The Metamorphosis of Microsoft Teams
Many organisations started using Teams as an urgent response to enable remote working during lockdowns and quarantine periods.
Microsoft.com quote
In November of 2019 Microsoft Teams had 20 Million users, by March of 2020 Teams had 44 million daily active users.
For others who were already using Teams, COVID was the catalyst to improve the way the tool was used and began unlocking more of their collaborative cloud potential. Some were even further ahead, and grew with the new updates that Teams implemented to accommodate so many new users.
There have been some really great new features with Teams this year, and even more exciting stuff coming down the line. Some of this can be overwhelming at times, especially if you are also in the earlier “Caterpillar” stages of learning and using Teams. The good news is that Digital Workplace Days was created for exactly that reason: to build a community around knowledge sharing and supporting businesses that use these tools and want to stay up to date or learn something new.
We can’t wait to share our knowledge with you in Hamilton on November 3rd, and in Tauranga November 10th. We have several sessions dedicated to Teams and the tools it provides.
Where has your Teams growth rate taken you so far?
Caterpillar
Your organisation is just getting started and uses Teams mostly to communicate.
You hold online meetings, and maybe even record them for those who couldn’t make it.
You use the built in chat feature and have done away with third parties like Whatsapp or Facebook. You post in Channels, reducing Email traffic and collaborate on documents within your Team.
Chrysalis
Your organisation is familiar with Teams and has a good handle on how to use it. Team Channels are displaying additional resources to keep things simple for your staff – like surfacing SharePoint pages as tabs. You have begun digitizing processes like leave forms or hazard registers.
You collect information from your staff using apps like Microsoft Forms for surveys or quizzes to understand them better.
You are beginning to utilise, or at least realise, the full potential of Teams with connections to other apps like Planner for managing tasks for the team and encouraging integration of the To Do app for personal task management.
You include external suppliers or customers in your Teams to manage projects and collaborative initiatives.
Butterfly
Your organisation has implemented Teams with care and consideration. This includes planning the structure and architecture, defining governance around document migration, and a few rules and guidelines to support staff.
All of this is in efforts to avoid content sprawl and overwhelming staff.
Employee engagement is high and everyone is productive. Team members are sure that they are receiving only the information they need and have a good sense of when to use what app. Mobile app use is strong. Etiquette and processes have been established across your organisation and clutter is minimal. Notifications are managed and settings have been tailored to suit your Team correctly.
Mobile apps using Power Apps, Power Automate and Power Bi are also becoming integrated with your Teams platform.
Support for staff is strong with dedicated help, to ensure the behavioural changes stick. You have embraced champions to help embed the new ways of working, and build communities of practice.
If you want help moving from one development phase to another and getting the very most from your Teams planning, deployment and adoption, that is what ShareThePoint does best!
No matter which stage you and your organisation find yourselves, we are certain that you can level-up your Teams with Digital Workplace Days.
We have two sessions on Teams in our How-To Tracks:
Introducing Microsoft Teams, focused on communication and collaborative tools in Teams (for the Caterpillars and Chrysalis looking to establish strong etiquette and learn the processes)
My five favourite things in Microsoft Teams, focused on new features from this year and upcoming updates (for all stages looking to level up with some tricks and tips)
We also have sessions for the Butterflies (or the curious caterpillars) on Power Apps, Power BI, Planner, To Do, Forms, and overall Microsoft 365 planning, Security and Infrastructure. Take a look at the agenda!
We recommend registering early as spaces are limited.
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