Five apps that make Outlook easier to use

The modern workforce spends a good part of the workday using an email client like Outlook. These five add-ins can make that time more productive and much less frustrating.

For most us living in a hectic world of enterprise communication, our email client is where we spend most of our workday. It is the application that ties together all the other productivity apps we use on a daily basis. For Microsoft Office 365 users that means Outlook.

While Microsoft has spent a great deal of time and resources trying to improve the Outlook interface, the app could still use some help when it comes to ease-of-use features. Here are five add-ins that could improve your daily interaction with the Outlook email client.

 1.- Bing Nearby

Whether it's an onsite meeting with an important client or a lunch meeting with the team, it is important to get there on time. One of the best ways to keep yourself on schedule is to know exactly where you are going. The Bing Nearby app gives you instant access to Bing's mapping features from within the confines of the Outlook interface.

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2: PayPal

In today's world, sending someone money can be accomplished with just a few clicks on the computer. However, the PayPal add-in for Outlook  makes that process even simpler, assuming you have an account.

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3: DocuSign

Even in the digital age some documents must be signed—there is no way around it. However, with the help of the DocuSign add-in for Outlook , you can "sign" documents electronically without leaving your email client to do it.

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4: FindTime

One of the more frustrating activities surrounding collaboration in an enterprise is scheduling a meeting time that works for everyone involved. This frustration goes beyond just finding a time when all the participants can attend, according to their Outlook calendars. People tend to have times during a workday when they would prefer to avoid having a meeting, for example. FindTime can help you find a meeting time that works best for all concerned.

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5: IXD Secure Mail

Collaboration with team members about a project is all well and good, but sometimes you need to email sensitive documents that should remain confidential between the parties involved. This is where an encryption add-in for Outlook can come in handy.

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