The adage ‘consistency is key’ is used throughout all walks of life to support the idea that routines and familiarity will generally lead to greater success.
This truth is no different with regards to technology and Microsoft have again taken important steps to bring the same consistent experiences across its entire Microsoft 365 offering.
With over 13 million daily users, Microsoft Teams has become an industry-leading hub for teamwork, allowing people to collaborate, communicate and streamline important business processes.
Benefitting from interoperability with SharePoint content services, Teams users can unlock the full power of SharePoint file use and management while operating inside the app.
In their recent round of updates, Microsoft has added new features and functionality to Teams, giving users access to even more first-class experiences.
New files experience
As part of their commitment to bringing the power of SharePoint into Teams, Microsoft has added a new files experience in the File tab of a channel.
Some of the key features include the ability to sync files to your computer (PC or Mac), see rich previews across 320+ file types and create views while working with metadata.
With this new experience, users can also see document life-cycle signals and pin files to the top of the page to help their colleagues prioritise important information.
All these features resemble similar SharePoint functions, allowing users to quickly familiarise themselves with the updates, so they can get started straight away.
File-sharing familiarity
Not only has Microsoft introduced full-featured files experiences directly into Teams, but they have also implemented the familiar file sharing experience already available across multiple services, including SharePoint.
No matter where you share from, this consistent sharing experience will give users access to a rich set of sharing options that are available across all devices and platforms.
One of the biggest appeals of this update is the flexibility given to users, allowing them to share the way they want, whether it be clicking the paperclip Attach icon within chat or pasting a link directly into the conversation.
After a file has been shared, automatic sharing reminders are sent after a week to help your team stay on top of communications, even if the original message was missed at first.
Working to enhance collaboration across a range of apps and services, this new update opens the door to cross-platform communication, bringing people together throughout your organisation.
Sharing in Outlook
While SharePoint and Teams are at the heart of these updates, Outlook has also received some attention for those employees who prefer to share via email.
If you are editing and sharing documents within your team, Outlook’s new files experiences makes it easier for workers to collaborate on documents, using file links to transfer documents.
This powerful new way to work removes the need for attachments, as users can instead share a OneDrive link that allows members to see the latest changes and co-author in real time.
To utilise this feature, go to Groups inside Outlook and select a group name. Immediately you’ll see all Recent files and Documents, as well as being able to create new Office documents if you wish.
This update is just another example of how Microsoft are trying to bring consistency and familiarity across all their apps and services.
Collaborate and communicate...
In an age where communication and collaboration are vital, Microsoft’s recent updates to Teams and other popular services are hugely beneficial for organisations of all sizes.
Rather than adapting or changing habits based on the platform you’re using, Microsoft has implemented the same experiences across them all, making it easier for workers to share information comfortably.
Instead of blocking out certain services or providers, these updates mean individuals can share cross-platform – an inclusive change that will only serve to improve file sharing and communication.
If you’re looking to implement any of these services within your business, then consult our team for advice on which solutions to choose.