Enhancing Collaboration For Remote Work – What’s New With Microsoft Teams? 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the entire world has taken a big leap towards remote working. Communication via online platforms is the new normal, and virtual collaboration seems to be the future in the workplace. 

Microsoft Teams has responded to this shift. The platform has evolved with the times to accommodate this new era of remote work, education, and communication. The aim here is to make virtual interactions more engaging and connected, more inclusive, and better streamlined in terms of productivity.

Making Meetings More Connected, Engaging, and Streamlined

Together Mode

Together Mode uses clever AI technology to place all of the different participants in a meeting into a shared background. This makes it feel like you are all sitting together in the same room, creating a more inclusive meeting. 

Not only does this make everyone feel more connected through the illusion of being together, but it also makes it easier to keep up with the meeting and who is speaking. 

Reflect Messaging Extension

The new reflect messaging extension on Microsoft Teams is all about checking in with employee wellbeing. This extension allows managers to check in with their staff through running polls and anonymous questions. This can help to build a more connected and happier team. 

Dynamic View

This is another new AI-enhanced view feature on Microsoft Teams. The Dynamic View allows you to personalize the view layout in meetings. This can be chosen from a number of different options in order to suit the environment. 

Filters

Microsoft Teams also comes with a new range of filters to adjust your appearance on screen. This can allow you to approach your meetings with more confidence and personality. 

Chat Bubbles

Teams can now open separate chat windows to jump into the discussion. Chat bubbles make it easier to communicate different ideas and allow for more complete participation. 

Live Reactions

Through the use of emojis, participants can now react during meetings. This allows the speaker to better gauge reactions from everyone in the meeting without anyone disrupting the flow. It also allows all participants to show their thoughts instantly and engage easier at a live pace. 

Tasks App

Having a to-do list at the ready is a great way of streamlining workflow. This new feature provides a unified view of tasks across Microsoft programs. This allows for better organization and more efficient planning. 

Other Features

Beyond the notable features listed above, Microsoft Teams is engaging with users in a number of other ways which incldues the addition of these extra features:

• Microsoft whiteboard updates
• Interactive meetings for 1000 participants and overflow
• Speaker attribution for live captions and transcripts
• Suggested replies
• Cortana in teams
• Microsoft teams displays
• Touchless meeting experiences

Final Thoughts

Microsoft Teams has taken the new world of remote working very seriously in order to develop a completely engaging and inclusive application. The new features of this software allow for a reinvented experience of virtual meetings and remote communication and collaboration.

To learn more on how Microsoft Teams can help your team and your business thrive, contact one of our MicroAge locations to talk with our experts.