This fall, Microsoft launched Office 2021, an updated version of their non-subscription office productivity suite. The launch was timed alongside the release of Windows 11, providing businesses with the up-to-date, secure tools they need in order to get things done.
Here are some highlights of the new features and benefits of Office 2021:
Real-Time Collaboration and Co-Authoring
Collaboration features have been included in the Microsoft 365 suite for some time now, but with Microsoft Office 2021, these tools are now available to all users for the first time (with the exception of Office LTSC 2021, which is obtained through a volume licensing agreement).
How It Works
With co-authoring, the documents you’ve saved in OneDrive, SharePoint, or Teams, are able to be worked on by all members of your team at the same time. Everyone will receive a notification when a file has been updated, and it works in both the online and desktop apps. Simply click ‘Share,’ and add the email addresses of anyone you want to collaborate with!
Microsoft also updated its in-doc comment feature to provide a better experience for users. Comments can now be anchored to passages of text, users can be tagged, and full threads of comments can be marked as ‘Resolved,’ making it easy to see who has made what changes.
A Fresh, Modern-But-Familiar Appearance
Say goodbye to a cluttered workspace! The visual appearance of Microsoft Office 2021 has been streamlined, giving users all the tools they need in an easy-to-navigate platform. The updated visuals also contain a “presence indicator,” so you can see who else is viewing or working in the same document.
For Excel users, the updated Accessibility Ribbon makes it easy to find tools related to making your spreadsheets more accessible to all users. This is especially important for those who need to share data across a variety of teams.
AutoSave in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Is there anything worse than putting hours of time into creating a document or presentation, only to lose it all because it wasn’t saved? Sure, it’s a good best practice to always save your work while you’re working on it, but chances are we all have stories about when things didn’t go according to plan.
Fortunately, with the new AutoSave feature, you don’t need to worry about that anymore! Simply upload your document or presentation to OneDrive or SharePoint Online and it will automatically save periodically as you work.
Improved Search Functionality
As business owners, you have a lot to do in a short amount of time, so stop wasting time looking for a document! Find what you need fast with the improved search functionality in Microsoft Office 2021. You can find word definitions, collaborate with colleagues, or even just figure out how to do what you’re trying to do in your document.
At BSC Solutions Group, we’ve been helping small and medium-sized organizations manage their computer systems for over 30 years. We are diligent about keeping up to date with the latest technology trends to provide our clients with the best possible options and support. We’re even recognized as a Silver Microsoft Partner! Visit our website to learn more about our solutions, or call 1(800)-958-2341 today to get started!
