The benefits of Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Office 365 or M365) cannot be undervalued, and with Microsoft rolling out a range of new features for M365, the capabilities of the suite are sure to be enhanced for the betterment of all businesses. Consequently, staying on top of the newest Microsoft solutions ought to be a top priority for companies.
This article will provide you with a taste of Microsoft’s latest offerings, giving you the knowledge to upgrade your Microsoft Office 365 environment and general processes.
1. Microsoft Teams' Premium add-on
Microsoft Teams Premium—an add-on that adds extra advanced security tools to Microsoft’s collaboration tool—has been recently updated to make customizable team meetings easier to manage. For example, Teams Premium leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to make information easier to retrieve and to improve notetaking capabilities for error-free meeting minutes. At the same time, Teams Premium’s AI can organize meeting recordings based on your actions (known as personalized timeline markers).
Teams Premium’s safety tools deploy robust security measures to make meetings (and the conversations carried out within them) more secure. This includes watermarking and setting restrictions on who can record the meeting. With Teams Premium, you can leverage the benefits of Microsoft 365’s Teams application while making the platform more in line with your organization’s brand. Teams Premium is available now.
2. Bookings with me
Rolling out in May 2023, the ‘Bookings with me’ feature makes it easier for companies to organize critical business meetings, while managing their calendar. This new Microsoft solution is used in Outlook—the company’s cloud-based email client.
With it, you can create and customize time slots that your team members and others can book to arrange meetings that are always in line with your schedule. It also allows external users to book meetings without any hassles. Regardless if you practice remote work or your business is entirely in-office, ‘Bookings with me’ is sure to make the process of organizing meetings much more efficient.
3. Microsoft's Viva Engage Platform
A social and knowledge-sharing tool, Viva Engage gives you and your people access to various outlets for communication and news. Overall, this new feature is designed to strengthen the ties between co-workers in real time, providing staff with an area to communicate and ask questions.
The features of Viva Engage include:
- Ask Me Anything (AMA): Empowers team members to ask questions, raise concerns, and foster open communication. AMAs can support staff from various locations to keep everyone on the same page.
- Leadership Corner: Breaks down gaps between business leaders and employees. Leadership Corner uses the organization's structure and an employee's connections to customize the user experience.
- Answers in Viva: Consolidates company information to help employees (especially new team members) improve their knowledge. It uses a question-and-answer format to give people the ability to submit questions and read responses.
4. Whiteboard loop components
Nowadays, Microsoft Whiteboard allows you to take loop components from other Microsoft solutions (namely M365 programs), place them into a whiteboard, and edit them alongside your team. All alterations are automatically synced for all authorized personnel, ensuring that everyone has the same version of a loop component. With this feature, businesses are sure to streamline their projects and make collaboration easier.
5. Viva Goals: A closed captions tool
Another of Microsoft’s new features for M365, Viva Goals makes it easier for companies to connect their Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) with overall company goals. With this new feature, you can edit, launch, and manage your organization’s OKRs using the Teams platform. Like with many Microsoft solutions, Viva Goals gives you access to analytics that can track your company’s status in relation to its OKR.
Leverage the key benefits of Office 365's new features and solutions with help from Microsoft experts
Microsoft solutions are constantly updated to ensure they provide users with the latest technology advancements and value. M365’s new features are no different, and with Microsoft’s cloud solutions streamlining processes, organizations will be able to maximize their IT investments for a more competitive edge.
But to make sure you leverage Microsoft 365’s new features effectively, you need to have the right configurations and a well-thought-out strategy. The Microsoft 365 experts at Everconnect specialize in upgrading business processes and IT environments with Microsoft 365.
From installing security patches to setting up cloud storage and Internet connections, the Everconnect team can help you make the most of the benefits of Microsoft 365’s new features for a more efficient and productive business.
