Microsoft has unveiled a new Teams layout for chats and channels to bolster collaboration and productivity.
Microsoft has redesigned the chat and channels experience, consolidating chats, teams, and channels into one unified space under Chat. This integration aims to streamline Teams users' digital workspace, making accessing, triaging, and organising conversations easier.
Jeff Teper, President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms at Microsoft, wrote in an announcement blog:
We’re thrilled to announce the next step in our journey to shape the future of collaboration with the introduction of the new chat and channels experience. This new experience is designed to help you collaborate more efficiently and effectively. It’s simple by default, enabling everyone to stay on top of what matters, and it’s powerful on demand, allowing you to organize information and communicate your way."
The new chat and channels layout will be available for public preview in November. The capability will be available for Teams' desktop, mobile, iOS, and Android apps.
More Specifics On The New Layout
Upon launch, Microsoft promises users will benefit from a self-service, guided onboarding flow that helps them discover and configure the new experience to their preferences. For those who prefer to keep chat and channels separate, Microsoft says this option is available during onboarding or can be adjusted anytime without IT assistance.
Microsoft outlines that the new "@mentions" view ensures that messages directed at each user are accessible in one place, preventing important conversations from being overlooked.
Additionally, new filters allow users to focus on what’s important now, such as unread messages in chats or channels, while excluding muted conversations or meeting chats. Copilot meeting recap intends to allow users to rapidly catch up on meeting chats asynchronously at their convenience.
The new chat and channels experience in Teams aims to allow users to tailor their work environment to their specific needs. With custom sections, Microsoft says users can consolidate all relevant conversations on a project or topic into one place, whether in chats, channels, meetings, or even involve Teams bots or AI agents.
