Best Microsoft Office Add-ins to Boost Business Productivity
Today the Number of Microsoft Office users is estimated to be more than 1.2 billion. And it is safe to say that MS Office users are a big part of that productive population. In continuously growing landscape of business technology, Microsoft Office play the important role of productivity for many organizations. Though the MS Suite itself is a full of features and robust, but there is always a room for improvement. So here Microsoft Office Add-ins offer a fantastic way to maximize the functionality of Office apps, boosting the productivity and workflow.
In today’s article, I will provide you a comprehensive list of some Best Microsoft Office Add-ins across different applications, focusing on how they can boost business productivity.
Introduction to Microsoft Office Add-ins
In the Business world, Microsoft Office is playing its role for a long time by providing documentation features, essential tools for communication, data analysis and many more.
However, with the increasing demands of modern business, simple software solutions might not always be sufficient. This is where MS Office Add-ins come into play.
Microsoft Office Add-ins (also called Microsoft Office Plugins) are third party applications that extend the functionality of Office Applications, increasing their capabilities and providing customized solutions for specific tasks. These Add-ins are designed to seamlessly integrate with Office applications, offering functionalities and features that fulfill the needs of businesses and individuals.
Which Add-ins Should You Install?
There are thousands of Microsoft Office Add-ins available in the market. Microsoft Add-ins store organizes all these Add-ins in neat and clear categories, so user can find these easily. You can also filter these by:
- Name
- Rating
When you open the MS Add-ins store, Microsoft Office automatically suggests some important Add-ins to you. There is also a category called Editor’s Picks, which shows some highly-rated selections as well. It depends on your choice, which Add-in is best for your workflow.
How to Download Add-ins into MS Office?
I feel that I should also discuss about how to download MS Office Add-ins. In this section I will talk about the method of downloading Add-ins into MS Word, but the downloading method is almost same for other MS Office applications as well.
Following are the simple steps to download any Add-in:
- Go to Ribbon and select Home tab.
- Click on Add-ins and open More Add-ins.
- First time, it will ask for permission (Give permission to Microsoft and Allow the installation to proceed).
- Browser the Add-in you need, click Add.
It will start downloading, and after a few seconds you can find that Add-in on the Ribbon.
List of Best Microsoft Office Add-ins
Microsoft Outlook Add-ins:
Priority Matrix:
Priority Matrix is a time management add-in that seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Outlook Application. This plugin helps users to categorize the projects and tasks into a matrix, allowing them to prioritize and allocate the time effectively.
By aligning tasks and projects with their strategic goals, users can optimize resource allocation and ensure the important tasks are completed on time.
Features of Priority Matrix Add-in
This Add-in includes following important features:
- Helps to effectively organize tasks and projects with a visual matrix.
- Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.
- Allows work with team members and track project progress in real-time.
Find Time:
Find Time Add-in facilitates the process of scheduling meetings by identifying the best time for all members and project participants. This add-in analyzes the calendars of all participants to find common available time slots, simplifying the coordination of meetings and helps to reduce scheduling conflicts.
Features of Find Time Add-in
Find Time Add-in helps to:
- Simplify scheduling by finding the most suitable meeting time for all members.
- Eliminate back-and-forth emails to determine availability.
- Seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Outlook Calendar.
Email Recovery:
If you deleted an important email accidentally, this Email Recovery Add-in can be a lifesaver. Because it provides an extra layer of email recovery options, which ensures that you will not loss the crucial communications due to accidental deletion.
Features of Email Recovery Add-in
Email Recovery Add-in is helpful to:
- Safeguard against accidental email deletion.
- Easily recover attachments, Emails and other data.
- Prevent data loss and ensure business continuity.
Template Phrases:
Template Phrases Add-in offers a library of pre-defined email templates that cover common business scenarios, allowing users to maintain consistency in their communication and save their time.
Features of Template Phrases Add-in
Template Phrases Add-in helps users to:
- Maintain consistent messaging and improve response time.
- Modernize email communication with predefined templates.
- Users can customize the template to suit different communication scenarios.
Boomerang:
Boomerang Add-in is a powerful email management tool that allow users to schedule the emails to be sent at later time. This also allows users to set reminders to follow up on important emails. This can greatly enhance client communication and email organization.
Features of Boomerang Add-in
Boomerang Add-in enables users to:
- Track emails and enhance email productivity with scheduled sending.
- Enables emails to reappear in the inbox at a specific time.
- Get insights into recipient engagement with click tracking and read receipts.
ZoomInfo Connector:
ZoomInfo Connector add-in provides valuable contact information and insights directly within Outlook app. It helps marketing and sales teams gather intelligence about streamlining the lead generation process and potential client’s info.
Features of ZoomInfo Connector Add-in
ZoomInfo Connector Add-in makes it possible to:
- Access comprehensive contact and company information directly in Outlook Application.
- Streamline customer relationship management and lead generation process.
- Take better decisions based on enriched data.
Microsoft Word Add-ins:
Pickit Images:
Pickit Images Add-in allows users to access a vast library of high-quality images directly within Microsoft Word Application. This Add-in is especially helpful for creating visually engaging presentations and documents.
Features of Pickit Images Add-in
Pickit Images Add-in helps user to:
- Access a vast library of images directly from Microsoft Word Application.
- Enhance document engagement with visually appealing graphics.
- Save time from searching for images on different web browsers separately.
DocuSign:
To obtain signatures on documents, DocuSign Add-in is a best choice. Because this Add-in simplify the process and enables electronic signatures, accelerating the contract workflows and reducing the need for physical paperwork.
Features of DocuSign Add-in
DocuSign Add-in allows to:
- Streamline document signing with electronic signatures feature.
- Speed up the contract approvals and agreements.
- Ensure the legality and security of electronic signatures.
Translator:
With Translator Add-in you can break down language barriers. This Add-in allows users to translate text in real-time, enabling effective communication with international partners and clients.
Features of Translator Add-in
Translator Add-in includes the features like:
- Translating text directly in MS Word app and removes the language barriers.
- Helpful to communicate with global partners and clients.
- Helpful to maintain document formatting while translating in real-time.
OfficeMaps:
OfficeMaps Add-in seamlessly integrates interactive maps into your documents. Whether you are creating presentation, reports, or proposals, OfficeMaps plugin can increase the visual representation of location-based data.
Features of OfficeMaps Add-in
OfficeMaps add-in allows to:
- Embed interactive maps in MS Word documents.
- Enhance the documents and presentations with location context.
- Customize maps with labels, markers and directions.
Read My Document:
Read My Document is an accessibility-focused add-in that reads documents aloud, making the content more accessible to individuals who prefer auditory learning or those who are with visual impairments (disabilities).
Features of Read My Document Add-in
Read My Document Add-in is helpful to:
- Check the Quality of written content.
- Receive suggestions for improved readability and sentence structure.
- Proofread documents for checking grammar mistakes, spelling, and style errors.
Woodpecker:
Woodpecker Add-in improves the conciseness and clarity of your writing. This plugin analyzes your text and suggests improvements for grammar and readability.
Features of Woodpecker Add-in
Woodpecker add-in includes these features:
- Enhances content clarity with simplified language suggestions.
- Safeguards compliance with readability standards.
- Improves document accessibility for diverse audiences.
Symbols and Characters:
With Symbols and Characters Add-in, you can easily insert special characters and symbols into your document. This add-in is particularly helpful for technical reports and documents that require scientific or mathematical notations.
Features of Symbols and Characters Add-in
Symbols and Characters add-in enables users to:
- Access a wide range of special symbols and characters.
- Enhance document communication and aesthetics.
- Eliminate the need to copy-paste characters from other sources or search for ASCII codes.
Microsoft PowerPoint Add-ins:
Web Video Player:
With Web Video Player add-in, you can embed videos from different online platforms directly into your PowerPoint presentations. This add-in enhances multimedia content integration and engagement.
Features of Web Video Player Add-in
Web Video Player add-in enables the user to:
- Enhance visual appealing and engagement of presentations.
- Embed online-videos of various platforms directly into MS PowerPoint presentations.
- Eliminate the need of an external video player.
Web Viewer:
With Web Viewer add-in, you can display web content within your PowerPoint presentation. This plugin can be useful for showcasing live webpages, real-time updates and data visualizations.
Features of Web Viewer Add-in
Web Viewer add-in allows users to:
- Embed live web content into the PowerPoint presentation slides.
- Display web pages, interactive elements and real-time data.
- Keep presentation dynamic and up-to-date.
Mentimeter:
With Mentimeter add-in, you can enhance the audience engagement during presentations with interactive surveys, polls and quizzes. This add-in enables real-time interaction by making presentation more participatory and dynamic.
Features of Mentimeter Add-in
Mentimeter add-in is helpful for MS PowerPoint application because it allows to:
- Conduct surveys, polls and quizzes seamlessly.
- Collect valuable feedbacks and insights in real-time.
- Facilitate interactive presentation with real-time audience engagement.
Microsoft Excel Add-ins:
Excel Training and Tips:
Stay one step forward in your Excel game with tips and training resources within the application. Excel Training and Tips Add-in is perfect for individuals who are looking to expand their MS Excel skills.
Features of Excel Training and Tips Add-in
With Excel Training and Tips add-in, you can:
- Access a repository of Excel practices and best tutorials.
- Learn new techniques to optimize data manipulation and analysis.
- Maximize the Excel skills for improved productivity.
Handy Calculator:
With Handy Calculator add-in, users can perform calculations without leaving MS Excel app. This add-in saves time by eliminating the need of switching between applications.
Features of Handy Calculator Add-in
With the help of Handy Calculator add-in, users can:
- Perform complex calculations without leaving the Excel app.
- Access statistical, scientific and financial functions easily.
- Simplify modeling tasks and data analysis.
People Graph:
With People Graph add-in, users can visualize data in Microsoft Excel. This add-in creates engaging and dynamic graphs, diagrams and charts that can simplify the data interpretation.
Features of People Graph Add-in
People Graph add-in is helpful to:
- Create visually appealing graphs, diagrams and charts on Excel data.
- Illustrate data patterns and trends with engaging visuals.
- Enhance data interpretation.
Excel Colorizer:
Using Excel Colorizer add-in, users can highlight and organize data with color coding. This add-in is helpful for trend identification and data analysis.
Features of Excel Colorizer Add-in
With Excel Colorizer add-in, users can:
- Categorize and highlight cells with selected colors.
- Improve data interpretation and visualization.
- Easily segregate data for better data analysis.
XLTools.net Data Cleaning:
With XLTools.net Data Cleaning add-in, users can maintain accurate and clear data. This add-in offers features such as text case transformation, data deduplication and data validation, ensuring data integrity.
Features of XLTools.net Data Cleaning Add-in
XLTools.net Data Cleaning add-in is beneficial for user to:
- Streamline data preparation processes and data cleaning.
- Detect and remove inconsistencies, errors and duplications.
- Ensure data accuracy for consistent analysis.
Microsoft Teams Add-ins:
Project Management Tool for Microsoft Teams:
With the help of Project Management Tools for Microsoft Teams add-in, users can streamline project management within MS Teams application. This add-in offers collaboration features, progress visualization and task tracking.
Features of Project Management Tools for Microsoft Teams Add-in
Project Management Tools for Microsoft Teams helps user to:
- Directly manage projects without leaving Microsoft Teams app.
- Track progress, set deadlines and assign tasks.
- Streamline project workflows and Foster (Short-term) collaboration.
Polly:
With Polly add-in, user can conduct polls, surveys and collect feedbacks directly within MS Teams application. This add-in helps in team engagement and decision making.
Features of Polly Add-in
With Polly add-in, users can:
- Conduct surveys, polls and feedbacks sessions without leaving MS Teams app.
- Gether team insights, opinions and preferences.
- Make data-driven decisions collaboratively within app.
Invision:
With the help of Invision add-in, users can share interactive designs and prototypes with their team through Microsoft Teams app. This add-in facilitates feedback gathering and design collaboration.
Features of Invision Add-in
The Invision add-in helps user to:
- Share interactive prototypes and design within Teams application.
- Gather feedbacks on design concepts.
- Enhance communication and design collaboration.
How to Delete Add-ins from Microsoft Office Application
Many times, we install the Add-ins in our Microsoft Office Applications but later, we find that add-in useless and we want to remove that add-in from our application. To remove the add-ins from MS Office apps is an easy and straight forward process.
To remove an add-in, follow these simple steps:
- Go to Ribbon > Home tab.
- Click on Add-ins.
- Open My Add-ins.
- In the Office Add-ins windows, click the Menu Option (Three dots).
- Click on Remove.
The specific Add-in will be removed from your Microsoft Office Application.
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