HDP IT Services

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace: Which is Right for Your North East Business?

Posted on June 25, 2025

Choosing the right suite of office and productivity tools is one of the most foundational technology decisions any business owner will make. It dictates how your team communicates, collaborates, and manages information every single day. For most companies in the North East and beyond, the choice boils down to two industry giants: Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

But they are not interchangeable. Each platform has distinct strengths and is designed around a different philosophy of work. Making the right choice from the start can save you time, money, and future headaches. So, which path is right for your business? Let’s break it down.

What is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is the evolution of the classic Microsoft Office suite that has been a staple in offices for decades. It’s built around the powerful, full-featured desktop applications that many of us learned to use at school or in previous jobs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Microsoft 365 is often the best choice for businesses that:

  • Rely heavily on the advanced features of desktop software.
  • Operate primarily in a Windows PC environment.
  • Work in industries with complex document formatting or financial modelling needs (e.g., legal, accounting).
  • Have advanced security and device management requirements.

  • Pros:
    • Powerful Desktop Apps: The desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are still the industry standard and are more powerful than any browser-based alternatives.
    • Familiarity: Most employees will have some prior experience with Microsoft Office, reducing the learning curve.
    • Deep Integration: Offers seamless integration between apps and the Windows operating system. Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook work together very effectively.
  • Cons:
    • Collaboration: While real-time collaboration has improved massively, it can still feel less fluid than Google’s cloud-native approach.
    • Complexity: The sheer number of features can be overwhelming for teams with very simple needs.

What is Google Workspace?

Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) was born in the cloud. It’s built around a philosophy of simplicity, speed, and real-time collaboration. Its core apps—Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail—are designed to be used primarily through a web browser.

Google Workspace is often the best choice for businesses that:

  • Prioritise real-time collaboration and co-editing of documents.
  • Have a “cloud-first” team that is comfortable working in a browser.
  • Value simplicity and speed over having every possible feature.
  • Use a mix of different operating systems (Mac, Windows, ChromeOS).

  • Pros:
    • Best-in-Class Collaboration: Google’s ability for multiple people to work on the same document simultaneously is seamless and intuitive.
    • Simplicity and Speed: The web-based interface is clean, fast, and easy for new users to pick up.
    • Strong Search: As you’d expect from Google, its ability to search across all your files in Drive and Gmail is incredibly powerful.
  • Cons:
    • Less Powerful Apps: While perfectly capable for most tasks, Google Docs and Sheets lack the advanced features and complex formatting options of their Microsoft desktop counterparts.
    • Offline Access: While offline access is available, it’s not as robust or seamless as having the full desktop applications installed locally.

The Verdict: How to Choose?

There is no single “best” platform. The right choice depends entirely on your business’s unique DNA. Ask yourself these questions:

  • How does my team actually work day-to-day?
  • Do we need complex spreadsheets and document formatting, or is collaborative writing more important?
  • How important is it for us to work from anywhere, on any device?

Answering these questions honestly will often point you in the right direction.

Get Expert Advice for Your Business

Feeling stuck? Choosing and implementing a new office suite is a significant project. Making the wrong choice can lead to lost productivity and a frustrating migration process down the road.

As an IT consultant for North East businesses, I can help you assess your specific needs and determine which platform is the right strategic fit. This is a core part of the free, no-obligation IT & Cybersecurity Audit I offer to local business owners.

We’ll discuss your workflow, your goals, and your budget to ensure you build your business on the right foundation.