The best of Microsoft Teams functionality!
Stay tuned as Amanda takes you on a tour of Microsoft Teams, the hub for teamwork in Office 365!
Use Microsoft Teams for chats, meetings, records, webinars, sharing and storing documents, phone calls, and much more!
In this brief overview of Microsoft Teams, Amanda provides an introduction to those new to the product wanting to get an idea of the overall capabilities of the Microsoft Teams solution.
Summary of Microsoft Teams Functionality
Did you know that 38% of employees feel that not enough collaboration takes place in the workplace? A factor that could encourage more collaboration, according to employees, is the ability to easily share input with a range of departments. However, how can that be accomplished?
Don’t worry, with this guide you can find out! By using Microsoft Teams, you can access a variety of resources to share your thoughts and connect with your co-workers. From its conversational channels to cloud recording meetings, Teams use effective strategies to promote collaboration.
Now, are you ready to get started? Here’s a Microsoft Teams review:
What Is Microsoft Teams?
Teams is a chat-based platform that’s fully integrated with Microsoft Office 365. On the platform, users can chat, join video meetings, collaborate on projects, and much more.
What Are the Important Features of Microsoft Teams?
In today’s workforce, it’s essential to have updated features that allow employees to connect and collaborate on projects. These eight features do a great job of keeping a large company connected as one team. Make sure to keep these features in mind, to get the most out of your application.
Tabs
Teams have tabs where you can connect to different platforms and websites. By adding a tab to your team, it makes it easier for everyone to find these other website and apps. No longer do you have to search the web; instead, all tabs pop up at the top of your channel.
You can include tabs like Excel, Powerpoint, Word, Planner, and much more. With the ability to find such software quickly and easily, Teams is a hub for teamwork. The platform provides users with simple navigation and the ability to customize based on your needs.
Secure Channels
A channel is a subset of team members within a team. Each team as one channel, however, you can add and customize channels as you wish.
Channels have the same security protocol as the team in which each member can see all posts, discussions, and forums. Although, in private channels, each admin can set up their own unique security protocol.
Channels allow co-workers to communicate easily with one another. Through chat-based discussion, channels allow users to provide updates, collaborate with one another, give advice, and, most of all, work effectively as a team. It promotes a healthy and stable work environment where users can ask questions and pitch their ideas.
Bots
Bots are a fun and a rather cool feature of MS Teams. Since they’re artificial intelligence programs, they complete tasks through chat-based commands.
You can find bots in the bot directory and just add them to your team as needed. However, some of the most commonly used bots are:
- Polly: a bot that polls team members
- Stats Bot: an analytic bot that delivers daily reports
- Grow Bot: a bot that encourages collaboration with team members
For instance, you can add Polly to a team, and with a few simple clicks, you can find out if your channel wants to have a pizza party or a taco night. Bots are an interactive solution to discuss business topics effectively.
Also, there are so many of them! You can find airplane tickets with the Kayak bot, or schedule meetings with Meekan. The possibilities are endless, especially since bots offer a range of services that can save you time.
Connectors
Connectors deliver updates to team members. Rather than asking groups to find content from Twitter, Instagram, Trello, or Wunderlist, you can connect those streams directly to your channels. That way, any news regarding your most searched topics or hashtags can be found in one place.
It’s a great time-saver, especially if you’re looking for updates about current events. You don’t have to search through social media to find what’s popular, controversial, or disliked. Instead, you’ll be notified through the platform.
You Can Filter Content With @ Mentions
It’s challenging to stay on task when you can chat with your favorite co-worker. In fact, in a recent study, at least two hours a day are lost in productivity due to workplace distractions.
With Microsoft’s activity filter, you no longer have to worry about distractions. Instead, you can filter the content you want to see by searching by @ mentions. That way, you can separate your to-do lists and personal messages. This filter ensures that you stay up to date on the most current and relevant information.
Also, you don’t have to waste your time scrolling page by page; instead, all data inquiries will pop up immediately. It makes finding advice quick and easy.
You Can Work Quickly with Slash Commands
A slash command is a typed word or phrase that begins with a slash (/) that activates a certain feature within an app. Its purpose is to operate everyday functions quickly and easily without your hands ever leaving your keyboard.
For example, you can type “/call” to contact one of your team members. However, you can do so much more! Slash commands allow you to join channels, invite team members to channels, mark yourself as busy/available/away, as well as numerous other things.
Slash commands are perfect for everyday use since they save you time and energy. You no longer have to exit your screen to do what you want. Instead, just type the key phrase, and like magic, it pops up on your screen.
Cloud Recording and Automatic Transcripts of Meetings
Most wouldn’t think of recording their meetings for future reference. However, it can prove more helpful than you might realize. In a recent study, psychologists found the brain only retains about 5% of what is stated in a video conference.
With Microsoft’s newest feature, you can record your meetings and store them in the cloud. Now listen to this; not only can you go back and listen to your meeting, but the transcripts are automated too. That makes it easier to find important information with just a keyword.
Now you don’t have to rely on a co-worker to take notes if you didn’t attend instead just watch the meeting via the recording. It will save you time and make it easier to remember what was previously discussed.
Adapt Microsoft Teams to Your Industry
Businesses come in different sizes and shapes. From retail companies to government agencies, each organization has its own unique way of handling business. Due to their uniqueness, there’s no one-size-fits-all collaboration platform that will work for each business.
However, with Teams, you can customize the platform to suit your industry. Teams has a few developer templates designed for a range of industries. For example, there are templates for:
- Retail companies
- Healthcare Providers
- Government Agencies
- First-line Workers
- Educational Groups
There are many resources available to customize Teams to your industry. If you need help, you can always contact a knowledgeable professional or check out the start guides for assistance.
Although becoming an administrator is not essential in developing a template of your own, you might want to look into the Microsoft Teams Management exam. It will test your knowledge of managing teams as well as your understanding of application integration.
How Does Microsoft Teams Compare to Its Competitors?
Teams stand out among the rest due to its outstanding perks. Unlike competitor’s sites, it offers benefits that’s better for all businesses. Here are a few of its advantages:
Affordability
One of the best benefits of Teams is that it’s affordable for all businesses. Teams is available to all Office 365 account members in these monthly plans: Business Essentials, Business Premium, and Enterprise.
The most cost-effective option is Business Essentials, which costs only $5 per person a month. Users have a range of access to Microsoft products, as well as security features within Office 365.
Its affordability is invaluable as it offers a range of products and services that many plans can’t offer. Why would you want to pay for a separate service when you can use Teams right in Office 365?
Collaboration Software
Since Teams exist within Office 365, users are given access to its office productivity software for no extra charge. Due to that unlimited access, collaborating on documents has never been easier. You can share documents, add Sharepoint sites to team channels, as well as include, OneNote, Powerpoint, Word, and other platforms in tabs.
That way, you can work with co-workers more efficiently to complete a project. Both of you can simultaneously edit the document while chatting in a channel.
Use This Microsoft Teams Review To Help You
Microsoft Teams is one of the best platforms for communication and collaboration. It has many features that can help boost teamwork such as channels, tabs, flitter @ commends, and even bots. You can customize your team to fit your industry since it provides developer templates and many custom apps.
However, its affordability makes it stand out among the rest. With access to Office 365, you can use a variety of other Microsoft products to work on business documents and projects. To ensure you get the most out of your application, come back and use this Microsoft Teams Review if you decide to purchase Teams.
For more information about Microsoft Teams, check out our services on our website.
Related Links
Walkthrough of Microsoft Teams
Recording audio, video, and screen sharing with Microsoft Teams
Using Microsoft Teams, Flow, and an Ideation list with Project Online for Project Intake
Using the Microsoft Teams and Dynamics 365 Integration
How to Manage and Collaborate on Files in Microsoft Teams
Integent's Microsoft Project Training
Succeed with Integent's Microsoft Project Online Consulting
Project for the Web Consulting to get Project Power App up & Running
