Endpoint management has changed a lot over the last two decades. There was a time when companies housed all endpoints in the same place. This made managing them simpler. However, it held offices back from being mobile and flexible.
Today’s office can include endpoints around the globe. Remote teams can work from anywhere and people often prefer doing things from their mobile devices (such as checking email or managing tasks).
The average enterprise endpoint makeup is 60% mobile devices and it is estimated that they handle about 80% of the workload. What does this mean for security? It means that an endpoint device management solution has become a necessity.
One that might be on your radar is the new Microsoft Intune Suite. It bundles several areas of endpoint management into a single platform.
Wondering whether it is worth taking the plunge and upgrading? Stick around as we break down the what, why and how of this cloud-based management solution.
What is Microsoft Intune Suite?
What is Microsoft Intune? It is a software tool that helps you manage your company's devices and apps all in one place. Whether your employees use PCs, Macs, smartphones or tablets, Intune has your back.
So, what is the deal with the upgrade? Microsoft has been hard at work improving Intune. The latest version brings some exciting new features to the table.
The core capabilities of Microsoft Intune include:
- Cross-platform endpoint management
- Built-in endpoint security
- Mobile application management
- Endpoint analytics
- Microsoft Configuration Manager
Here is a comparison of the subscription options you now have with Intune:
- Microsoft Intune Plan 1: Microsoft Intune core capabilities are included with various subscriptions (Microsoft 365 E3, E5, F1, and F3; Enterprise Mobility + Security E3 and E5 and Business Premium plans).
- Microsoft Intune Plan 2: An add-on to Microsoft Intune Plan 1. It offers advanced endpoint management capabilities.
- Microsoft Intune Suite: An add-on to Microsoft Intune Plan 1. Includes:
- Plan 2 features
- Microsoft Intune Remote Help
- Microsoft Intune Endpoint Privilege Management
- Microsoft Tunnel for Mobile Application Management
- Management of specialty devices
- Select Microsoft Intune advanced endpoint analytics features.
Advantages of Subscribing
Should you subscribe or upgrade to the suite? Before you rush in, let us consider some key factors to help you decide if it is the right move for your business. First the advantages of subscribing.
Streamlined Device Management
We all know how chaotic device management can get. With the new Intune Suite, you get a centralized dashboard. It gives you full control over your devices.
You can set up policies and enforce security measures. You can even wipe data remotely if needed. Plus, it is compatible with both Windows and macOS. You won’t need to worry about compatibility issues.
Provide Secure Helpdesk Support
Keep your employees productive by giving them help when they need it. Intune Suite includes Microsoft Intune Remote Help. This feature allows you to deliver simple and secure help to your team anywhere and at any time.
The platform reinforces a Zero Trust security model. It also enables fast responses to issues. You can address employee device roadblocks no matter where your team is working.
Enhanced Security and Compliance
Data breaches and cyberattacks are real threats to businesses of all sizes. With Intune's advanced security features, you can breathe a little easier. It offers robust encryption and secure access controls including the ability to quarantine risky devices.
Do you deal with sensitive information or have compliance requirements? Intune has got you covered with its auditing and reporting capabilities.
App Management Made Easy
Applications are the lifeblood of modern businesses and Intune understands that. With its app management features, you can do a lot including easily deploying, updating and retiring applications across all devices.
Intune keeps everyone organized and on the same page whether your team is using Microsoft 365 apps or third-party software.
BYOD-Friendly
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies have become a popular trend in the corporate world. If your company is open to BYOD, Intune can be a game-changer. It enables you to separate personal and corporate data on employee devices. This helps ensure that sensitive company information remains secure.
The Intune Suite includes Microsoft Tunnel for Mobile App Management. This lightweight VPN solution connects corporate resources from personal iOS and Android devices. Device enrollment is not required. Employees can have quick and secure access to company resources when needed.
Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness
As your business grows, so do your tech needs. Thankfully, Intune scales effortlessly and accommodates new devices and users without breaking a sweat. It also operates on a subscription-based model so it allows you to pay for only what you need. No more hefty upfront costs. Just a predictable monthly fee.
What Do You Need to Consider?
Those are some pretty compelling reasons to consider Microsoft Intune Suite. Let us take a moment to address some potential downsides that you need to consider as well.
Learning Curve
One common concern is the learning curve. If your team uses a different management solution, they might need some time to get the hang of Intune. Luckily, we can help you with training and support to ensure a smooth shift.
Do You Have Legacy Systems?
Does your business rely on legacy systems or run a large number of on-premises servers? Integrating Intune into your existing setup may take some extra effort. It is essential to assess your current infrastructure and compatibility requirements before diving in.
Improve Security & Operations by Properly Managing Endpoints
Upgrading to the new Microsoft Intune Suite could be a game-changer for your business. It is crucial to carefully evaluate your specific needs. We can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your unique business goals.
Give us a call today to schedule a chat.
In today's digital workplace, printing remains an essential function. This is true for just about all businesses. Keeping up with your print infrastructure can be a time-consuming task. One printer down can mean work comes to a standstill.
Another issue is keeping up with all those printer drivers. If firmware updates are not done, vulnerabilities exist. One unprotected printer can cause an entire network malware infection.
Microsoft has come up with an answer to streamline print management. This solution is called Microsoft Universal Print. It offers a modern answer to age-old print problems.
Looking to improve how you handle document printing? Do you wish you could avoid printer problems? We will explore the benefits and features of Microsoft Universal Print. We will also help you discover how it can enhance your printing environment.
What Can Microsoft Universal Print Do for You?
Microsoft Universal Print leverages the power of Microsoft 365 and Azure. It eliminates the need for complex on-premises print infrastructure. Here are some of the ways that it can improve your document handling.
Simplifying Print Management
Universal Print eliminates the need for on-premises print servers. Print management becomes more simplified and all in one place. Organizations can centrally manage their printing needs from the cloud.
This ease of use removes the need for complex print server configurations as well as driver installations and print queue management. This results in significant time and cost savings.
Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365
A key advantage of Universal Print is its seamless integration with Microsoft 365. It works in tandem with Azure Active Directory. This ensures a secure and authenticated printing experience for users.
This integration allows users to print from any device (whether it is a Windows PC, Mac or mobile device). There is no need for complex setup or driver installations. It simplifies the printing process. It also enhances productivity for employees working across different platforms.
Flexibility and Scalability
With Microsoft Universal Print, organizations gain flexibility and scalability in their print activities. It supports both modern and legacy printers. This allows businesses to leverage their existing printer fleet.
Universal Print enables easy connectivity. This is true whether it is a local printer or a network printer as well as if it is managed through the cloud. Additionally, it offers centralized control and monitoring of printers. This makes it effortless to scale up or down based on business needs.
Streamlined Printer Deployment
Deploying printers across an organization can be a time-consuming task. Microsoft Universal Print simplifies this process. It does this by providing a centralized portal for printer management.
Administrators can easily add and configure printers. They can assign them to specific users or groups as well as manage printer settings from a single interface. This eliminates the need for manual configuration on individual devices which can be very time-consuming and fraught with issues. It also ensures a consistent printing experience across the organization.
Enhanced Security and Compliance
A big benefit of using Universal Print is its security capabilities. Print security is a critical concern for businesses (especially in today's threat landscape). Microsoft Universal Print enhances security by leveraging Azure Active Directory. It is used for authentication and access control.
It also supports secure print release. This means that sensitive documents are only printed under certain circumstances. This is often when the authorized user is physically present at the printer.
Universal Print also integrates with Microsoft Endpoint Manager. This gives organizations even more capabilities. They can enforce security policies and manage print-related settings from a centralized location.
Insights and Analytics
Understanding print usage and optimizing print infrastructure is essential for efficient cost management. Microsoft Universal Print provides insights and analytics that help organizations gain visibility. They are able to see print usage patterns as well as track printing costs and identify opportunities for optimization.
With detailed reporting and analytics, businesses can make informed decisions. Reporting enables better print resource allocation as well as the implementation of strategies to reduce printing costs.
Is Microsoft Universal Print for You?
Microsoft Universal Print offers a modern and efficient approach to print management. It streamlines the printing experience for organizations. It also eliminates the need for complex on-premises print infrastructure. There are also important benefits from the boost in security.
But is it for you?
We can help you understand the full capabilities of Microsoft Universal Print. This includes the costs versus the benefits. Whether the solution is for you will depend on your printing needs. Extra factors to consider will be how often you print and your number of endpoints.
Get Cost-Efficient Technology Answers
It is not easy to make software decisions on your own. That is why we are here to help! We can sit down with you to discuss your current infrastructure. We will help you evaluate solutions like Microsoft Universal Print. Then we will tell you straight up what makes the most sense for you.
Give us a call today to chat about your technology needs.
Advanced AI is a new buzzword in cloud computing. The launch of tools like ChatGPT and Bard have made big waves. Developers are now racing to introduce the next level of features to apps. They contain features that do part of your work for you like writing emails or making follow-up checklists based on contact data.
These AI-based applications do much more than automate processes. People are using them to write business correspondence, create websites and write scripts. AI is also quickly transforming the everyday office workflow.
Microsoft is one of the biggest players in the office application field. It is at the forefront of introducing transformative technology. The company is about to transform Microsoft 365 in a huge way with its new Copilot tool.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a new tool designed to help users get the most out of their Microsoft 365 apps. This revolutionary tool is an intelligent and personalized assistant. It is designed to help users navigate and use M365 more efficiently.
In this article, we will take a closer look at Microsoft 365 Copilot and tell you the key ways that it is going to improve M365 apps and your business workflows.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered assistant. It helps users with their day-to-day tasks in M365 apps. It is like having a personal assistant right in your Office apps. Users can ask questions, get help with tasks and receive personalized recommendations. Copilot responds leveraging the context of their usage patterns.
Microsoft 365 Copilot works across all M365 apps. This includes:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- Teams
Whether you are doing any number of tasks, Microsoft 365 Copilot is there to assist you. This includes working on a document, meeting scheduling or collaborating with a team.
How Does Microsoft 365 Copilot Work?
Microsoft 365 Copilot uses AI and machine learning to understand users' needs. It provides personalized help. It uses data from users' interactions with M365 apps. It learns a user's usage patterns and offers recommendations based on their preferences.
For example, say you frequently use certain features in Excel. Microsoft 365 Copilot will learn this. It will offer suggestions when it detects that you're working on a similar task.
Say that you are working on a presentation in PowerPoint and struggling with design. Microsoft 365 Copilot can offer design suggestions based on your company's brand guidelines.
Microsoft 365 Copilot can also help users with common tasks like scheduling meetings and managing emails. Users can simply ask Copilot for help. They can ask it to schedule a meeting or find an email from a specific person and Copilot will take care of the rest.
Why is Microsoft Copilot Important?
Copilot is important because it can help users be more productive and efficient. By providing personalized support, the tool can save users time and reduce frustration.
Imagine you are working on a report in Word and you are struggling to format a table. Instead of spending time searching for a solution online or trying to figure it out on your own, you can simply ask Microsoft 365 Copilot for help. Copilot can offer suggestions. It can even walk you through the process which will save you time and reduce frustration.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is also important because it can help users get more out of their M365 apps. Many users may not be aware of all the features and capabilities of their M365 apps. Copilot can help users discover new ways to work more efficiently and effectively.
The capabilities of Copilot go even further. Say that you need to give your team an update on a marketing strategy. You won’t need to dig out emails, chat threads or meeting notes. Instead, you can ask Copilot to “tell my team how we updated the marketing strategy.” The app will then search all those places for you and craft an update for your team.
Need a first draft of a meeting agenda or presentation? Just ask Copilot. It can access existing M365 documents and content and craft an initial draft for you.
Benefits of Using Microsoft 365 Copilot
Personalized Help
Microsoft 365 Copilot provides personalized help based on users' usage patterns and preferences. This means that users get the help they need when they need it without needing to search for solutions on their own.
Time Saving
Microsoft 365 Copilot can help users save time on common tasks such as scheduling meetings and formatting documents. It can take on many information gathering tasks (like summarizing meeting notes). This saves users considerable time for manual tasks such as searching for information.
Knowledge workers spend an average of 2.5 hours per day searching for information.
Reduced Frustration
Microsoft 365 Copilot can help reduce frustration. It provides solutions when users are stuck on a task. The tool can also help users struggling with an Excel chart or table. Instead of figuring out how to generate it, they can simply give a command to Copilot to do it for them.
Improved Productivity
Microsoft Copilot handles tasks that go beyond what business apps have historically done. For example, you can use it in PowerPoint to create a presentation for you. Use a command such as, “Create a six-slide presentation based on (this) document.” You can also tell it to find appropriate Microsoft stock photos and insert them.
The sky is the limit right now for how much this tool is going to impact office productivity.
When Will Microsoft 365 Copilot Be Available?
At the writing of this article, Microsoft hasn’t announced a release date yet. It is currently testing Copilot with a limited number of users. You will most likely see it coming out sometime soon.
Improve Your Microsoft 365 Value & Security
Need help with security or setup in Microsoft 365? Give us a call today to talk to one of our cloud app experts.
Data visualization is a powerful tool for communicating complex data. It presents it in a simple and easily understandable format. However, it is not enough to simply create a graph or chart and call it a day. To truly make use of information, it is important to create insightful reports. These reports effectively communicate the story behind the data.
Insightful reports help decision-makers understand key trends and patterns, identify areas of opportunity and make informed decisions. If analytics graphs and bar charts are only telling part of the story, it can lead people to wrong decisions.
Creating holistic and insightful reports requires the use of several data points. One tool that enables this is Microsoft Power BI.
What Is Microsoft Power BI?
Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence tool. It allows you to connect many data sources to one dashboard. Using Power BI, you can easily model and visualize data holistically.
The platform has over 500 different data connectors. These connectors can tap into sources such as Salesforce, Excel, Azure and more. Users can leverage pre-built report templates to save time in creating data-rich reporting. Teams can also collaborate and share dashboards virtually.
Tips for Designing Great Data Visualization Reports
Getting started in Microsoft Power BI entails:
- Signing up for the software
- Connecting your data sources
- Using its tools to create report visualizations
Creating great reports goes beyond that. We will go through several tips and best practices for getting the most out of your Power BI output.
Consider Your Audience
You should design reporting dashboards with the end user in mind. What is it that this audience wants to see? Are they looking for bottom-line sales numbers? Do they want to cover insights that can help target productivity gaps?
The use of clear and concise language and effective visualizations are important. These help to highlight the key takeaways from the data. Customize reports to the audience’s level of technical expertise and business goals.
Don’t Overcomplicate Things
Many times, less is more. If you find that your dashboard looks crowded, you may be adding too many reports. The more you add means the more difficult it is to read the takeaways from the data.
Remove all but the most essential reports. Look for ways to include different data sets in a single report like using stacked bar charts. Dashboards should show important data at a glance so do your best to avoid the need to scroll.
Try Out Different Chart Types
Experiment with presenting your data in different ways. Flip between bar, pie and other types of charts to find the one that tells the story the best. When building a new dashboard for your organization, get some input. Ask those who will review the reports which chart type works best for them.
Get to Know Power Query
Power Query is a data preparation engine. It can save you a lot of time in developing insightful reports. This engine is used in Microsoft tools like Power BI and Excel.
Take time to learn how to leverage this tool for help with:
- Connecting a wide range of data sources to the dashboard
- Previewing data queries
- Building intuitive queries over many data sources
- Defining data size, variety and velocity
Build Maps with Hints to Bing
Bing and Power BI integrate which allows you to leverage default map coordinates. Use best practices to leverage the mapping power of Bing to improve your geo-coding.
For example, if you want to plot cities on a map, name your columns after the geographic designation. This helps Bing identify exactly what you are looking for.
Tell People What They Are Looking At
A typical comment heard often when presenting executives with a new report is, “What am I looking at?” Tell your audience what the data means by using features like tooltips and text boxes to add context.
Just one or two sentences can save someone 5-10 minutes of trying to figure out why you gave them this report. That context can get them to a decision faster. It also helps avoid any confusion or misunderstandings about the data.
Use Emphasis Tricks
People usually read left to right and from top to bottom. Put your most important chart at the top, left corner. Follow with the next most important reports.
If you have specific numbers that need to stand out, increase the font size or bold the text. This ensures that your audience understands the key takeaways.
You can also use colors to emphasize things like a “High, Mid, Low.” For example, a low level of accidents could be green, a mid-level in yellow and a high level colored red. This provides more visual context to the data.
Need Help with Power Bi or Other Microsoft Products?
We can help you get started or improve your use of Microsoft 365, Power BI and more. Give us a call today to schedule a chat about leveraging this powerful platform.
In today's fast-paced and digitalized world, efficient document handling is crucial for the smooth operation of any business. Printing is one of the most significant processes in document handling and Microsoft Universal Print is a cloud-based printing solution that can streamline this process and improve productivity.
In this article, we will explore in detail the benefits and how it can improve document handling for your office.
What is Microsoft Universal Print?
Microsoft Universal Print is a cloud-based printing solution that simplifies printing for both administrators and end-users. With Universal Print, you can manage printers and printer drivers from a single console in the cloud which eliminates the need for on-premises print servers. This makes it easier to deploy printers, manage printer drivers and configure printer settings across your organization.
4 Ways that Microsoft Universal Print Can Improve Document Handling for Your Office
Simplified Printing Management
Managing a printing infrastructure can be challenging when there are several printers and print drivers involved. Microsoft Universal Print simplifies printing management by enabling you to manage printers and printer drivers from a single console in the cloud. With Universal Print, you no longer need to manage on-premises print servers which reduces the complexity and cost of managing your printing infrastructure.
Improved Printing Security
Printing security is critical and Microsoft Universal Print uses Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to authenticate users and secure print jobs. This means that only authorized users can print documents and print jobs are encrypted in transit and at rest. This improves the security of your printing infrastructure and reduces the risk of data breaches.
Greater Printing Flexibility
With Microsoft Universal Print, users can print from anywhere and on any device without the need for complex printer configurations or VPN connections. This improves productivity by allowing users to print from wherever they are and eliminates the need for IT staff to manage printer configurations on individual devices. Universal Print makes printing easy and efficient and allows users to focus on other important tasks.
Reduced Printing Costs
Managing a printing infrastructure can be expensive. However, Microsoft Universal Print can help reduce the costs associated with it. By eliminating the need for on-premises print servers, Universal Print can reduce the costs of managing your printing infrastructure.
Additionally, you can reduce printing costs by using features like print job redirection which allows you to send print jobs to the most cost-effective printer based on factors like location and paper type.
Getting Started with Microsoft Universal Print
If you are interested in implementing Microsoft Universal Print in your organization, here is how to get started:
Get an Azure Subscription
To use Microsoft Universal Print, you will need an Azure subscription (which is Microsoft's cloud computing service). You can sign up for an Azure subscription on the Azure website.
Find a Universal Print-Enabled Printer
You will also need a Universal Print-enabled printer. Several printer manufacturers like HP, Canon and Brother offer printers that are compatible with Universal Print.
Register your Printer
Once you have an Azure subscription and a Universal Print-enabled printer, you will need to register your printer with Universal Print. You can do this using the Microsoft 365 admin center or the Universal Print API.
Manage your Printer
After registering your printer with Universal Print, you can manage it from the Universal Print dashboard in the Microsoft 365 admin center. From here you can configure printer settings, manage printer drivers and monitor printer usage.
Printing for End-Users
End-users can then print to Universal Print-enabled printers from any device by selecting the Universal Print printer and the document they want to print. The print job is sent securely to the cloud and then to the printer.
Get Started Today
Microsoft Universal Print is a powerful cloud-based printing solution that can simplify printing management, improve printing security, increase printing flexibility and reduce printing costs for businesses of any size. With its ease of use and flexibility, Universal Print can be an essential tool for any organization looking to streamline their printing infrastructure.
If you are interested in implementing Microsoft Universal Print in your organization, it is essential to ensure that you have the necessary resources and expertise to make the most of this solution. You may need to work with a Microsoft partner or a third-party printing expert to ensure that your printing infrastructure is optimized for Universal Print.
When you are ready to learn more about Microsoft Universal Print and how it can improve document handling for your office, contact Sound Computers. Our team of experts can help you understand the benefits and provide guidance on how to implement this powerful solution in your organization. Get in touch with us today to learn more!
Scheduling appointments is a common activity. Salespeople often set up virtual appointments to answer questions about a product. Software companies allow people to schedule live demos. Telehealth therapists allow clients to book video sessions.
Those are just a few examples of some groups that are going to love a new Microsoft Teams feature. Virtual Appointments was recently added to the platform. It adds a new meeting style tailored for engagements with customers.
Have you been using Teams and a different online appointment app? This new feature will streamline the experience.
What Is Virtual Appointments in Teams?
Virtual Appointments gives you an all-in-one meeting platform for customer engagements. You can schedule, manage and conduct B2C meetings in Microsoft Teams.
This new feature brings together the scheduling component with the video conference interface. Anyone with the link can join the virtual appointment. They do not need a Teams account.
The power of Microsoft’s scheduling app, Bookings, connects to Teams. This makes the Virtual Appointments function as seamless as possible.
Some of the features below will be available with any Microsoft 365 plan. Some are available with a premium plan.
Teams Virtual Appointments Features
Manage Scheduled Appointments
You can see your scheduled appointments in a single view. Manage cancellations and time changes easily.
Send Customized Confirmations & Reminders
You can send customers a customized message via SMS or email. This personalizes the experience for them. You can also use automation to give that personal touch without needing to send each one manually. Automated appointment reminders are another time-saving function.
Customized Waiting Room
Add a personal touch to your virtual engagements. You can customize the Teams waiting room. You can use themes and logos to brand your business. You can also chat with attendees while in the lobby waiting room. This is helpful if your current appointment is running a little long. You can let them know that you will be right with them.
Meeting Follow-ups
You can send meeting follow-ups after a virtual appointment. This helps you reduce the time it takes to send any promised follow-up information. You also keep all details in a single place. This makes your client communication trail easier to follow.
Organization & Department Analytics
How effective are your appointments? It is hard to know if your demos are resulting in sales if you don’t have a good tracking system. It is also important to have visibility into customer appointments across the organization.
You can do this with a premium analytics feature. It gives you helpful reporting. The reporting provides insights into B2C virtual appointments in all departments.
How to Use Virtual Appointments
To start using Virtual Appointments in Teams, admins must set up a few things. Note that they must be a Bookings admin to access these settings.
Create a Calendar
In the Virtual Appointments app choose to “Create a calendar.” You can find this option on the Home tab.
Larger organizations may wish to create different calendars for different departments.
Add Staff
Add staff members. You can add up to 100. You will also need to assign them a role. Once you have added your staff, you can view their availability in both Teams and Outlook.
What is another nice thing about using an integrated platform like M365? It is the cross-app compatibility. Your calendar syncs across apps.
Create Appointment Types
You will next set up your appointment types. You can choose from these two options:
- Scheduled: You schedule the day/time. The system adds this information to the email confirmation.
- On-demand (Teams Premium): Customers can choose when to meet from your booking calendar.
Set Up SMS Notifications (If Desired)
If you choose to use SMS notifications and have the right Teams plan, you can set this up next. This allows you to easily send appointment confirmations and reminders via text message.
Note: Attendees currently need a valid U.S., Canadian or U.K. phone number to receive the SMS notifications.
Link Forms (If Desired)
If you would like your attendees to fill out any forms, you can link them now. Virtual Appointments allows linking up to four cloud-based forms. These would be forms you have created in Microsoft Forms.
Publish Your Booking Page
If you want to give customers the ability to book on-demand appointments, take this next step. You will need to publish the booking page. You do this on the “Manage” tab of Virtual Appointments. Select “Booking page” and turn on “Publish booking page.”
Get Help Using Your Microsoft 365 Tools More Effectively
Microsoft 365 is a platform with many possibilities. Often companies aren’t using all of the features that they could be using. As a result, their team may be less effective. They could also be wasting money on apps that they don’t need.
Are you interested in help supercharging your Microsoft 365 experience? Give us a call today to set up a meeting.
As technology continues to evolve, the workplace has seen an increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. Microsoft’s recent introduction of “Copilot” is the latest and greatest innovation.
It is an AI-powered software tool aimed at automating repetitive tasks, improving collaboration and helping humans accomplish more without working overtime. Read on to learn about the key features and benefits of this new tool and how it may be able to improve your current workflow.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Copilot is Microsoft’s newest technology innovation that uses the power of AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to automate tasks in Microsoft 365 and beyond. You can think of this tool as a personal assistant. It can help you complete simple, repetitive tasks and can even take voice commands.
How It Works
Microsoft 365 Copilot uses machine learning algorithms in combination with Natural Language Processing (NLP). These technologies work together to help Copilot understand your data and generate relevant suggestions based on the patterns it identifies.
Microsoft trained the language model against billions of data points from Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Graph to make the tool more helpful for users who want to automate their tasks and improve productivity.
The main functionality of Copilot is that it works with you. Since the tool is integrated into Microsoft 365, it can speed up small, mundane actions like checking your schedule or deleting emails so you can focus on what matters.
How Can You Use Copilot With Microsoft 365?
Copilot was designed to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft 365 products. Here are some examples of how you can leverage this new tool to boost productivity while using your existing apps:
Outlook
With Copilot, you no longer need to spend hours clearing out your email inbox. Instead, your automated assistant will take care of it so you can direct your attention to more important tasks.
Excel
Filling out a spreadsheet can be exhausting and time-consuming. Copilot will help you populate your Excel spreadsheets from the relevant data within your other Microsoft 365 apps.
PowerPoint
When you get lost while trying to consolidate your notes for a brand-new PowerPoint presentation, you can ask Copilot to speed up the process for you by pulling information from saved documents.
Word
While Copilot may not be reliable for writing emails, blog posts and other documents all on its own, the tool can help you quickly generate a first draft that you can edit with full control before sending or publishing.
Teams
Copilot has extensive tools for collaboration which makes it more convenient for teams to communicate and easily schedule meetings that fit on everybody’s calendars.
Leveraging Business Chat For Better Collaboration
Business Chat is one of the most exciting new features introduced with Microsoft Copilot. It has the capability to respond to voice commands and pulls relevant data from emails, calendars, chats and documents to provide complete answers.
This feature is especially useful for managers, team leaders and other busy professionals who need to multitask or work hands-free.
For instance, supervisors can push out project status updates to multiple team members by speaking a voice command to Copilot. Similarly, the tool can schedule meetings for you by collecting the data from your team’s calendar and choosing the most optimal time.
In general, Business Chat can be used to send emails, create a to-do list or add something to a document along with many other small actions. It makes it much easier to stay organized at work by taking on time-consuming tasks and keeping track of multiple actions at once.
Why Should You Consider Microsoft 365 Copilot For Your Business?
Here are some of the benefits of using Microsoft 365 Copilot that you may want to consider:
Productivity and Creativity
In a typical work week, you may spend hours doing things like scheduling meetings, creating presentations and typing reports. Although these things are important, they can be completed in a fraction of the time with the help of automated tools like Copilot.
Copilot boosts productivity by saving you time doing mundane tasks so you can get twice as much work done. You can also focus your energy on more creative tasks like choosing design elements and improving visuals.
Personalization
Since Copilot uses the data stored in your Microsoft 365 apps, it can provide personalized suggestions when you ask a question or need a task completed. For instance, if you need to write a new email, it may use your previous communication and style preferences to suggest a relevant response.
Security and Privacy
When using any new software tool, security and privacy are always the first priority. Microsoft prioritizes security for all of its products and Copilot is no different.
All data accessed by Copilot is fully encrypted and subject to compliance and regulatory standards. You can rest assured that your sensitive details are monitored, controlled and stored within Microsoft’s secured data centers.
Need Guidance to Better Leverage Microsoft 365?
Get more out of Microsoft 365’s many productivity tools. Contact Sound Computers today. We will be happy to show you how to boost productivity digitally.
Microsoft 365 is one of the most popular cloud platforms in the world with about 345 million paid seats. Microsoft cloud tools numbers were up 32% in Q3 2022 compared to the previous year.
One of the reasons for its continued growth is the suite of cloud tools offered in the service. Users get a stable of over 20 different apps including the core MS Office suite.
With so many different apps, it is not uncommon for some to go unused. Companies may not even be aware that they have access to these other helpful tools. One of the handiest apps you get with a Microsoft 365 subscription is Microsoft Forms.
From sending year-end customer surveys to assessing change readiness, Forms makes it easy. This online survey and form-building tool has a lot to offer organizations. If you have a subscription to Microsoft 365, then you already get Forms included for free.
What Is Microsoft Forms?
Microsoft Forms is a drag-and-drop form, quiz and survey creator. It is simple to use and allows you to send out surveys via a link. Recipients can fill out your form online from any device.
Once recipients fill out the survey, the results come into the software instantly. You can see the collated results charted in the software. You can also export the results to Excel.
How to Get Started in Forms:
- Visit Forms.office.com and log into your Microsoft account.
- Choose “New Form” or “New Quiz" from the top menu
- OR you can choose to explore the built-in templates.
- Click “Add New” to add a new form field. You can choose from field types:
- Choice (i.e., multiple-choice question)
- Text
- Rating
- Date
- Ranking
- Likert (a scale that records attitudes/opinions about a topic)
- Net Promoter Score® (a scale from “not likely” to “extremely likely”)
- Section (separator that can include a title and image).
- Enter your questions.
- Once finished, click “Send” at the top. You can distribute the survey using the following options:
- Link to a web form
- QR code
- Embed in a web page
- Via Facebook or Twitter.
- View responses on the “Responses” tab.
Advantages of Using Microsoft Forms
It is Included in Microsoft 365 Subscriptions
If you already subscribe to Microsoft 365, it makes sense to use Forms. It can save you money if you’re using a separate survey tool like Survey Monkey. It is easily accessible by signing in with your Microsoft account.It Saves Time
Sending a survey by email is time-consuming. You need to worry about emails bouncing due to an attachment. You also need to spend time collating all the results as they come in.Using MS Forms can save you a lot of time. People don’t need to download anything or open an email file attachment. They simply follow your link and fill out the form online. As soon as they fill the survey out, you get the result. Forms also collates all the answers for you.
Get Charted Results Automatically
You can quickly see the results of the survey in meaningful graphs. Forms makes it simple to export to Excel if you want to upload the survey results into another platform.On the “Responses” tab, you can hover over the result graphs to see the details.
It is Easy to Use
There is a very low learning curve with Microsoft Forms. The interface is intuitive and simple so just about everyone can jump in and start using it.What Are Some Ways You Can Leverage Microsoft Forms?
Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey
Using a web-based survey can increase your response rate from customers. They can fill out your satisfaction survey from any device which makes it quick and easy for them.You can see results instantly. Then chart them to gain insights into what your business is doing right and what you can improve upon.
Employee Security Awareness Quiz
Send a security awareness quiz to your employees using Forms. It can be easily integrated into your cybersecurity awareness training. The platform also tells you the average response time per person.Change Readiness Survey
Change management is a growing focus of many organizations. This is due to the speed of technology-driven transitions. You can use Forms to improve user readiness for change adoption. Create and send out a change readiness survey to affected groups.Event Registrations
Are you hosting an event? You can easily gather registration details. Send out a Forms link via QR code, social media, text or email.Volunteer Registration Form
Embed an MS Forms registration form on your web page to sign up volunteers. The platform will automatically collate different talents or other volunteer information. This helps you better match people's talents to your needs.And More
You will find more ideas from the Forms templates such as:• Competitive analysis study
• Post-event feedback survey
• Office facility request form
• Employee satisfaction survey
• Product pricing survey
• Food catering request form
• Save the date form
• Course enrollment form
Would You Like to Get More Out of Microsoft 365?
There is a good chance that your company may be leaving some value on the table with M365. Give us a call today to learn more about our Microsoft 365 support services.
Virtual appointments have become increasingly popular since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as remote working and online meetings have become the norm. Microsoft Teams is introducing a new feature that will make scheduling online meetings even easier: Virtual Appointments in MS Teams.
What are Virtual Appointments in MS Teams?
Virtual Appointments in MS Teams is a new feature that connects Microsoft Bookings with the Virtual Appointments feature in Teams. This integration allows businesses to use a scheduling calendar to book virtual appointments and meetings within the Teams platform.
Microsoft Bookings is a scheduling app that allows businesses to schedule and manage appointments with their customers. It integrates with other Microsoft applications (like Outlook and Teams) to make scheduling and organizing appointments easier.
The Virtual Appointments feature in Teams allows users to hold online meetings, webinars and video conferences. With the integration of Microsoft Bookings, businesses can now schedule and manage virtual appointments directly from Teams without needing to switch between multiple apps.
How does it work?
Businesses need to have both Microsoft Bookings and Teams. The integration of these two apps supports scheduling and managing appointments from within Teams.
The scheduling calendar in Bookings allows customers to view available appointments and book a time that works for them. When a customer books an appointment, it automatically appears in the Teams calendar and the host receives a notification.
When it is time for the appointment, the host and the customer can join the meeting from within Teams. The meeting can be held using video, audio or chat depending on the preferences of the host and the customer.
What are the Benefits of Virtual Appointments in MS Teams?
Virtual Appointments in MS Teams offer several benefits for businesses and customers including:
Streamlined Scheduling
Businesses can schedule and manage appointments directly from the Teams platform without needing to switch between multiple apps. This saves time and increases efficiency which makes scheduling appointments easier and more streamlined.
Improved Customer Experience
Virtual Appointments in MS Teams offer customers a seamless appointment scheduling and meeting experience. Customers can easily view available times and book appointments and they can join the meeting directly from Teams without needing to download any additional software.
Increased Productivity
Businesses can hold virtual appointments and meetings without needing to leave the Teams platform. This increases productivity and allows businesses to focus on what they do best.
More Flexibility
Virtual Appointments in MS Teams offer increased flexibility which makes it possible to schedule appointments and meetings from anywhere and at any time. This is especially important in today's remote working environment where businesses need to be flexible and adaptable.
How Can I Get Started With Virtual Appointments in MS Teams?
You first need to have both Microsoft Bookings and Teams. The following steps will help you set it up and start scheduling appointments:
Create a Scheduling Calendar in Bookings
Create a scheduling calendar in Bookings. This will allow customers to view available times and book appointments.
Connect Bookings to Teams
To connect Bookings to Teams, go to the Teams Admin Center and select "App Catalog". Then search for "Virtual Appointments.”
Install Virtual Appointments
Once the Virtual Appointments app is installed, you can configure it to work with your Bookings calendar.
Get Started With Virtual Appointments
The new Virtual Appointments feature makes it easier for businesses to schedule and manage virtual appointments and meetings directly from Teams. This integration offers several benefits from streamlined scheduling and improved customer experience to increased productivity and flexibility.
Virtual Appointments in MS Teams are particularly useful for businesses that rely on appointments and meetings to conduct their operations like healthcare providers, financial advisors and legal professionals. With the ability to hold virtual appointments and meetings directly from Teams, these businesses can continue to provide their services from anywhere.
Scheduling appointments and meetings remotely allows businesses to offer more flexibility to their customers. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty which provides a much-needed edge on the competition in today’s competitive business landscape.
As businesses continue to adapt to remote working and online meetings, Virtual Appointments in MS Teams offer a convenient and efficient way to schedule and manage virtual appointments and meetings. At Sound Computers, we specialize in helping our business clients integrate Microsoft Bookings with Teams to create a more efficient workflow.
Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive IT services and the benefits that you and your customers can experience with Virtual Appointments in MS Teams. Give us a call anytime at (870) 577-8060 to get started today!
If you follow Microsoft products, you may know about Microsoft Ignite. It generates many exciting updates and announcements every year in the Microsoft world.
Microsoft held its most recent conference last October. In the rush of the recent holidays, you may have missed some of the highlights. So, we’re bringing them to you now.
One thing that you will notice is that Microsoft Teams got a lot of love at the event. Microsoft is now describing Teams as “the app at the center of Microsoft 365.” We can see why the company keeps enhancing this virtual workspace. Teams now has over 280 million users. It is not surprising because Microsoft has introduced over 450 new Teams features just in the last year.
We will go over some Teams features below along with other Microsoft App announcements from Ignite. These may give you some ideas for your next digital workflow upgrade.
Teams Premium
There is a new Teams Premium offering from Microsoft that adds a whole new AI component to the platform. This service includes several AI-powered features. They make it seem like you have your own meeting assistant.
Some of the cool features include automatically generating chapters from a Teams meeting. The app also generates personalized highlights for you. This saves you from having to rewatch the meeting later.
If you are meeting internationally, you can enjoy real-time translations for captions. Meeting guides is another new feature. It sets up your meeting options according to your needs.
360-Degree Intelligent Camera for Teams Meetings
SmartVision 60 is the first 360-degree, center-of-room intelligent camera. It has the ability to track the speaker as they are moving. The camera is also due to have a people recognition feature coming soon.
Virtual meetings can feel much more like real meetings using SmartVision 60. Instead of just seeing a small video feed of one person, the movement of the camera can capture a whole team.
Cisco is Now a Certified Devices Partner for Teams Rooms
Those that are fans of Cisco meeting products will be pleased to know that they now have more options. Microsoft announced that Cisco is now a Teams Room Certified Devices partner. You can now start Teams meetings across all certified Cisco meeting devices.
Microsoft Places
One of the virtual workspace apps to support the new hybrid movement is Microsoft Places. This is a team management app that integrates with the rest of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
The office is still around but for how long? Much of the world had to do things virtually during the pandemic. Many companies and employees found they like it better that way. Seventy-four percent of US companies have or plan to put in place a permanent hybrid work model.
Microsoft Places is one more way Microsoft is leading the hybrid office revolution. Some of the app’s features include:
- Manage and track where employees are working (at home or in the office).
- Track whether coworkers are away or available.
- Track physical room use to make strategic decisions.
Hours & Location Feature in Outlook & Teams
Another feature announcement related to the hybrid working world is hours and location. This is a new capability added to Teams and Outlook to make it easier to schedule in-person meetings.
It can get tricky to plan in-person meetings when you don’t know who is working at the office and who is remote. If you plan without checking, you're bound to alienate someone. They won't be happy if they were planning to work from home that day.
The new hours and location feature allows people to specify where they are working. They can adjust this from hour to hour. It takes the guesswork out of scheduling.
Loop App Private Preview
Another exciting app announcement that Microsoft made was about its Loop app. It stated that Loop entered private preview. This gives some organizations a chance to check it out.
Loop is a collaborative workspace app that helps teams ideate in a virtual space. All data pulled in from Microsoft 365 apps sync automatically to stay up to date.
Microsoft Clipchamp Video Editor
You may have noticed an unfamiliar app popping up on Windows. Microsoft Clipchamp was formally announced at the Ignite event. It is a quick and easy video editor for Windows PCs.
Have you ever felt frustrated trying to fix a video and not having the right tool to do it? Then you may want to take a closer look at what Clipchamp has to offer. It looks to have a fairly low learning curve.
Get Help Navigating the Microsoft 365 Universe
Microsoft 365 has come a long way in a short period. There are many different app integrations that you can use to power your workflow but it can get a bit complicated without an expert to help. Give us a call today to schedule a Microsoft consultation.