Things are looking up as we enter the third year since the first UK COVID lockdown. As a country, we’ve seen a rise in the number of people returning to the office, bringing an end to those mandatory ‘you must work from home’ days.
However, here at Vantage 365, we’ve still seen the vast benefits that cloud-based collaboration systems bring to businesses. COVID forced many organisations to explore avenues they may not have considered before.
Because of this breakthrough, most offices are now operating a hybrid working solution: some time at home and some in the physical workspace.
As one of the world’s leading cloud collaboration pieces of software, Microsoft 365 continues to receive regular updates and improvements as we move into (hopefully) the pandemic’s endgame. Here’s what’s new in Microsoft 365 in 2022.
More control over your own video on your display
Some people find seeing themselves on a Teams call off-putting, distracting and nerve-wracking. Others prefer it, reinforcing their confidence and reassuring them there is nothing embarrassing lurking in the background. If you’re either of these people, the most recent Microsoft 365 update is for you.
Now, you have greater control over whether you can see your video on your display. You have the option to hide it if you prefer to avoid looking at yourself, or you can pin it if you’d rather it be there.
Of course, all this is based on the assumption that your camera is turned on. If it’s usually switched off, you have nothing to worry about.
Keep more up to date with mandatory training
Mandatory training is a regular part of most jobs (love it or hate it). For this, many organisations have turned to Microsoft Viva Learning, a powerful tool allowing employees to complete online courses and managers to track their progress.
In a new update, Viva Learning now automatically synchronises with several learning management systems (LMS). Popular versions of these include Cornerstone OnDemand and SAP Success Factors. This automatic synchronisation means employees can view and launch their LMS assignments directly from Viva Learning.
It’s also directly connected to Teams now. Employees will be notified when they’re given a new assignment and when the due date is approaching.
Changes to Yammer
Yammer, the social networking program, has had a few new changes:
- New community suggestions – based on interactions you’ve had in the past, Yammer will suggest new communities and followers that might interest or assist you. You can do this straight from your feed.
- Communities automatically renew – before now, an admin had to manually review any communities with engagements or views. Now, though, they’re set to renew automatically.
- Community members in the EU can join US-hosted communities – differences in data protection laws across the Atlantic currently make this tricky. However, Yammer is in the process (expected to be completed by the end of this month) of allowing EU community members to join those hosted in the US, increasing cross-continental collaboration.
As you can see, these updates all function to increase collaboration and efficiency within the virtual workspace.
Provisioning Windows 365 Cloud PCs
In the world of data and ICT, we use the word ‘provisioning’ to mean ‘setting up’. As many people return to the office on a hybrid basis, Microsoft has recognised the need for making it easier to ‘provision’ (set up) new devices connected to your network.
Companies no longer need an on-site Azure subscription to do this. Instead, Microsoft has released a preview of Azure Active Directory (AD) for Windows 365 Enterprise. While it hasn’t been fully released yet, we expect it will be available very soon.
On top of all this, there are now even more language options for businesses to choose from when setting up a cloud PC. This will help employees in various locations worldwide feel more comfortable with their devices and system.
How Vantage 365 can help you get the most out of Microsoft 365
At Vantage 365, we’re a specialist team focused on helping your business get the most out of Microsoft 365. We firmly believe Microsoft 365 helps increase productivity and efficiency. Therefore, it’s a must-have for almost any organisation – especially during these uncertain times.
If you’d like some help setting up or maintaining a Microsoft 365 network, we’d love to hear from you. We offer a range of services, from helping you design a bespoke system tailored to your needs to jargon-free training sessions for you and your staff.
If this sounds like something that would be beneficial to you, why not drop us an email at hello@vantage365.co.uk or give us a call on 01384 593720? Our chats are completely obligation-free. We’ll be delighted to discuss your situation and how a Microsoft 365 solution might help. We look forward to hearing from you!