Microsoft has released new updates and capabilities for Microsoft 365 this September to improve user experience and workplace collaboration.
There have been a number of features added to Microsoft Viva and Microsoft Teams Rooms. It has launched a new update to Windows 11 and released its latest Work Trend Index Pulse Report.
Microsoft is also looking forward to the next major event on its calendar, Microsoft Ignite. The conference, which takes place on October 12-14, 2022, will put Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Viva, Windows 365, and Windows 11 on centre stage.
Colette Stallbaumer, General Manager, Microsoft 365 and Future of Work, said: “At Microsoft, we believe that energised, empowered employees are the key to durable competitive advantage for every organisation.
“Just last week, we released a new Work Trend Index Pulse Report with three urgent pivots to help leaders align everyone in the organisation around the most impactful work and help people thrive.
“Microsoft 365 is the integrated, secure, cloud-first solution that enables all the ways people work today—wherever, whenever, and however they work—while simplifying IT and reducing cost and complexity.”
Microsoft Viva
According to Microsoft, Viva has reduced onboarding times by 50 per cent, cut employee attrition by 20 per cent, and increased productivity by 75 per cent. The result has been three times the return on investment.
Managers can now better understand the needs of their teams using a new employee feedback tool called Viva Pulse. The app allows managers to receive feedback from their teams directly into Teams itself.
Viva Amplify is a new app which lets business leaders communicate their message and motivate their workers. It offers message writing guidance, enables publishing across various channels and groups in Microsoft 365, and provides metrics to help improve performance.
Leadership Corner was announced as generally available last month and provided new features for Viva Engage. It enables leaders to strategise with employees, further company initiatives, and resolve employee concerns. The feature encourages open dialogue via news, surveys, Ask Me Anything (AMA) events, and more.
Microsoft Teams Rooms
Microsoft says that over 60 per cent of Fortune 500 companies are already using Microsoft Teams Rooms.
Teams Rooms Pro has been launched, providing innovations and the Teams Rooms managed services platform. Teams Rooms Pro makes paying more straightforward and offers the benefits of its latest hybrid meeting experience and device management. The cost of Teams Rooms Pro is currently $40 per room per month.
Teams Rooms Basic is an option for small business or small Teams Rooms deployments. It offers basic Teams features like whiteboarding, content sharing, joining meetings, and scheduling. Teams Rooms Basic comes free with any purchase of certified Teams Rooms devices on or after September 1, 2022, and includes up to 25 licenses per tenant.
UC Today took a closer look at the new Teams Rooms this month and found the new Teams Rooms packaging is a downgrade for many.
Windows 11 2022 Update
All of the following features will be made available as a free update on new Windows 11 devices, Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PCs.
The first major update to the Windows 11 operating system has been made available this month.
Windows Credential Guard has been added to isolate secrets and make them solely accessible to privileged system software, making it more difficult for attackers to infiltrate your network.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen adds greater phishing protection by locating malicious applications and hacked websites to warn users about poor password management.
Smart App Control stops employees from using malicious applications by blocking unsigned and untrusted applications.
Windows Autopatch reduces endpoint vulnerability by keeping endpoints secure and compliant with auto updates and patches on time, without interruption.
Microsoft Endpoint Manager provides application and driver compatibility insights to help understand the compatibility risks of Windows 11. The Endpoint Manager integrates with Microsoft 365 and Azure to increase employee security and improve the IT admin experience.
Update Compliance will now use Azure Workbooks to provide a simple, more responsive and consistent product.
Windows Studio Effects has been added to improve audio and video calls. It includes features such as Voice Focus to eliminate background noise, Automatic Framing, and Eye Contact to centre and focus your image.
System-wide live captions have been implemented to make it easier to understand speakers when working in a noisy environment and to help those who are hearing impaired or who find it easier to process visual information.
Work Trend Index Pulse Report
The Work Trend Index Pulse Report listed three key pivots that leaders need to make. First, they need to end product paranoia. Second, they need to embrace the fact that people come in to work for each other. Finally, they need to re-recruit their employees.
End Product Paranoia: The majority of employees (87%) reported that they are productive at work, and Microsoft 365’s productivity signals have continued to climb. In spring, the number of meetings per week had increased by 153% for the average Teams users worldwide. In spite of this, 85% of leaders say the shift to hybrid work has made it hard to have confidence that employees are being productive.
Renew Company Expectations: Workers now expect flexibility around when and where they work. 73% of employees say they need a better reason to work in an office than company expectations alone. Connecting with colleagues, however, would motivate 84% of employees to get back to the office. Gen Z and Millenials are the most motivated group to return to the office in order to connect with work friends, as well as senior leadership.
Re-Recruit your Employees: Data shows that employees need to be able to learn and grow, or else they will leave. 76% of employees say they would stay at their company if they received greater learning and development support. The best leaders should not ignore or fight these trends but prioritise learning and development to help both the employee and the business to grow. Younger age groups are particularly aspirational, with 76% of Gen Z and Millenials aiming to be their own boss, compared with 63% of Gen X and older.
Microsoft released its annual work trend index 2022 earlier in the year, which found employees were feeling disconnected and managers believed their leadership was misaligned with employee expectations.
In August, Microsoft released new improvements to Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, OneDrive, SharePoint, Viva Goals, WorkLab Guides, and more.
