Microsoft Office 2016 introduced a suite of enhancements designed to improve productivity, collaboration, and data visualization—especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Among the Microsoft Office 2016 features, the updates focused on making everyday tasks faster and more intuitive, even though it wasn’t a complete overhaul. This comprehensive upgrade offers valuable tools to enhance workflows with advanced features of Microsoft Office 2016.
1. Excel: Advanced Data Visualization
Office 2016 added six new chart types:
- Box & Whisker for statistical analysis
- Histogram for frequency distribution
- Pareto for prioritizing issues
- Sunburst for hierarchical data
- Treemap for nested data visualization
- Waterfall for financial analysis
These charts allow SMBs to present complex data in a clear, actionable format.
Learn More: https://www.vcsolutions.com/blog/excel-tips-for-business/
2. Outlook: Smarter Email Management
- Attach Recent Files: No more digging through folders—attach documents you’ve recently worked on.
- Groups: Create shared spaces for team conversations, complete with email history.
- Search Suggestions: Outlook now predicts keywords and contacts, reducing search time.
Related Resource: Microsoft 365 Collaboration Tools
3. PowerPoint: Screen Recording
Add live screen recordings directly into your slides for demos or tutorials. This feature is perfect for training sessions or product walkthroughs.
Pro Tip: Combine this with SharePoint Integration for easy sharing.
4. Word: Real-Time Co-Authoring
Collaborate on documents simultaneously via OneDrive or SharePoint. Changes appear instantly, eliminating version confusion and showcasing the collaborative benefits of Microsoft Office 2016 features.
Explore More: 7 Hidden Microsoft Word Features
5. Tell Me Feature
This smart search tool helps you find commands without navigating menus. Just type what you want to do—like “insert chart”—and Office guides you. Among other Microsoft Office 2016 features, this is highly valuable for saving time.
Tip: This is a huge time-saver for new users.
6. Improved Cloud Integration
Office 2016 was built with cloud-first in mind. Saving files to OneDrive or SharePoint ensures secure access from any device, enabling remote work and collaboration.
Next Step: Read Office 365 Security Features for best practices.
Why Upgrade to Office 2016?
For SMBs, these features mean:
- Faster workflows
- Better collaboration
- Enhanced data insights
If you’re considering moving beyond Office 2016, check out our guide on Migrating to Microsoft 365.
Charles Lobert, has been in the Detroit Metro Area’s IT industry for over two decades & with VCS since ’04. Throughout the years, Lobert has held nearly every position at VCS & is responsible for several major organizational shifts within VCS.