Pros and Cons of Using The Outlook Web Application (OWA)

As an IT professional, you will generally receive a torrent of emails, including tickets and complaints from end-users about things not working, as well as frequent updates about your systems and other business-related news. Everyone’s life is impacted by email on a daily basis. We need it for a plethora of personal chores, as well as in the company for customer statements and other client correspondence.

If you use Exchange on-premises, you will either use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook on the Web, a web-based application. Each person has a preference, and we will discuss both, as well as some of the advantages and disadvantages of Outlook web for better understanding.

Pros

Speed

We’ve all been victims of Outlook’s “Not Responding” feature on Windows, even on a powerful desktop PC. Outlook in a browser is really quick; I have never seen it freeze in my browser.

Poll a Meeting

When you make a new calendar invite, instead of selecting a time, you may select many choices by examining the availability of everyone in the to and cc lines. It sends emails to recipients asking them to vote on which slot works best for them. This is fantastic for both internal and external meetings! Internally, it is generally preferable to choose a time that is accessible because individuals may prefer morning vs. afternoon, for example.

Search Option

There is a built-in People Search that is far superior to the Outlook address book. This hidden gem leverages the Microsoft Graph to offer suggestions about who you should call. It also provides information on individuals you have scheduled meetings with.

Cons

Interface and Design

The outlook may be viewed via a desktop browser as well as Android and iOS applications. Outlook’s UI has more features, such as the top bar or Ribbon, which provides various perspectives.

Mail, Contacts, Tasks, Calendars, and Notes are all available. If you are unfamiliar with Outlook and want to use it only as a client email, the numerous functions may appear complicated and superfluous. The outlook may be confusing to new users.

Complex Integration

Microsoft Outlook is a proprietary piece of software. As a result, integration with other apps, such as Google Calendar is limited. Furthermore, the web-based version of Microsoft Outlook provides additional capabilities in the Internet Explorer browser. It does not support a packed version of other popular Internet browsers such as Mozilla Firefox.

Cost

Microsoft Outlook is a component of the Microsoft Office software suite. The bundle cost several hundred dollars, even though several free competitors give the same features and capabilities, such as Mozilla’s Thunderbird. Furthermore, web-based email applications, such as Gmail, provide free email services.

Best Client Email for Business

The finest email applications are no longer simply for sending and handling emails but also for connecting with other software and apps. There are several email providers on the market, so we’ll start with the top client email before moving to other alternatives, including email web applications.

eM Client

eM Client has been around for over a decade, and throughout that time, it has grown into the greatest alternative client email for Windows.

It has a plethora of functions, such as a calendar, contacts, and chat. All major email providers, including Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and Outlook.com, are supported. The most recent version also includes PGP encryption, live backup, rudimentary picture editing capabilities, and Gmail auto-replies.

There is a free tier, but you must upgrade to the Pro version for business usage, which also includes VIP assistance and unlimited accounts (the free product is limited to two email accounts). There is a one-time licensing cost for the Pro version.

Mailbird

Mailbird is a client email that claims to “save time managing many accounts” and make the email “simple and attractive.” It is available in two versions: personal and business. It is obvious that Mailbird Business provides a plethora of free themes to make email a more pleasurable and customized experience.

Inky

Inky is a secure client email that combines AI and machine learning techniques to stop phishing attacks that might otherwise get through.

This tool employs an ‘Inky Phish Fence,’ which analyzes internal and external emails to detect phishing efforts. The unique machine learning system can read an email to identify whether it contains phishing material and either quarantine or distribute the email with the dangerous links deactivated. It also goes a step further by providing an analytics dashboard that allows an administrator to identify trends of assaults based on dates or targeted people.

Conclusion

While client emails need a bit more effort to run, they also provide greater control over user data. In other words, you are the sole owner of your emails, and third parties have no access to them until you specifically – or inadvertently – grant them access.

Allowing your email to run through web applications implies that, while it will be properly backed up, the provider will have authority over your data, and some firms openly admit that they will examine private correspondence at least for marketing purposes. Just make sure you have a backup plan in place to avoid losing your email data.