Microsoft Office 365 is now called Microsoft 365. Despite the name change, it is still the preferred cloud-based application and has proven itself to be a game changer. As the future of work and education is being reshaped, having a platform that can adapt to rapid changes is key. Microsoft 365 has done an in-depth study over the last several months to find ways to make the new era of remote working more interactive and feel more natural and yes, more normal.
Microsoft 365 is an integrated experience of apps and services, designed to help you grow your business. It is a subscription-based platform that helps merge productivity with efficiency. The solution includes the traditional Office desktop apps (for Windows or Mac) such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, along with a full suite of online services for email, file storage, collaboration meetings,
Office Mobile, Office Web Apps and more. Because the solution is web-based, the applications are regularly updated allowing users to always have the latest version. Many have seen cost savings from switching to a subscription pay model versus the perpetual Microsoft Office license model.
One of the major benefits of Microsoft 365 is Microsoft Teams which AaSys recommends. Microsoft Teams is part of the Office 365 subscription office productivity suite and features extensions that can integrate with non-Microsoft products. The application was designed for businesses, schools and other organizations, allowing individuals
to collaborate virtually. Teams allows several different types of communications such as chat, audio or video calls or channels that have major benefits to your organization, promoting collaboration and a more streamlined workflow.
Now that we are in the COVID-19 era, the need to collaborate is more important than ever before. With remote work now being the only option for some to conduct business, it is crucial to have an effective way to engage with employees. Because of that, Microsoft has added some great new features to Microsoft Teams that make virtual interactions more engaging and ultimately will bring a more human aspect to remote work. Here are a few of the new upgrades to Microsoft Teams.
Together Mode
Together mode is a new meeting experience in Teams that uses AI segmentation technology to digitally place participants in a shared background. The goal is to make everyone in the meeting feel as if they are all sitting in the same room. Together mode makes meetings more engaging allowing participants to focus on other people’s faces and body language and making it easier to pick up on the non-verbal cues that are so important to human interaction. It’s great for meetings in which multiple people will speak, such as brainstorms or roundtable discussions.
Live Reactions
Sometimes it is difficult for participants to see or notice nonverbal cues like smiles and head nods in a online meeting. That can make it difficult for presenters to read his or her audience reactions and for participants in large meetings to share a sentiment without interrupting the meeting flow. Soon, there will be a feature that allows attendees of a virtual Teams meeting to be able to react using emojis that will appear to all participants. Live reactions are already available on PowerPoint Live Presentations and Microsoft plans to bring PowerPoint Live Presentations to Teams in the future!
Microsoft Whiteboard
Visual collaboration tools are always a plus in any meeting or training session. Whiteboard in Teams will soon be updated with new features including faster load times, sticky notes, text, and drag and drop capabilities. These features enable team members who don’t have access to a touchscreen or Surface Hub to participate in whiteboarding sessions during Teams meetings.
Touchless Meeting Experiences
Participants of an online meeting can join a Teams meeting from their Microsoft Teams Room and collaboration bar devices, share content and collaborate using their personal PC or mobile device, without ever having to touch the shared device display. Later this year, Microsoft plans to enable voice assistance for Microsoft Teams Room devices which will allow in-room participants to ask Cortana to join and leave a meeting, add a participant from the address book to a meeting using their name or phone number, and more.
Tasks App
Task app is a more cohesive view of tasks from across Microsoft To Do, Planner, and Outlook. It allows smart task lists to be created and assigned to individuals and can bring tasks together across different platforms, whether a on a desktop, web, or mobile device.
Although these are just a few of the changes, Microsoft is committed to reinvisioning the future of work where everyone is able to contribute and do their best, whether remotely or physically in a shared office. AaSys understands this is a unique time that requires flexibility and patience. Our goal is to help all our customers find solutions that fit your environment and enables you to stay connected and productive. To learn more about Microsoft Teams or Microsoft 365 reach out to your Account Executive today.
