Microsoft 365 Looks to the Future
As remote working becomes a main stay for countless employees throughout the United States, Microsoft has made changes to the UX of its Microsoft 365 suite of products to suit these changing needs. In a recent blog post, Microsoft its vision of the future for Microsoft 365 and how it is changing the platform to cater to this present complex business climate.
Microsoft has focused on four pillars for its UX, the first being focus. The company already added more focused, immersive experiences like the single-line ribbon, Dark Mode and Fluent, but the next wave of changes will add fading brand colors from app headers and exploring adaptive commanding. There are plans to advance the cross-suite search function, as well. Microsoft also is designing its products based on the device you’re using to access them — for example, mobile work is best for micro-tasking. So focused experiences minimize external distractions, lessen self-interruptions and jump start flow are on the way.
The next pillar, amplification, focuses on artificial intelligence. For Microsoft 365, this always has amounted to retaining, recalling and analyzing big data to help users throughout their day with artificial intelligence (AI). Project Cortex is the next iteration of AI assistance in Microsoft 365. Project Cortex was released last November to help organizations organize knowledge across teams and systems. AI will also catch errors in Excel as you write formulas. And in Planner, Microsoft is exploring how AI can auto-suggest end dates for tasks based on their descriptions.
To maintain human connections as workers settle into home offices or return to HQ, Microsoft is looking into the logistical and emotional aspects of connectivity. Microsoft is adding dynamic and contextual experiences like Planner, PowerPoint and Whiteboard, as well as lighting up Teams for Life and its Skype integration. Microsoft also is adding more asynchronous abilities to Microsoft 365 so workers can connect when and how it works best for them. This will reduce meeting fatigue and give more opportunities to show individual personality written chats or live meetings with groups often can’t deliver.
For your protection and peace of mind, Microsoft is adding onto its already robust security capabilities. From a UX perspective, document classification will empower file owners to communicate levels of sensitivity to others so you can collaborate with confidence and control what people can or can’t do within documents.
Microsoft 365 continues to evolve with the ever-changing needs of today’s employees. Help keep your workforce productive by adding this suite of tools to your organization’s arsenal. 2W Tech is a Microsoft Gold partner that can get your company set up with Microsoft 365. Contact us today to learn more.
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