Build 2024: key takeaways from the Microsoft’s conference

Build 2024: key takeaways from the Microsoft’s conference

Microsoft recently hosted its annual developer conference, Build 2024. It spotlighted a variety of upcoming features and developments for Microsoft 365. The event, which took place on May 21-23, offered a glimpse into key areas of improvement, such as updates in Copilot/Copilot Studio, SharePoint Embedded, and Power Platform. In case you missed Build 2024, here's a brief overview of the most noteworthy Microsoft 365 news.


1. New capabilities of Copilot and Copilot Studio are on their way

If you've noticed the word "Copilot" appearing more frequently in Microsoft's announcements, it's not your imagination. The company aims to infuse AI into virtually every product, from software to PCs. The latest development in this AI-driven strategy is the expansion of Copilot beyond individual applications into a broader team-focused tool.

Team Copilot

One of the developments is the forthcoming release of Team Copilot, an AI-powered assistant created to improve collaboration within Microsoft 365. As a tool integrated with Teams, Loop, Planner, and other key products, Team Copilot will serve as an intelligent assistance capable of taking notes during meetings, assigning tasks, or generating reports. It will make it easier for employees to work within teams.

An example of Copilot’s summarization capabilities. Image courtesy of Microsoft

Microsoft Copilot Studio

Other changes are linked to new features in Copilot Studio. With their deployment, users will be able to build custom copilots for business-specific goals. Similar capabilities are now available in SharePoint and OneDrive, the major data repositories within M365 for enterprises. Although we’re moving towards general availability, there is only limited private preview on these capabilities as of now. But this news on the rise of copilots for enterprises offers an insight that copilots will eventually become integral to the M365 ecosystem.


2. SharePoint Embedded has become generally available

SharePoint Embedded is now generally available. It offers developers a powerful tool for building secure and customizable document management solutions. Key benefits of SharePoint Embedded include:

  • Improved security and compliance. Documents are stored securely within the customer's existing Microsoft 365 tenant, which guarantees alignment with their data governance policies.
  • Cost-effective model. The pay-as-you-go pricing model, based on standard SharePoint storage rates, provides flexibility and value without impacting tenant quotas.

SharePoint Embedded creates a shift in the way developers approach document management integration. It removes the need to build and maintain custom document storage and collaboration features and accelerates development cycles. It is particularly beneficial for organizations that want to modernize their applications and have a stellar user experience.


3. Fluid Framework 2.0 preview is now available

We would like to dwell on the advantages of the Fluid Framework 2.0, following our previous discussion in the edition #1. As this technology will become generally available this summer, pondering over its strengths is crucial for later adoption.

Firstly, the revised version of the SharedTree Distributed Data Structure (DDS), an essential part of the Fluid Framework 2.0, has new capabilities. They include changes in features like Undo/Redo, Transactions, Events, and introduce improvements for schemas.

Key improvements include the addition of undo/redo functionality, which allows changes to be reverted even after remote updates. Transactions make it possible to apply changes incrementally and simplify error handling. Improved events offer granular control over individual nodes, while schema upgrades, notably the inclusion of recursive types, further expand the flexibility of the SharedTree DDS. These updates collectively make Fluid Framework 2.0 a better platform for building real-time collaborative applications.


4. New security hub feature is coming for Power Platform

Microsoft is stepping up its security game for Power Platform, a suite of low-code tools businesses use to build custom apps and automate workflows. The upcoming security hub in the Power Platform admin center is an upgrade that promises to give organizations greater control and visibility over their security posture.

What’s new

The new security hub offers two key enhancements. First, it introduces tighter controls through integration with Microsoft Azure Virtual Network, a cloud-based service for creating private networks. This integration allows companies to isolate their Power Platform environments, and reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. Second, the hub adds support for Microsoft Entra ID privileged identity management, a tool that helps organizations manage and monitor access to sensitive resources. This added layer of protection guarantees that only authorized employees can access critical Power Platform settings and data.

Why it matters

These new security hub features are a welcome addition for any business using Power Platform. If you're a Power Platform administrator, we recommend exploring the new security hub in detail. Take advantage of the improved controls and privileged identity management capabilities to strengthen your security posture and stay ahead of potential threats when they become available for the general public.


5. Power Automate will be modernized through AI-enabled capabilities

The future of Power Automate is self-driving. Soon, AI will be able to generate automated workflows (known as "flows") with minimal human intervention. Imagine describing a task you want to automate, and the AI understands your intent and builds the flow to accomplish it. This level of autonomy will decrease the technical expertise required to create automation, making it accessible to a larger number of users. There is also an opportunity to integrate Copilot.

An example of how to create a flow with Copilot. Image courtesy of Microsoft

The desktop version of Power Automate is also getting an AI upgrade with the addition of a new AI recorder. This intelligent tool observes user actions on their desktop and automatically generates a flow that replicates those steps. This is a game-changer for automating repetitive desktop tasks, as it eliminates the need for manual configuration and streamlines the creation of desktop flows.


Stay tuned for more

Microsoft Build 2024 wasn’t just about flashy announcements and future gazing. It delivered concrete tools that will impact the way we work today. The expanded capabilities offer tangible benefits for both developers and end-users. As these updates continue to roll out, businesses and individuals alike can explore these tools and decide whether they want to integrate them later on.


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