Caught Up in 5: Microsoft Ignite 2023

TL;DR Copilot (AI and GenAI inside Microsoft Suite) will be in everything, if your organization pays for the licenses. If you know how to get the most out of your existing tools, and have well-defined tasks and workflows, everything is about to get faster and easier.

Abstract: Microsoft introduced a host of updates and innovations across its ecosystem to enhance collaboration, productivity, and user experiences. The focus of this article is on Modern Work and how it impacts business users and not all announcements will be covered. The updates span various tools and platforms like SharePoint Premium, Copilot, Teams, Viva, Power Platform and more. At the heart of these updates lies the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into every insight, productivity and collaboration tool.?

Modern Work Ignite Themes

1. AI Integration: Microsoft integrates AI across platforms like Copilot for streamlined tasks and enhanced productivity.
2. Collaboration Boost: Updates enhance tools like Teams, Loop, and Viva for immersive meetings, simplified content sharing, and improved teamwork.
3. Streamlined Workflows: Simplify tasks with unified experiences (Planner, To Do, Project), SharePoint Premium for content management, and AI assistance in app development.
4. Frontline Empowerment: Upgrades equip frontline workers with better communication tools and task management for operational efficiency.
5. Immersive Customization: Introducing 3D experiences in Teams, customizable spaces with Mesh, and personalized features across applications.
6. Developer Tools: Microsoft empowers developers with Copilot Studio, AI in Power Platform, and enhanced AI capabilities in Power Automate and Power Apps.

Modern Work Enhancements Announced

Here is a summary of the updates.

1. SharePoint Premium: Microsoft is introducing SharePoint Premium, an AI-powered solution to enhance content management and experiences. It aims to structure, secure, and govern organizational content, enabling better utilization through tools like Copilot.
2. Microsoft Clipchamp and Designer: Microsoft is democratizing visual content creation with Clipchamp and Designer, simplifying video and image creation through AI-enhanced user experiences.
3. Microsoft Loop: The Loop app is now available, aiding collaboration and project management with features like workspace descriptions, Power Automate integration, and easy creation from Teams meetings.
4. Microsoft 365 for Frontline Workers: Updates to Copilot, Shifts plugin, dynamic team membership, and simplified authorization aim to enhance communications and operational efficiency for frontline workers.
5. Microsoft Planner: The new unified Planner experience integrates To Do, Planner, and Project, offering a single place for managing tasks and projects with AI-enabled features.
6. Microsoft Teams: Aims to enhance collaboration, improve meeting experiences, simplify user interactions, and provide powerful tools for IT admins, developers, and users within the Teams ecosystem. Immersive Spaces in Teams: Bringing 3D experiences into regular Teams meetings with avatars, 3D environments, seat assignments, spatial audio, interactive activities, and live reactions. Microsoft Mesh: Enabling the creation of custom immersive spaces for various business needs like events, training, tours, and showcases, with a no-code editor. New Teams Meeting Features: Including voice isolation, background decoration, chat enhancements, Loop components, channel announcement backgrounds, and Teams Phone features like private lines and protected voicemail. Enhancements for a Simpler Experience: Redesigned Teams web experience, new keyboard shortcuts, code block improvements, simplified notifications, and better team/channel management. Teams AI Library: A new feature for developers to create intelligent bots and message extensions powered by AI. IT Management Streamlining: Features like Teams Rooms deployment using Windows Autopilot, shared calling for PSTN, and advanced collaboration tools for IT admins.
7. Viva: aims to enhance communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing within organizations using Viva Engage and Viva Amplify, fostering better engagement, goal alignment, and comprehensive reporting capabilities. Viva Engage MTO Communication enables leaders to engage at scale across multiple tenants, sharing unified stories throughout the organization. Viva Goals and Viva Engage Integration incorporates goal progress directly into Engage communities, fostering alignment and recognition around organizational objectives. Seeded and AI-connected Knowledge in Answers utilizes AI to seed questions and answers, aiding in knowledge sharing and directing queries to experts. Viva Amplify Updates enhance Amplify with templates, multilingual support, and improved reporting for comprehensive insights. It will also streamline content sharing to Viva Engage.
8. Copilot: aims to enhance productivity and streamline various tasks across Microsoft 365 apps and admin centers, providing users with advanced AI-driven support and integration options. AI Assistant: Integrated into Microsoft 365 apps. New Features: Impact dashboard, meeting visualizations, note capture and sharing, outlook scheduling assistant, enhanced document insights in Loop and Word. Plugins and Connectors: Enable Copilot-generated responses to include proper citations and attributions while offering quick access to essential content from diverse sources. Copilot Studio: Platform for customizable AI creation, testing, and integration. This is meant to be an easy and accessible way to build no-code/low-code AI chatbots inside your organization.?
9. Power Platform: Focus on governance, AI assistance in app development, and integrations to enhance productivity and user experience within Microsoft's suite of tools. Power Automate Enhancements: Copilot for Power Automate Desktop, and automation activity analysis. Power Apps Advancements: AI insights to canvas apps, Copilot control to bring AI into their apps, better mobile experience. Power Virtual Agents Integration: Power Virtual Agents capabilities are integrated into Microsoft Copilot Studio, streamlining copilot creation and extending generative AI capabilities.

How We Plan to Help

As you navigate the evolving landscape of workplace technology, seizing the potential within the latest Microsoft features may be a big part of your organizational growth. My team at TiER1 Performance stands ready as your knowledgeable partner in leveraging these advancements to propel your strategies forward through your capable workforce.

I believe our services will show up in this way as we partner on this big change in 2024:

1. Educational Workshops and Training: Equipping organizations with in-depth knowledge and confidence to leverage technology
2. Strategic Implementation Roadmaps: Tailoring wholistic implementation strategies to organizational needs
3. Change Management Support: Ensuring smooth transitions and adoption of new technology into ways of working
4. Customization and Integration Services: Aligning Microsoft's features with an organization's unique workflows
5. Advisory Services on AI Integration: Guiding seamless AI integration into organizational processes
6. Support for Immersive Collaboration: Enhancing teamwork through innovative collaboration tools and ways of working workshops
7. Continuous Support and Optimization: Providing ongoing assistance for maximum value of the platform and to support your talented people using it!

If you have been following my work for awhile, you know I am committed to practical, scalable and people-centered solutions that leverage technology. The talented teammates I work with are no different! I invite you to embark on this transformative journey with us by your side, amplifying your potential through technology-enabled strategies.

Let’s Talk!

If you’re interested in learning more, and partnering with TiER1, please book some time with me here .?

Source: https://news.microsoft.com/ignite-2023-book-of-news/ ?