In June 2024, the European Commission issued a Statement of Objections against Microsoft’s distribution of Teams, a video conferencing tool added for free to Office 365 in 2017. Teams, which replaced Skype for Business, became crucial during the pandemic. However, competitors raised concerns that bundling Teams into Microsoft 365 gave Microsoft an unfair advantage. In response, Microsoft has now unbundled Teams from its Microsoft 365 suite to offer customers clearer choices and allow them to select the tools they need.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
For businesses, the unbundling of Teams from Microsoft 365 presents both challenges and opportunities:
Re-evaluation of needs: Businesses will need to reassess their communication and collaboration needs. If Teams has become integral to your operations, you may now need to purchase it separately, which could involve additional costs.
Opportunity for customisation: This change also allows businesses to customise their software stack more precisely. If Teams isn’t essential for your operations, you can now opt for alternative tools that might better suit your needs or budget.
Impact on pricing and licensing: With Teams being unbundled, businesses may see changes in their licensing agreements and pricing structures. It’s important to review these changes and understand how they impact your overall IT budget. Gauging the true effectiveness of Microsoft 365 is a challenge for any business. Quantum 365 by Daisy can help you drive substantial efficiencies across your organisation.
How to Adapt
To navigate this shift effectively:
Assess current usage: Determine how critical Teams is to your daily operations. If it’s essential, plan to purchase it separately and budget for the additional cost.
Explore alternatives: If you’re open to exploring other options, now is a good time to research alternative collaboration tools that may offer comparable features at a different price point.
Stay informed on licensing changes: Monitor Microsoft’s updates regarding pricing and licensing to ensure you’re making informed decisions.
Daisy Can Help…
While many businesses have standardised on Microsoft Teams for collaboration, they may find upon closer inspection, that it might fall short in enterprise call handling, reporting, and reliability. This unbundling also opens the door for you to consider other collaboration tools. Solutions like Mitel, or RingCentral offer a powerful, Gartner-endorsed alternative with a fully integrated, cloud-based communication platform designed to boost employee productivity and enhance customer experiences. We can also help you maximise your license usage. By staying ahead of Microsoft’s unbundling decision and adapting your strategy, you can maintain a cutting-edge communication system tailored to your business needs. If you’re unsure how to proceed, we’re here to guide you toward the best solution.