Running a business is challenging enough without spending half your day buried in emails, chasing tasks, and wondering where that important document disappeared to. Microsoft 365 is packed with apps designed to make work easier, faster, and more efficient—but many of them go unnoticed.
You already know about Word, Excel, and Outlook, but what about the hidden gems that can save time, streamline collaboration, and keep everything organised? If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly firefighting instead of getting things done, these Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Business Standard apps will help you work smarter—not harder.
Microsoft Teams: More than just video calls
We all know Teams as the place where meetings happen (and occasionally where people forget to mute themselves while loudly crunching crisps). But beyond video calls and chat, Teams has powerful features that can stop work from slipping through the cracks.
Meeting notes and recordings: Keep everyone on the same page
Ever had a meeting and then immediately forgotten everything that was said? With Meeting Notes and Recordings, that’s a thing of the past.
Take notes in real time so action points don’t get lost.
Automatically save them in Teams for easy reference.
Use meeting recordings so anyone who missed the call can catch up without a 20-minute recap.
💡 Top tip: Don’t hit record until the meeting actually starts—nobody needs to relive five minutes of ‘Can you hear me?’ and ‘We’re just waiting for a few more people to join.’
Tasks: Stop things from slipping through the cracks
Juggling projects, deadlines, and ‘quick favours’ from colleagues? The Tasks app in Teams keeps everything in one place:
Assign tasks with deadlines so responsibilities are clear.
Track progress without endless follow-up emails.
Get automatic notifications so nothing gets forgotten.
💡 Top tip: Use the priority setting wisely—if everything is marked ‘urgent,’ then nothing really is.
Microsoft To Do: A smarter way to manage your workload
For those who rely on a mix of sticky notes, email reminders, and sheer willpower, Microsoft To Do brings order to the chaos.
Organise tasks into lists and set due dates.
Sync across devices so you never lose track.
Use the ‘My Day’ feature to focus on what matters most.
💡 Top tip: Don’t overload ‘My Day’—if you can’t realistically finish everything, it’s just another way to feel overwhelmed.
Microsoft Planner: Keep projects moving forward
If you’ve ever had a project stall because nobody was sure who was doing what, Planner is the answer.
Create project boards with tasks, deadlines, and priorities.
Assign work to team members so everyone knows their role.
Get visual progress updates (because everything looks better in a pie chart).
💡 Top tip: Set clear deadlines and update task statuses regularly—Planner is only useful if people actually keep it up to date.
Microsoft Forms: Get the answers you need—fast
Need feedback from customers? Want to know what your team really thinks of those Friday afternoon meetings? Microsoft Forms makes it easy:
Create surveys, quizzes, and polls in minutes.
Get real-time results without sifting through endless emails.
Use automatic data analysis to spot trends quickly.
💡 Top tip: Keep surveys short and sweet—nobody wants to spend 20 minutes answering a feedback form.
OneNote: The ultimate digital notebook
If your important notes are scattered across different apps, notebooks, and napkins, OneNote keeps everything in one place:
Type, handwrite, or even record voice notes.
Organise everything into sections and notebooks.
Sync across devices so you never lose a great idea.
💡 Top tip: Use tags to highlight key information—future you will thank you when searching for ‘that one really important note’ months later.
Microsoft Bookings: No more scheduling headaches (Business Standard)
Tired of the endless back-and-forth of booking meetings? Microsoft Bookings lets customers, clients, or colleagues schedule appointments without the hassle:
Show your availability in a professional booking system.
Send automated reminders to reduce no-shows.
Save hours on admin by letting people book directly.
💡 Top tip: Set buffer times between appointments—you’ll appreciate those extra minutes when a meeting inevitably overruns.
Microsoft Loop: The next-level collaboration tool (Business Premium)
Microsoft Loop brings real-time collaboration into documents, making teamwork smoother than ever:
Create interactive components that can be edited in Teams, Outlook, and other apps.
Keep all your project updates and ideas in one workspace.
Collaborate seamlessly without switching between apps.
💡 Top tip: Use Loop to brainstorm ideas in Teams chats—everyone can contribute without juggling different files.
Which Microsoft 365 plan is best for your business?
Both Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Microsoft 365 Business Standard offer powerful tools to help businesses work smarter. Here’s a quick breakdown:
✔ Business Basic: Ideal for startups or businesses that need cloud-based email, Teams, and web-based apps without the cost of desktop versions.
✔ Business Standard: Best for growing businesses that need desktop versions of Microsoft apps and extra tools like Bookings to manage appointments effortlessly.
✔ Business Premium: Perfect for businesses needing advanced collaboration tools like Microsoft Loop, along with enhanced security to protect data.
By making the most of these built-in tools, you’re not just saving time—you’re making work easier for yourself and your team.
Let’s make Microsoft 365 work for you
You’re already paying for these apps—so why not get the most out of them? Let’s chat about how Microsoft 365 can help your business work smarter, not harder.
