It’s Time to Make the Most of Microsoft Teams

Remote work and distributed teams have now become the new reality. It’s a cliché to say that companies need to adapt, but they have little to no choice. As a result of this context, many still struggle to find immediate solutions and foster hybrid environments of working and learning. 

But in the midst of growing uncertainty, some opportunities arise. Competition between collaboration platforms reached its peak and Microsoft Teams seems to be leading the pack. It is currently one of the most complex apps on the market, designed for a user experience that goes beyond meetings or chatting. As a result, it’s no wonder that it reached 75 million active users in April 2020.

Microsoft Teams: How It All Started

Microsoft Teams was launched in November 2016, when Microsoft integrated the new tool into its complex Office 365 services suite. From the beginning, its primary role was to bring global teams around in a common space where they can easily work together, even if they do not share the same place physically. 

It anticipated all needs, from document collaboration to one on one chats, team calls, and much more. Its core capabilities revolve around its chat and hub features.

Not to mention, it’s integrated with other Office 365 services, like SharePoint, Exchange, and Yammer.

Microsoft Teams — Top Features

Microsoft Teams was built around the needs of today’s diverse workforce. As we witness the emergence of new organizational structures, we need a communication exchange that allows users to get things done — faster. It provides distributed teams with a digital environment that integrates all work-related elements and keeps everybody connected. 

Being part of the Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Group, the data and communications are accessible through Microsoft Graph and Office 365 centralized governance and management console. Because it belongs to a powerful platform, it brings access to more than just one solution. No wonder that during the lockdown, Microsoft Teams surpassed Zoom from February to June in terms of user growth.

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• Complete Meeting Experience and Sharp Scheduling

The main concern for businesses today is to continually keep track and connect with their teams, as well as their clients. In Microsoft Team, you have a full view of scheduled meetings, the subject, the timing, and a list of attendance. 

We also have to mention major innovations introduced in the mid-summer of 2020. The Together mode reproduces a virtual environment such as a conference room or even a café. More layouts and scenes were added later in September, all for the purpose of making the meetings more engaging or relaxing. What is more, real-time noise suppression was added to help reduce distractions. 

• Mobile Audio and Video Calling

As mentioned, Microsoft Teams is actually built for different types of workplaces, not just for those office-based. Remember frontline employees? Retail staff, hospital personnel, and field technicians have been a growing focus spot for Microsoft. So the app is available on both Android and iOS (audio only), providing a simple and easy-to-use configuration that helps teams chat via text, voice conversation, or video meeting. 

Many people rely more and more on mobile devices. That’s why Teams introduced Shifts, a scheduling app that manages shifts, and Kaizala, a simple messaging app similar to WhatsApp but with an enterprise security layer.

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• Productivity All the Way

No less than approximately 24 bots with various functions are at your disposal to increase productivity. A bot that answers basic and frequently asked questions about Teams, one polling co-workers, or one that helps you give kudos to your co-workers.

Real-time messaging isn’t the only top feature for Microsoft Teams. Users can work simultaneously on documents within the platform. At this point, the power of the Microsoft 365 services suite offers the key advantage – you have all the tools you need in one place. 

The time spent juggling between apps disappears and users can co-edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other files. The documents are stored on OneDrive with easy access. If you haven’t tried it yet, know that teams can sync with your Outlook calendars and bring in one place your meeting schedule.

And this is not all. Tasks were launched as a Teams-dedicated replacement for Planner, combining the functionality of both the Planner and To-Do apps. Tasks help track work, both individual and team-based. It can assign tasks and monitor progress, including Kanban-style cards.

Another addition is Lists, which combines database and spreadsheet features to manage information to plan events, track recruitment, or help onboard new employees.

Improved Security

Since everything moved online, every business is even more exposed to data breaches. The good news is that security is another area where Microsoft Teams gives you peace of mind, setting you a step ahead of your competitors. Teams and other Office 365 services are compliant with standards including ISO 27001, SOC 2 HIPAA, and the EU Model Clauses. 

Microsoft Teams is also a part of Microsoft’s global network of data centers declared as a transparent operational model. Your account is supplied within Office 365 and managed via the Admin console. The latest security capabilities will soon make Microsoft Teams stand out on the market. The company called Teams the fastest growing business app in its history, due to its peak growth in April 2020.

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Customize It to Your Needs

A customizable app is a common requirement today. The business models vary so much, so users need a tool that can be tailored to the cultural and organizational model they work in. With Microsoft Teams, you have a platform with extensibility options and open APIs. And with support from Microsoft’s Bot Framework, your organization will be able to create and customize the applications and other smart services to integrate with Microsoft Teams.

Why Does Your Business Need Microsoft Teams?

Above all, organizations nowadays need tools that are centered around users. And users need an intuitive interface and sophisticated functionalities. And Microsoft Teams ticks all the boxes. It’s classic, but it also allows users to get work done. As a result, the tool reached 115 million users in October 2020.

And the best part is that it’s connected to a larger services hub with high-security layers and a wide range of third-party integrations. Even more, for those that like to do it their way, the Teams’ developer platform enables developers to create or integrate their own internal apps.

If you want to give your business the chance to have the Microsoft Teams experience, we are here to help. Leave us a message.