Microsoft’s solution for workplace collaboration, Microsoft Teams recently rolled out the most significant app update since the software was launched in 2017, according to the brand. The aim of the new update is to ensure that users can make the most out of their productivity tools, with simpler integration with third-party offerings and Microsoft Office 365.
Many of the new features are structured for ease of use. For instance, you can search for new apps from the store, where you can browse categories according to integration type, category or name. What’s more, there’s also a dedicated app directory that highlights any tools that currently work with the Teams software.
Personalised Team Performance
Perhaps the most compelling thing about the software update is the fact that it’s designed to focus on the specific needs of a certain team or business. There’s a new “personal space” that displays all the items assigned to an agent in their apps, such as their issues in Jira Cloud, or their tasks in “Planner”. What’s more, you can also see information from apps you recently accessed, too.
Microsoft has also implemented their own app called “Who” which is powered by the Microsoft Graph software and allows users to search through their organisation for people by topic or name. This means that if you need to start a conversation quickly or assign a task to someone in your workforce, you can do it without spending extra time searching through your list of who’s online.
Improving Workplace Conversations
Microsoft seems to be doing its best to prove that Teams is more than just a replacement for Skype. According to a blog post from the company, you can now have a conversation about the content of an app without having to include a hyperlink or screenshot of the information. Instead, you can simply add an interactive card from an app into your chat or channel with one click. Just like you’d send someone an emoji, you can also send them specific data from a task assigned in Trello, or a weather forecast from the Google network.
Aside from the updates to the app and chat features, Microsoft has also updated the command box, ensuring that launching apps is straightforward too. Microsoft is giving users the option to command or query an app from their command box to speed up the process of launching software. This means that you can search for data from an app, then add the result to your chat in a couple of keyboard taps. The process should allow agents to perform more complex tasks in time, too.
The new feature set is rolling out straight away according to Microsoft. While you might not see every improvement at once, it’s safe to say that you’ll have an upgraded Teams experience in no time.
