What is Microsoft Loop, and how will it transform your company’s collaboration strategy? Loop, the co-creation app for Microsoft 365 users, was introduced at Microsoft Ignite in 2021. It was described as the “next big breakthrough” for the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, giving employees in any environment a collaborative hub for efficient digital workflows.
This co-creation platform works similarly to competing tools like Notion, giving users a digital hub to import, manage, and organize projects and documents. However, unlike competing solutions, Microsoft Loops is deeply integrated with the rest of the Microsoft 365 stack, giving users new opportunities to interact across Word, Outlook, Teams, and more.
At Ignite 2023, Microsoft announced Loop would now be generally available to consumers and businesses with specific licenses on the web and a mobile app. Here’s everything you need to know about Microsoft Loop, its benefits, and how it works.
What is Microsoft Loop? The Basics
So, what is Microsoft Loop exactly? On a basic level, Microsoft Loop is a collaboration and co-creation app similar to Notion. It’s the result of years of research and work conducted by the Microsoft team to boost the productivity of hybrid and remote workers.
Microsoft created Loop to convert the graphs, tables, lists, and other assets in Office documents into collaborative, dynamic blocks of content that can exist anywhere. The main interface for the app looks similar to the Notion Workspace app. However, Loop isn’t just a “Notion copy.”
It’s a comprehensive toolkit infused with the Microsoft 365 app and Microsoft’s latest Copilot AI tools. It can help users organize and collaborate on documents, align team members, and manage workflows more effectively. According to Microsoft, this is crucial when 64% of employees struggle to find the time and energy to work effectively.
In fact, around two-thirds of business decision-makers believe problems in the workplace are caused by issues with a lack of team cohesion. Loop opens the door to a new way of working, combining generative AI with intuitive tools for productivity.
The Building Blocks of Microsoft Loop
To answer the question: “What is Microsoft Loop?” we need to take a closer look at the components that make up the Loop experience. Loop is a co-creation and collaboration app that brings teams together through three solutions: Loop Components, Loop Pages, and Loop Workspaces.
What are Microsoft Loop Components?
Microsoft Loop Components, accessible in Teams chat, Outlook emails, Whiteboards, and other environments through the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, allow users to copy elements into different tools for collaboration. For instance, a user can create a Loop table component in Microsoft Teams and share it with other users via email.
When a user updates that component, the changes will sync across Teams and email. Components range from notes and tablets to advanced tools like customer profiles from Dynamics 365. Microsoft also includes a “status tracker” in Loop. This allows users to update the status of projects dynamically, keeping team members aligned.
Users can include Loop components in virtually any aspect of the Microsoft ecosystem, including chat, meetings, documents, and meetings. This means you can utilize the functionality of each component without having to open another app or page.
What are Microsoft Loop Workspaces?
Microsoft Loop Workspaces are the core “hub” for team collaboration in Loop. They’re dynamic virtual spaces where users can group and share related pages. Users can create workspaces on the homepage of the Loop app, give it a specific name, and fill it with Loop Pages.
Workspaces make it easier for employees to stay informed about the progress of projects, access relevant documents and data, and work collaboratively. The Loop app even notifies other team members when someone @mentions them in a workspace. Plus, it offers insights into when team members are available or online.
Loop Workspaces and their data are stored in a container within the Syntex repository service, which will soon be integrated with SharePoint Premium. They also come with content permissions and access controls to help ensure governance and compliance in a collaborative environment.
What are Microsoft Loop Pages?
Loop Pages are canvases within the Loop app that can be added to your Workspace and shared with other team members. They allow companies to unite people and assets, such as data, tasks, and links to streamline workflows.
Loop pages can grow and scale with your business and can be shared across Microsoft 365 apps as a link or a component. Adding pages to Workspaces is as simple as clicking the “add page” button in your Workspace dashboard. From there, you can start entering elements into a page, such as progress trackers, checklists, tables, headings, and images.
Users can also transform any element in a Loop page into a component and @mention coworkers within documents. There’s also the option to use existing templates provided by Microsoft to create pages for specific purposes, such as onboarding or project planning.
What is Microsoft Loop Used For? Features and Use Cases
So, what is Microsoft Loop useful for in today’s workplace? Since Microsoft introduced the “public preview” version of Loop a couple of years ago, it has been actively working on improving the business experience. The tech giant has introduced various new features and capabilities based on customer feedback.
For instance, users can now include “code blocks” on Loop pages in various languages. Plus, Loop now supports markdown for page formatting. Microsoft also introduced new Loop page templates in Microsoft Create and the option to design branded templates to share with teams.
There are even options to make Workspaces and Pages more dynamic with videos from Stream and YouTube. Users can even record their own video directly within a Loop canvas.
Here are just some of the things you can do with Microsoft Loop:
Enhancing Collaboration and Meetings with Loop
Initially, users asking, “What is Microsoft Loop?” weren’t sure if the solution was intended to replace Microsoft Teams. However, Loop is intended to enhance the collaborative experiences Microsoft users have on Teams and via other apps.
Microsoft developed Loop during the pandemic to help bridge the gaps between hybrid teams. It features a range of solutions to help bring employees together. For instance, “Collaborative notes” allow users to co-create agendas, take notes, and track tasks in a Loop component.
Microsoft recently introduced new Copilot AI features into the “Collaborative Notes” function. This allows Copilot to automatically generate notes throughout a meeting, capturing key topics and adding suggested action items.
Users can even prompt Copilot to note specific content, such as quotes from a particular person. Microsoft says only one team member will need a Copilot license to access this functionality starting in 2024. Users will also be able to create new Loop workspaces after a meeting, with the content from that conversation already pre-entered into the space.
Unlocking Productivity with Copilot in Microsoft Loop
Speaking of Copilot, the generative AI assistant can now assist employees with various tasks and workflows within Loop. The AI assistant can help users collaboratively create prompts to use with Copilot in other Microsoft 365 apps. Plus, the toolkit can help users:
- Create Loop pages based on intention: Users can explain the purpose of a page to Copilot using natural language and build templates instantly. Plus, the app can modify existing templates or adapt pages to suit different use cases.
- Generate tablets: Copilot in Microsoft Loop can generate tables to add structure to project plans and places. You can ask the tool to create a table for tracking a project’s schedule, then immediately add it to your Workspace. Plus, you can tell Copilot to populate the table with data from your other Microsoft assets.
- Summarize content: Like other versions of Microsoft 365 Copilot, the Loop app can summarize the content of a page in seconds. It can pull action items and topics from large volumes of data and transform insights into components you can share with others.
It’s also possible to use Copilot to ask open-ended questions about content on a page, rewrite existing content, or ask for suggestions for code blocks in the programming language of your choice. Copilot even makes it easy to share work with teammates by creating a recap summary showing the changes you made to a page. Plus, you can attach files to Copilot Conversations to give the generative AI app a better insight into your content.
Optimizing Teams and Workflows with AI
Copilot functionality isn’t the only example of AI in Loop today. According to Microsoft, public preview users of Loop struggled to keep users up-to-date on fast-moving content. The tech giant has introduced new AI functionality into the ecosystem to address this.
For instance, Loop can use AI to give users clarity on the progress and development of a project. The system can automatically generate “workspace status updates.” This allows users to track progress made by team members and find out what’s happened recently in minutes.
Progress summaries can highlight the latest team activities, such as completed tasks, upcoming deadlines, progress label changes, and more. Plus, users can share the status with other users in apps like Teams and Outlook.
Plus, a new Power Automate integration for Loop allows users to create new rules for tables. These rules can ensure employees are notified whenever changes are made to their assets.
Organizing and Sharing Information
As mentioned above, Microsoft Loop allows users to enjoy limitless co-creation capabilities. You can share components, workspaces, and pages with employees through various Microsoft apps. Microsoft is also working on enabling sharing capabilities for teams outside your company.
This means you can use a simple “share button” to invite someone to a workspace and control what they can do in the environment. Loop workspaces can now be managed using your Cloud Polices, enhanced with eDiscovery features, and preserved with Microsoft Purview settings.
As a bonus, Microsoft Loop ensures teams can stay organized anywhere and everywhere. You can manage projects with Loop using a “table of contents” and create collapsible sections for different components. Plus, you can duplicate Loop pages to create different versions.
Microsoft even introduced the Loop mobile app while announcing general availability for the web version. This means users can access their Loop capabilities on any device.
What Does Microsoft Loop Work With? App Integrations
Part of what separates Microsoft Loop from competitors like Notion is the deep integration with other Microsoft 365 tools. Loop works seamlessly with:
- Microsoft Teams: Users can share Loop components in Teams channels, allowing users to share project elements with team members instantly. Users can access and edit components within Teams chats. A new “whiteboard component” will enable users to sketch charts and illustrate projects in Whiteboard for Teams and other apps.
- OneNote: Employees accessing OneNote for daily organization and productivity can now access components within this environment. Adding components to OneNote is as simple as copying and pasting the resources you need from Loop.
- Planner: Team members accessing the updated Microsoft Planner can access a dedicated Planner component in Loop. You can manage project tasks and materials in one place without leaving your Loop Workspace.
- Third-party tools: With Loop, users can add data from GitHub, Jira, Trello, and even Figma-embedded links into their pages and workspaces. Microsoft also works with partners, like Zoho and ServiceDesk, to add new integrations.
Getting Started with Microsoft Loop
Now you know the answer to “What is Microsoft Loop?” you might be wondering how to start using it. As of November 2023, Loop is available for all customers with Microsoft 365 Standard and Premium subscriptions and E3 and E5 plans.
You’ll need to download the mobile app to access the solution on iOS or Android, or you can start experimenting with Loop on the web by clicking on this link.
If you need inspiration to help you make the most of the Loop ecosystem, Microsoft has shared some fantastic template options here.
