Microsoft Places Unveiled at Ignite 2022

Microsoft Places is a new workplace application designed to make workspaces hybrid-friendly

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Unified CommunicationsLatest News

Published: October 12, 2022

James Stephen

Technology Journalist

Microsoft has introduced Microsoft Places at Ignite 2022 as a means of optimising workspaces for hybrid working. 

The new app uses intelligence to determine where hybrid working takes place, which it says will lead to “increased connections, engagement and productivity” by bridging virtual and physical spaces. 

Microsoft Ignite is an annual Microsoft conference geared towards IT professionals. It showcases the company’s latest products and services, as well as provides training, insights and networking opportunities. This year, Microsoft Ignite is taking place live from the Seattle Convention Center (Seattle, Washington, USA) on October 12 – 14.

Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365, said: “When spaces have meaning and purpose, they become places. That comes from people gathering, bonding, and sharing an experience together. It’s what makes a house a home—and an office worth coming into.

“Today I’m excited to introduce Microsoft Places, our new connected workplace platform that will reimagine hybrid and in-person work. This platform delivers solutions that coordinate where work happens, modernize the office with intelligent technology, and optimize the workplace for changing needs.

Microsoft Places Features 

Microsoft Places has been created to help plug the gap between in-person and remote work. It has been released to coincide with businesses looking to redesign their workplaces to better serve hybrid workers. 

Here is a list of the Microsoft Places features, which will be coming soon in preview: 

Dashboard view: A dashboard view will be available to display which days co-workers will be working in the office. 

Location indicator: The physical location of co-workers can be seen whether they are at the office, remote or mobile. 

Reservation viewer: It is possible to view the workspaces booked by others to help employees choose where they want to sit. 

Travel schedule: Travel time can be automatically scheduled, and the app can also provide insights and advice on commuting and passing time. 

Navigation help: The app can provide navigation assistance within the office. This will help avoid any confusion or getting lost, which will be particularly useful for guests and hybrid workers who are not so familiar with the office layout.

Hot desk booking: Employees will be able to book the desk they want, perhaps choosing a seat near a colleague they would like to sit next to. When you arrive in your chosen space, Microsoft Places has inclusive features to strengthen co-worker relationships. Serendipitous meet-ups, for example, allow employees to create impromptu meet-ups with one another.

Conference room booking: Conference room bookings can be made using the Microsoft Places app. 

Sentiment insights: Insights and advice can be provided on sentiment towards hybrid policies, allowing managers to ensure best practices. 

Space usage insights: Insights and guidance are also available on space usage, allowing decision-makers to prepare for the future and incorporate flexibility into their workspaces. These insights could include occupancy trends, energy-saving opportunities, and utilisation data.

Microsoft Places Partnerships

Spataro explains the importance of its partnerships to Microsoft Places: “To make sure we’re solving the most pressing challenges about where work happens, we’ve partnered with companies across the Connected Workplace field.

“Our ecosystem of partners will build on top of the Places platform with new and existing solutions, leveraging and enhancing the rich data of the Microsoft Graph.

“We’re proud to partner with industry leaders across all segments of the Connected Workplace market: Experience, Platform, Infrastructure, Environment, and Planning.

“Together with our ecosystem of partners, Microsoft Places will help create holistic and impactful solutions to address the changing workplace needs of our customers.”

Microsoft’s ‘Connected Workplace’ partners include Accenture, Appspace, Avanade, CBRE, Genetic, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, JLL, Kastle, RightCrowd, SwiftConnect, and more.

Click here to view all the Microsoft Teams news from Ignite 2022. You can also check out all the Microsoft Teams news from Ignite last year.

 

 

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