Over its history, Microsoft has been known for a lot of great achievements like its ubiquitous Windows operating system, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. All of these products have long been business industry standards. Except for perhaps the Xbox over the last 10 years, the company never has been synonymous with design and innovation…until now!
After my visit to Redmond last week, I realized there has been a monumental shift. Recent innovative solutions like the Surface Pro, Skype (real time language) Translator, Delve, Planner, Clutter, Power BI and other analytical products are just what the small business owner needs. Microsoft has accomplished this by bringing research, designers and developers all together in one area to collaborate for the best solution.
As a result, Microsoft seems to know exactly what small business owners need and how they can use technology as their competitive advantage. Cindy Bates, VP of US Small Business and Distribution states that they are focused on solutions for the cloud, mobility, collaboration and security. This is because she knows that small business need their solutions to be versatile, safe and work everywhere.
Until now, I never saw a compelling reason for small business owners to use all the functions included in Office 365 (email, spreadsheets, documents, chat, collaboration). Most companies use a random mix of solutions that rarely communicate with each other. But, by using Microsoft’s integrated tools, the small business owner can now can get a true analytical picture of what their people are working on, who they are working with and what the results have been. With all the data in one place, Microsoft truly does provide a secret weapon for small businesses.
For example,
• Would you like to video chat with a customer in another language and get real time translation? Use Skype Translator.
• Would you like to know what you’re working on, who you’re working with, and the permissions you have? What about what others are doing? Use Delve.
• Would you like to automatically filter your email and only have the critical action items in your inbox? Use Clutter.
• Would you like to manage a project seamlessly in your office? Use Planner.
• Want to be able to easily visualize all the data inside your company? Use Power BI.
• Want a versatile tablet and desktop computer in one? Use a Surface Pro 4.
I also toured their Retail Experience Center which showcases the best digital technology that retailers can use in their stores to optimize their customers experience. Think of it as the brick and mortar retailers revenge on the online store. After viewing all the wonderful things that are coming for the customer that shops in person, I may never shop online again!
