Use Microsoft OneNote to work smarter and stay organised

Keeping track of ideas, notes, and tasks can quickly become overwhelming without the right tools. 

Many businesses rely on a patchwork of apps to manage their notes and ideas, but this often leads to inefficiency and wasted time.

If you’re already using Microsoft 365, you might not realise you have access to a powerful tool that can simplify your workflows: Microsoft OneNote. 

This digital notebook helps you capture, organise, and share your notes effortlessly, making it a must-have for any business looking to work smarter and grow.

What is Microsoft OneNote?

Microsoft OneNote is more than just a note-taking app—it’s a versatile digital notebook that helps businesses:

• Organise ideas, tasks, and projects.
• Collaborate in real-time across teams.
• Keep everything in one secure, centralised place.

The best part? It’s included as part of your Microsoft 365 Business subscription, so you don’t need to pay extra for advanced note-taking capabilities.

Stop using (and paying for) project management alternatives

Many businesses spend hours (weeks?) investigating project management and note taking apps. And there are enough of them on the market.

But why pay for alternatives when you’ve got OneNote included in your Microsoft 365 subscription?

Trello is a visual project management tool often used for organising tasks and projects with boards and cards. It focuses more on task management than note-taking, making it less effective for organising ideas or capturing detailed notes.

Evernote is a popular note-taking app known for its multimedia capabilities and advanced search features. The free tier has significant limitations, and premium plans can become costly. It also doesn’t integrate as deeply into other business tools as OneNote does.

Notion is a flexible tool that combines note-taking, project management, and collaboration in one platform. However, Notion can feel overwhelming for teams that need a simple note-taking solution, and its advanced features come with a learning curve.

Asana is a task management tool designed for team collaboration and project tracking. While it’s great for task management, Asana lacks the rich multimedia and note-taking features that OneNote offers.

Google Keep is a simple, free tool for capturing quick notes and ideas, integrated with Google Workspace. However It has limited organisational features and is not ideal for team collaboration or detailed note-taking.

Pre-installed on Apple devices, Apple Notes is convenient for users in the Apple ecosystem. But it’s not cross-platform friendly, making it less practical for businesses with diverse devices.

Why OneNote is the better choice for Microsoft 365 users

If you’re already subscribed to Microsoft 365, using OneNote is a no-brainer. Here’s why:

• Fully integrated with Microsoft 365 – OneNote works seamlessly with Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and other Microsoft 365 tools, allowing you to attach notes directly to calendar events, share meeting notes in Teams channels and store notebooks securely in SharePoint. This integration creates a unified workflow, eliminating the need to switch between multiple apps.
• Cost-effective and feature-rich
• OneNote is included in your Microsoft 365 subscription, giving you access to advanced note-taking features without the need for costly additional subscriptions.
• Superior organisation than the alternatives
• OneNote’s notebooks, sections, and pages provide a structured system for organising information that many other tools lack.
• Secure and manageable
• Unlike third-party apps, OneNote keeps your notes within your Microsoft ecosystem, offering enterprise-grade security and compliance features. This is particularly important for businesses handling sensitive information.

What are the key features of Microsoft OneNote for businesses?

Cross-platform accessibility

OneNote syncs seamlessly across devices, whether you’re on a PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone. This means you can take your notes wherever you go and pick up where you left off on any device.

Real-time collaboration

Teams can work together on shared notebooks, adding ideas, meeting notes, or project updates in real-time. Integration with Microsoft Teams makes it easy to collaborate and share information directly within the tools your team already uses.

Organised structure with sections and pages

OneNote allows you to organise your notes into notebooks, sections, and pages, creating a clean and structured way to store information. This eliminates the clutter and confusion of scattered notes.

Multimedia note-taking

Whether you’re typing, drawing, recording audio, or adding images, OneNote makes it easy to capture information in any format. It’s perfect for brainstorming sessions, meeting notes, or research.

Search and tagging

Quickly find the information you need with OneNote’s powerful search feature. Use tags to prioritise tasks, track follow-ups, or categorise content for better organisation.

What are the business benefits of using Microsoft OneNote

Using OneNote can improve productivity. With all your notes, ideas, and resources in one place, your team can focus on their work instead of wasting time searching for scattered information.

Real-time collaboration in shared notebooks makes it easy for teams to brainstorm, plan projects, and share updates.

Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 tools ensures that your notes and tasks are connected to your existing workflows, saving time and reducing duplication.

How we can help you make the most of Microsoft OneNote

At IT Squad, we specialise in helping businesses leverage technology to work smarter and grow. 

Whether you’re new to OneNote or looking to optimise your setup, we can help you:

• Integrate OneNote with your existing Microsoft 365 tools.
• Train your team to use OneNote effectively for collaboration and productivity.
• Provide ongoing support to ensure your workflows stay efficient and secure.

Microsoft OneNote is a game-changer for businesses looking to organise their ideas, collaborate effectively, and streamline their workflows. 

By using OneNote as part of your Microsoft 365 subscription, you can eliminate the need for costly alternatives and keep everything secure within your Microsoft ecosystem.

Ready to transform how your team works? Book a call today to learn how we can help you make the most of Microsoft OneNote.

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