calendar. Of course, these services can also be obtained from other providers. Additional alternatives for VDI include VMware Hizon Cloud, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, Evolve IP, and V2 VCloud. Microsoft also offers Azure Virtual Desktop.
Assessing Your Enterprise Options
If Microsoft Office and Exchange/Outlook are out of the question, then Microsoft 365 might make more sense. Other benefits of the suite include more applications and less training in most cases. However, it is also important to consider the cost of change, which often results from competitive pressures. The UCaaS vendor landscape is shrinking.
Another way to accept the competition is to re -evaluate the bundle. Several providers are now integrating CCaaS services with UCaaS. Amazon and Google offer bundles related to cloud infrastructure and AI technologies. Cisco has an extensive lineup of room and desktop devices and can also bundle networking solutions. Salesforce is now bundling CRM with Slack.
Microsoft products are great, and I use them when appropriate. However, purchasing applications individually per review and user requirements has merits. Alternative options are missing in uncompetitive marketplaces.