Leading technology and communications company, Microsoft, recently announced that they would be bringing the Microsoft Kaizala app into the Microsoft Teams portfolio.
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The Microsoft Kaizala solution offers a messaging experience, a lot like WhatsApp, which is intended to help companies make the most of interaction with Firstline workers. Available in both paid and free versions, Microsoft Kaizala comes with the opportunity to connect with anyone, using a multi-directory open strategy.
The question is, with Microsoft Teams already offering features like instant chat, mobile applications, and even Shifts for Firstline workers, why do we need a Kaizala integration at all? Is this just Microsoft rolling out a handful of the same features and giving the tool a different name?
Let's try to get to the bottom of it.
What is Microsoft Kaizala?
Microsoft Kaizala is the Office 365 app for firstline workers, brought to us by Microsoft Garage. Essentially, it's designed to empower employees by giving them access to the tools they need to connect with their team members and manage their schedules. Sound familiar?
On the surface, Kaizala does seem very similar to Microsoft Teams. It gives companies the options to manage groups just like they would on Teams, and message their colleagues. You can also gather useful analytics through Kaizala about your workforce, and access Office 365 applications - just as you would with Teams.
Kaizala has been very popular in India since its inception in 2016. That's because it can work on a low bandwidth - making it excellent for people who don't have access to high-speed internet. While people do seem to like the functionality that they get on Kaizala, a lot of customers are left question how it's any different from what they can already access on Teams?
Microsoft Kaizala vs. Microsoft Teams Shifts
The most obvious overlap between Kaizala and Teams comes with the arrival of the "Shifts" tool for Microsoft Teams. Kaizala has always worked very similarly to StaffHub (the previous name for Shifts), providing first line workers with an intuitive interface for group communication, schedule management, and time sheets.
While Shifts is very similar to Kaizala, by bringing shift management into Teams, it's worth noting that the two apps aren't exactly the same. One thing worth noting is that the way you use the two apps is different. When you sign into Kaizala with Microsoft, you register a phone number - just like you would with WhatsApp. You don't need to remember a password or username, and you don't have to log-in every day. You can also sign into the Pro version of Kaizala to access your Office 365 resources.
The "open directory" approach to Kaizala means that it's much easier for companies to give contractors and temporary employees access to the services that they need. It's also easier to enable services for first-line workers who might not have a corporate email account, work computer, or smartphone. Ultimately, Shifts is more about giving support to your in-office long-term employees through Microsoft Teams. Kaizala takes a more flexible approach.
How Kaizala Supplements Microsoft Teams
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Lori Wright[/caption]
