For over two decades, the classic version of Microsoft Outlook—the Win32 client—has served as a dependable companion for email communication, calendar management, and enterprise productivity. In the tech world, longevity often equates to legacy, and legacy applications are typically targeted for replacement. But the fate of classic Outlook tells a slightly different story.
As Microsoft formally announced general availability for its new Outlook for Windows experience in August 2024, many users anticipated a countdown toward the demise of classic Outlook. Surprisingly, the opposite has happened. Organizations and individuals who depend on the traditional Outlook experience have been granted a reprieve—at least until 2029. This delay in retirement isn’t just a grace period; it reflects a more nuanced and customer-sensitive approach from Microsoft.
This article unpacks what this decision means for enterprises, IT departments, and everyday users. It also explores how the coexistence of classic and new Outlook mirrors past patterns in Microsoft’s product evolution, most notably with OneNote.
The New Outlook’s General Availability: What It Really Means
Microsoft’s designation of “General Availability” (GA) for the new Outlook is a milestone that signifies a fully developed, support-ready product. For enterprises, GA means that Microsoft’s support team is officially available to assist with onboarding, configuration, and troubleshooting. In the past, GA announcements have often hinted at the beginning of a transition period, where older versions are quietly phased out.
But that’s not the case here. Microsoft has gone out of its way to clarify that GA for the new Outlook does not mark the end of classic Outlook. Instead, it’s an invitation for IT teams to start evaluating and planning migration paths at their own pace, with no immediate action required.
The message from Microsoft is clear: we support your move to the new Outlook—but we won’t force it just yet.
Classic Outlook’s Formal Extension: A Timeline Through 2029
One of the most notable revelations in Microsoft’s announcement is the formal recognition that classic Outlook will remain available and supported until at least the year 2029. This support includes access through perpetual licensing versions of Office and, significantly, as a separate download for Microsoft 365 subscribers.
Microsoft defines “classic Outlook” as the Win32 application that has been bundled with traditional versions of Office for years. In fall 2024, the company will release Office 2024, the next installment in its perpetual licensing series, and classic Outlook will continue to be included in both the Standard and Professional Plus editions.
This commitment to support through 2029 gives organizations significant breathing room—five full years to evaluate new workflows, retire unsupported add-ins, or simply adapt to the new Outlook interface in a staggered, controlled manner.
A Quiet Option: Downloadable Classic Outlook for Microsoft 365 Subscribers
Beyond perpetual license holders, Microsoft has also confirmed that Microsoft 365 customers with subscriptions that include desktop apps (such as Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Office 365 E3/E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium) will retain access to classic Outlook.
However, there’s a twist: the classic version won’t be bundled by default anymore. Instead, it must be downloaded separately. This caveat may seem minor, but it reflects a strategic choice by Microsoft to gradually shift the center of gravity toward the new Outlook, without alienating current customers.
In an inquiry by Directions on Microsoft, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that no additional fees or licensing changes will be required for eligible enterprises to access classic Outlook this way. As long as a subscription includes the rights to desktop apps, users can obtain the classic Outlook client.
This approach gives Microsoft 365 customers continuity while subtly encouraging exploration of the new Outlook experience.
Outlook and OneNote: A Familiar Dance of Coexistence
For many long-time Microsoft watchers, this story might sound familiar. It echoes what happened with OneNote just a few years ago.
Initially, Microsoft announced it would replace the classic OneNote for Windows app (originally OneNote 2016) with a new Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version. The UWP version, streamlined and touch-friendly, was pitched as the future of note-taking in the Microsoft ecosystem.
But reality soon set in. Users voiced frustration over missing features, integration limitations, and compatibility issues with enterprise workflows. The resistance was substantial enough that Microsoft relented. The company continued supporting and offering the classic OneNote application alongside the new one—a status quo that remains in place even today.
Now, classic Outlook seems to be following the same trajectory. Microsoft has introduced a new experience, heard feedback about its limitations, and is allowing the old and new versions to coexist for the foreseeable future.
Why Many Organizations Are Not Ready for New Outlook
Despite Microsoft’s optimism around the new Outlook, many enterprise customers are not ready to make the switch. The reasons vary, but they largely boil down to integration and extensibility.
Classic Outlook is deeply woven into enterprise ecosystems. It supports COM add-ins, VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office), and VBA macros—technologies that many organizations depend on for business-critical functionality. The new Outlook, which is based on a web-centric architecture, doesn’t yet offer equivalent support for these legacy components.
Moreover, Exchange Server on-premises integration remains uncertain in the new Outlook world. While Microsoft has hinted at possible future compatibility, there are still unresolved questions about how or if the new Outlook will function reliably with on-prem Exchange deployments.
For IT teams, these compatibility gaps are not trivial. Migrating to the new Outlook could involve rewriting add-ins, replacing macros, and restructuring communication pipelines—all of which are time-consuming and costly.
Rob Helm’s Take: Time is a Gift, Not a Delay
Rob Helm, a long-time observer of Microsoft’s enterprise strategies at Directions on Microsoft, sees the extended availability of classic Outlook as a strategic gift.
“This takes time pressure off Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise customers,” Helm explains. “If they can continue to redistribute classic Outlook to their Microsoft 365 users, they get more time to get rid of plug-ins that don’t work with the new Outlook, and more time to find workarounds for classic features that new Outlook doesn’t have.”
Helm also cautions that while this extension offers relief, it should not foster complacency. “Microsoft 365 Apps customers still will want to assess their risk for the day that classic Outlook is no longer available to them,” he says. “But that day is some years further away than we thought.”
Microsoft’s Staged Transition Plan
Microsoft’s transition plan for Outlook is structured in phases. Currently, the new Outlook is in an opt-in phase, meaning users must actively choose to switch. Sometime in the future—though Microsoft has declined to say exactly when—the platform will enter an opt-out phase, where the new Outlook becomes the default but users can still revert.
Eventually, Microsoft plans to reach a “cutover phase,” where the new Outlook will be the only version available in Microsoft 365 installations. By that point, classic Outlook will no longer be bundled or offered for download. Users will have no choice but to use the new Outlook.
Importantly, Microsoft has committed to giving at least 12 months’ advance notice before entering both the opt-out and cutover stages. This transparency is meant to give IT departments sufficient time to plan, test, and prepare.
What Happens After 2029?
The big unknown in this saga is what happens after 2029. As of now, Microsoft has not made any public commitments about the future of classic Outlook beyond that year.
Much will depend on how quickly the new Outlook matures and whether it can close the functionality gap. Some features, such as support for COM/VSTO/VBA add-ins, may never return. Others may be replicated or replaced by modern alternatives.
It’s possible that Microsoft may sunset classic Outlook in a future perpetual release—likely Office 2027 or whatever name it adopts—replacing it entirely with the new Outlook client. Alternatively, customer demand and usage patterns may compel Microsoft to extend support even further, much as it did with OneNote.
A Strategic Pause in the March Toward Modernization
Microsoft’s decision to extend the life of classic Outlook is less about retreat and more about realism. For all its modern elegance and cloud integration, the new Outlook still lacks the depth and extensibility of its predecessor. For many organizations, switching now would mean sacrificing critical workflows.
By allowing both versions to coexist, Microsoft is creating space for thoughtful migration. Enterprises can test the new Outlook, pilot it with select users, and prepare for eventual adoption—all without upending operations.
For users who value stability, extensibility, and familiarity, classic Outlook remains a viable option. And with a guaranteed lifeline through 2029, there’s time to make the transition on your terms—not on Microsoft’s.
The Long Transition Ahead
Microsoft’s announcement that classic Outlook will remain supported until at least 2029 offered immediate relief to many enterprise customers. However, this extension is not a permanent pardon but rather a temporary pause. The strategic implication is clear: organizations must begin preparing for a future that will, eventually, be centered around the new Outlook for Windows.
While classic Outlook continues to be viable, Microsoft is investing heavily in the new Outlook experience, hinting that it is not a question of if, but when, users will need to migrate. This phase—marked by the availability of both versions—presents a unique opportunity. Organizations can experiment, assess, and implement changes before the transition becomes mandatory.
This article outlines actionable strategies for enterprises to begin their migration planning, explore compatibility scenarios, and build robust testing and implementation frameworks. The goal is to help IT leaders move deliberately and confidently toward Outlook’s modern era.
Understanding the Differences: A Functionality Gap Assessment
The first step in any strategic transition is understanding what changes lie ahead. The new Outlook for Windows introduces a streamlined, web-based interface, unified inbox experience, and enhanced cloud-native functionality. However, it also comes with limitations that organizations must account for.
Classic Outlook supports a wide range of legacy technologies, such as:
- COM and VSTO add-ins
- VBA macros
- Full Exchange Server on-premises integration
- Cached Exchange Mode
- PST archive files and manual data imports
- Advanced calendar groupings and customization
In contrast, the new Outlook currently lacks support for many of these elements. While some functionality is being replicated through modern APIs or Microsoft Graph, there remains a significant delta—especially for organizations that rely on custom plugins or integrations.
Before initiating migration plans, IT teams must perform a comprehensive functionality audit. This should include:
- Cataloging all active add-ins
- Identifying custom scripts and VBA macros in use
- Assessing use of PST files or local archives
- Documenting Exchange architecture and hybrid configurations
- Reviewing end-user interface customizations
This gap analysis will help stakeholders decide which departments or users can adopt the new Outlook early and which will need additional development or alternative solutions.
Pilot Programs: Test Before You Leap
One of the most effective approaches for migration is implementing structured pilot programs. A pilot allows organizations to evaluate performance, identify pain points, and gather real user feedback—without exposing the entire enterprise to risk.
A strong pilot program includes the following components:
- Selection of Test Groups: Choose a cross-section of users from different departments and technical profiles. Include heavy Outlook users, executive assistants, support staff, and IT administrators to gain a broad perspective.
- Defined Pilot Objectives: Set clear goals for what the pilot is intended to measure. This could include usability, compatibility with add-ins, integration with calendaring, or mobile experience consistency.
- Feedback Loops: Provide users with structured channels for reporting issues, submitting suggestions, and rating their experience.
- Performance Monitoring: Track metrics like startup time, sync reliability, and resource consumption.
- Rollback Readiness: Ensure a path to revert back to classic Outlook for any user encountering show-stopping issues.
Pilot data should inform not only technical decisions but also change management strategy. Insights gathered here can shape training materials, migration sequencing, and internal support structures.
Add-In and Macro Strategy: A Bridge to Modern APIs
One of the most pressing challenges in moving to the new Outlook is the loss of traditional COM and VSTO add-in support. These technologies are widely used across industries for functions ranging from CRM integration to custom automation.
Microsoft’s solution is a shift toward web add-ins powered by Office.js and Microsoft Graph. These modern equivalents offer cross-platform compatibility and improved security but lack the deep integration that legacy models provided.
To prepare:
- Audit Existing Add-Ins: Document every add-in currently deployed within the organization. Identify which are mission-critical and which are redundant or obsolete.
- Engage with Vendors: For third-party tools, contact vendors to ask whether a compatible web add-in is available or in development.
- In-House Development Teams: Encourage internal development teams to begin porting custom add-ins to the new web model. Microsoft provides extensive documentation, migration guides, and sample code to support this process.
- Assess Feasibility: Not every add-in will be feasible to replicate. In some cases, alternative workflows or tools may need to be explored.
- Plan Parallel Deployment: Maintain support for classic Outlook in departments that depend on legacy add-ins, while introducing the new Outlook where dependencies are minimal.
This bridging process may span multiple years. Starting early ensures that critical business functionality remains uninterrupted.
Exchange Server Compatibility: An Unresolved Puzzle
Another central concern for IT departments is the compatibility of the new Outlook with on-premises Exchange Server deployments. Microsoft has hinted at eventual support but has not confirmed full feature parity or a timeline for such integration.
If your organization operates in a hybrid Exchange environment or maintains on-premises infrastructure due to regulatory, cost, or security concerns, proceed with caution. While Exchange Online users are fully supported in the new Outlook, on-premises users may encounter disruptions or partial functionality.
Recommendations include:
- Validate with Microsoft: Engage directly with Microsoft support or your account representative to confirm current compatibility status.
- Segment Your Environment: Consider separating users based on infrastructure. Cloud users can pilot the new Outlook while on-prem users continue with the classic version.
- Monitor Roadmap Updates: Stay informed via the Microsoft 365 roadmap, Exchange blogs, and TechCommunity announcements.
- Evaluate Migration to Exchange Online: For organizations looking to embrace the full Outlook transformation, moving to Exchange Online could simplify future integration.
This hybrid approach demands vigilance, but it ensures operational continuity while still enabling forward momentum.
User Training and Change Management: Supporting the Human Element
Even the most seamless technical transition can fail if users are unprepared. Outlook is a deeply personal application—people rely on it for scheduling, communication, collaboration, and task management. Any change to the interface or functionality can provoke resistance.
To foster successful adoption:
- Design Training Materials: Create user-friendly guides, video tutorials, and FAQ sheets tailored to various proficiency levels.
- Host Live Demos: Organize interactive sessions where users can explore the new Outlook and ask questions in real time.
- Create Outlook Champions: Identify enthusiastic users to serve as Outlook ambassadors in each department. These champions can provide peer-to-peer guidance and support.
- Stagger Deployment: Introduce the new Outlook in waves, beginning with departments most receptive to change.
- Offer Rollback Options: During the opt-in phase, reassure users they can return to classic Outlook if needed. This flexibility reduces anxiety and encourages experimentation.
Change management is not a technical process—it’s a people process. Invest in communication and support just as heavily as infrastructure.
Leveraging Microsoft Tools: Help for the Transition
Microsoft has made available several tools and services to help organizations manage the transition. These include:
- Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center: Centralized control for managing Office installations, including Outlook versions.
- Office Telemetry Dashboard: Tracks Office add-in usage and identifies potential compatibility issues.
- Microsoft FastTrack: For eligible customers, FastTrack provides onboarding assistance and best practices for Office 365 adoption.
- Outlook Add-in Scanning Tool: Identifies existing add-ins and flags those incompatible with the new Outlook.
- Cloud Policy Service: Enables administrators to control feature availability and deployment behaviors without using Group Policy Objects (GPOs).
Utilizing these tools can significantly ease the operational burden of planning and deployment.
Custom Configuration and Policy Settings: Governing the User Experience
Organizations that rely on specific Outlook configurations will need to plan for how to replicate or reimagine these in the new environment. Group Policies and registry tweaks that shaped the behavior of classic Outlook may not translate directly to the new client.
Microsoft’s Cloud Policy Service offers a modern way to configure the new Outlook at scale. Through the admin center, administrators can:
- Enforce feature access
- Customize interface options
- Control sync behavior and cache settings
- Disable certain integrations or third-party apps
Testing and documentation are key here. Build a matrix of configuration requirements and map them to their equivalents—or workarounds—in the new Outlook.
Forecasting the Opt-Out and Cutover Phases
While the new Outlook remains optional for now, Microsoft has indicated it will eventually become the default experience. The transition phases are as follows:
- Opt-In Phase (now): Users choose to try the new Outlook.
- Opt-Out Phase (future): New Outlook becomes default, but users can revert.
- Cutover Phase (final): Classic Outlook is removed from Microsoft 365 deployment. No option to revert.
Microsoft has committed to a 12-month notification period before moving to the opt-out or cutover stages. This means no surprises—but it also means organizations should treat the current phase as the planning runway.
Using this buffer time effectively will ensure your teams aren’t caught off guard when the new Outlook becomes the standard.
Transitioning Thoughtfully, Not Reluctantly
The transition to the new Outlook is not a flash-cut mandate but a long, unfolding process. With support for classic Outlook guaranteed through at least 2029, Microsoft is giving enterprises time to prepare, test, and adapt.
But this isn’t a reason to delay planning. On the contrary, it’s a golden opportunity to begin building a roadmap that preserves productivity and embraces modern capability.
By identifying compatibility gaps, developing migration pilots, educating users, and leveraging Microsoft’s tools, organizations can create a controlled, confident migration path. The challenge is real—but so are the resources and strategies available to navigate it.
The Slow March Toward Modernization
Microsoft has charted a long and calculated path toward transforming Outlook into a unified, cloud-native experience across devices. The arrival of the new Outlook for Windows—now generally available—is a milestone in this journey. Yet its current state reveals a product still under development, far from replicating the full breadth of functionality long-time users associate with classic Outlook.
Microsoft’s promise to support classic Outlook through at least 2029 offers breathing room, but it also sets a firm expiration horizon. With this in mind, the central question becomes: Will the new Outlook for Windows evolve quickly enough to replace its predecessor without significant disruption? Or will enterprises be forced to change their workflows around a more limited toolset?
In this final part of the series, we explore the roadmap for the new Outlook, examine what’s missing today, and evaluate the likelihood of full parity—or an intentional divergence—before classic Outlook disappears from Microsoft’s ecosystem.
Rebuilding Outlook From the Ground Up: Why the Redesign Matters
The new Outlook for Windows is not merely a cosmetic overhaul. It’s a replatforming initiative aimed at consolidating Microsoft’s mail experience across platforms (Windows, macOS, and the web) using a shared codebase. This transformation brings potential benefits:
- Consistent user experience across devices
- Improved performance and startup speed
- Lower maintenance overhead for Microsoft
- Tighter integration with cloud services like Microsoft Loop, Viva, and Teams
- Faster feature updates delivered via web deployment pipelines
However, this architectural shift also means abandoning much of what made classic Outlook powerful for enterprise users. Microsoft’s focus is now on aligning Outlook with modern workplace paradigms—collaboration, mobility, and security—not on mirroring decades of legacy functionality.
What’s Still Missing: A Snapshot of Key Gaps
Despite being deemed “generally available,” the new Outlook currently omits several critical features. These omissions are particularly problematic for enterprises relying on advanced capabilities.
The following categories highlight the most notable gaps:
1. Add-In Support: COM, VSTO, and VBA
Classic Outlook supports powerful desktop add-ins developed using COM, VSTO, or VBA. These add-ins underpin many mission-critical workflows in legal, finance, and healthcare sectors. The new Outlook eschews these entirely, instead offering support for Office web add-ins (Office.js).
While Microsoft argues that Office web add-ins are more secure, scalable, and cross-platform, they also impose limitations:
- No access to full desktop APIs
- Performance constraints for complex operations
- Limited offline functionality
- Reduced ability to manipulate the UI or intercept events
2. On-Premises Exchange Server Compatibility
Microsoft has not formally declared full support for the new Outlook with on-prem Exchange environments. While Exchange Online users are first-class citizens in this new architecture, hybrid or fully on-prem customers are left in a gray area.
This has enormous implications for regulated industries or geographies where data residency, sovereignty, or air-gapping requirements necessitate on-premises hosting.
3. PST and Local Data Archives
Many power users and legacy organizations rely on PST files to archive mail or offload storage from Exchange. The new Outlook does not support importing or accessing PSTs—favoring cloud-based archives through Microsoft Purview or Exchange Online Archiving.
For some users, this breaks long-established backup, retention, or compliance workflows.
4. Calendar and Scheduling Limitations
Advanced calendaring features such as:
- Custom calendar groups
- Delegate access granularity
- Color-coding by rule
- Shared mailbox management
- Offline calendar access
…are either missing or not fully realized in the new Outlook. Given how deeply Outlook’s calendar is woven into executive workflows, this poses a major adoption barrier.
5. Offline Mode and Cached Exchange
Classic Outlook excels at offline functionality through its use of Cached Exchange Mode. This allows users to search, organize, and respond to mail without needing real-time connectivity. The new Outlook, being web-based, currently has limited offline capabilities, and these rely on browser-style local storage, not the robust OST file model.
For mobile workers or those with inconsistent connectivity, this is a tangible downgrade.
The Roadmap Ahead: Feature Development and Transparency
Microsoft has acknowledged these gaps and has committed to expanding the feature set of the new Outlook over time. The Microsoft 365 roadmap and feedback portals reflect active development on several fronts:
- Improved offline functionality (including local caching)
- Expanded calendaring options and meeting templates
- Greater admin control and configuration settings
- Enhanced support for shared mailboxes and folders
- Broader adoption of Microsoft Loop components inside Outlook
However, not all legacy features are guaranteed to return. Microsoft has already signaled that support for COM/VSTO/VBA add-ins will not be added. Instead, customers are encouraged to move toward modern alternatives, such as:
- Office web add-ins via Office.js
- Microsoft Graph API
- Power Automate for workflow orchestration
- Viva Sales for CRM-style integration
The roadmap is therefore a hybrid: some capabilities will be recreated; others will be replaced or eliminated entirely in favor of new paradigms.
Strategic Implications for IT Leaders
Organizations face a difficult balancing act. While Microsoft is giving time, it is also shifting the ground beneath IT departments. Leaders must now:
- Track the evolving roadmap closely – Regularly check for newly released features, especially those critical to your operations.
- Invest in modern app development – Start migrating custom add-ins and automation scripts to cloud-native equivalents.
- Educate business stakeholders – Inform key departments that some legacy behaviors will not return and help them adapt.
- Segment user groups – Keep mission-critical legacy users on classic Outlook while gradually onboarding new hires or cloud-centric teams to the new version.
- Plan for the unknown post-2029 – There is no guarantee of support beyond the current deadline. Build flexibility into long-term strategy.
Microsoft may extend support depending on enterprise demand, but this should not be the foundation of any plan.
OneNote Déjà Vu: A Cautionary Tale
The situation bears remarkable similarity to Microsoft’s attempted overhaul of OneNote. In the late 2010s, the company released a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version of OneNote as its intended replacement for OneNote 2016. However, customer backlash—particularly from educators and heavy note-takers—was swift and sustained.
Eventually, Microsoft backtracked. It restored the classic OneNote for Windows app to active development, rebranded it, and committed to feature parity.
Could the same happen with Outlook?
Possibly—but unlikely.
Unlike the OneNote scenario, Microsoft is investing far more in transforming Outlook into a cloud-first experience. The long support timeline for classic Outlook is a deliberate strategy to allow the new version to mature without pausing its momentum. Rather than a sudden retraction, the current approach resembles a controlled phase-out.
Still, the OneNote saga serves as a warning: user outcry can influence the roadmap, especially if critical business use cases remain unaddressed.
The Post-2029 Outlook: What Lies Beyond?
If classic Outlook does reach end-of-life in 2029, what will that transition look like?
A few plausible scenarios emerge:
Scenario 1: Full Feature Parity Achieved
In this optimistic view, Microsoft successfully reimplements most of classic Outlook’s core functionality. Add-in vendors complete migrations, and new APIs replicate legacy behaviors. By 2029, switching to the new Outlook is nearly frictionless.
This is possible, especially if Microsoft prioritizes enterprise needs and commits resources to rebuilding lost capabilities. However, it will require constant pressure from enterprise customers.
Scenario 2: Partial Parity with Redefined Workflows
More realistically, Microsoft may replicate the most common 80% of features but intentionally omit niche or outdated behaviors. Organizations must then adapt, abandon certain workflows, or adopt adjacent Microsoft services.
This forces cultural change—but can be managed with proper planning.
Scenario 3: Extended Support for Classic Outlook (Unannounced)
If enough customers demand it, Microsoft may continue offering classic Outlook under extended support, similar to Windows LTSC editions. This might come with restrictions: no new features, no compatibility guarantees, and a higher price tag.
This is a wild card—but enterprise pressure has influenced Microsoft in the past.
Scenario 4: Third-Party Forks or Alternatives
If Microsoft fully sunsets classic Outlook, a market could emerge for independent developers to create Outlook-compatible front-ends, especially for Exchange on-prem. This is speculative but technically feasible.
That said, few vendors have the resources to replicate Outlook’s breadth of functionality and Exchange integration.
What Enterprises Should Do Now
Rather than gamble on what 2029 will bring, organizations can take concrete steps today to position themselves for success:
- Start dual-path planning: Run classic and new Outlook in parallel. Understand what is essential and what is optional.
- Define a business continuity plan: Identify what would break if classic Outlook disappeared tomorrow. Begin solving those issues.
- Invest in staff training: Familiarize users with the new interface and tools like Microsoft Loop, Teams integration, and modern add-ins.
- Budget for add-in redevelopment: Migrating from COM/VSTO to Office.js is not trivial. Allocate time and money for this evolution.
- Keep communication open with Microsoft: Join preview programs, submit feedback, and advocate for necessary features.
Conclusion:
The sun has not yet set on classic Outlook, but it is inching closer to the horizon. Microsoft’s roadmap is deliberate, gradual, and resolute: cloud-native, streamlined, and interconnected experiences are the future.
The new Outlook for Windows will eventually be the only Outlook. Whether it reaches the heights of its predecessor—or carves a new identity altogether—will depend on Microsoft’s execution and enterprise engagement.
Organizations that begin preparing now—investing in compatibility, training, and forward-looking workflows—will weather the transition far better than those who delay.
Change is inevitable. Preparedness is optional. Choose wisely.