If you missed Microsoft Ignite from March 2-4, 2021, then you’ve come to the right place. Microsoft hosted their annual developers and IT professionals conference last week and there’s a lot to be excited about!
Here are our favourite announcements that’ll enhance the new modern, hybrid workplace.
New Microsoft Teams Features
Better meetings
Microsoft announced a laundry list of new features to further enhance collaboration and knowledge management in Teams. You’ll be able to optimize meetings with dynamic views and a variety of presenter modes. As well, you can use PowerPoint Live and live reactions in meetings.
Webinars capabilities
Hosting webinars just got a whole lot easier with attendee registration and email confirmations built right into Teams. You can host up to 1,000 attendees with video, voice, presentations, and live reactions. Most importantly, with moderator control! Lastly, view-only attendees will jump from 10,000 to 20,000 at the end of 2021.
Chat and collaboration
Sharing channels with anyone will now be easier with Teams Connect. Other enhancements include Task publishing checklist and editing capabilities, updates to Approvals, and mobile app improvements. If you use Dynamics 365, expect an integrated business process experience coming in April, as well.
Custom development and Power Platform
New features are already in public preview or will be released later this year. Expect Teams interoperability with Azure Communication Services, app customization and branding, additional automation, and more.
These are only a handful of features announced at Ignite. Check out the Ignite article that lists all the new Microsoft Teams features expected to be released later this year. For instance, chat and collaboration, calling, security and compliance, hardware integrations, and custom development.
Read: What’s New in Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Ignite 2021
Microsoft Viva
Work has changed and so have your employees’ needs. Firstly, employees want to feel more connected to their company’s purpose and mission. They want to grow and make a difference. Secondly, your leaders need a modern and efficient way to engage and meet their employees’ needs. Lastly, your IT needs to enable this modern employee experience quickly with ease.
The ensure people stay at the center of work, Microsoft developed the first Employee Experience Platform (EXP), Microsoft Viva.
Viva harnesses the powerful Microsoft 365 tools you already use. It creates an integrated and curated experience for employees right in Teams.
Viva comprises of four modules: Topics, Connections, Insights, and Learning.
- Topics is generally available now.
- Connections will be available for desktop later in March.
- Insights is available for public preview now in the Teams app store, and will begin rolling out in April.
- Learning will be available for public review in April.
Read: Microsoft Viva announcements at Microsoft Ignite
Did you know you can start using Microsoft Viva now? Read our article Why Microsoft Viva Matters and How You Can Take Advantage Now.
Microsoft Mesh
Holographic meetings are here! The biggest jaw-dropping news from Microsoft Ignite was Microsoft Mesh. This new platform, powered by Azure, allows developers to build immersive, multiuser, cross-platform mixed reality apps.
“Microsoft Mesh enables its users to connect with presence, share across space, and collaborate in an immersive way as if they were in person regardless of physical location. Customers can leverage Mesh to enhance virtual meetings, conduct virtual design sessions, assist remotely better, learn together virtually, host virtual social gatherings and meet-ups.”
Read: Microsoft Mesh powers shared experiences in mixed reality
Book of News
If you’re looking for more Microsoft Ignite news, check out the Book of News. To sum up everything, Microsoft compiled all their announcements around Microsoft Azure, Security, Microsoft 365, Power Platform and more for your reading pleasure.
Read: Microsoft Ignite 2021 Book of News
Need help making sense of all this information?
Imaginet is here to help. For over 20 years, Imaginet has helped organizations across the world with their Microsoft technologies. We offer consulting, implementation, customization, custom app development, integration, data analysis, and managed services.
