5 M365 Tools You Might Not Know About

When you think of Microsoft 365, apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel probably come to mind first. But the truth is, that Microsoft has packed a ton of powerful tools and features into their 365 ecosystem that often fly under the radar. Taking advantage of these lesser-known applications will have many great benefits for your organisation.

This blog will explore 5 Microsoft 365 tools you might not have heard of yet, but need to get acquainted with. Get ready to unlock new levels of productivity and team synergy with these often-overlooked Microsoft 365 applications. Let's get started!

1. Microsoft Stream

Microsoft Stream is a smart video-sharing service that allows teams and organisations to securely upload, view, and share videos. It seamlessly integrates with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, enabling users to access video content directly through apps like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Yammer. With Stream, you can effortlessly create, organise, and discover videos within your company.

Benefits of Stream:

• Enables seamless video sharing and collaboration for remote and distributed teams
• Centralises organisational video content within Microsoft 365 for easy access and discoverability
• Facilitates cross-functional learning and knowledge transfer across departments
• Simplifies video asset management with robust search, transcription, and facial detection
• Promotes a culture of continuous learning with mobile-friendly access on-the-go
• Enhances team engagement by allowing sharing of training materials, updates, and meetings
• Eliminates scattered file sharing across disparate platforms for improved productivity
• Provides a secure platform for sharing sensitive or compliance-regulated video content

Stream takes video sharing to the next level with its live event capabilities. Teams can broadcast live meetings, presentations, or town halls, allowing remote participants to tune in and engage in real time. Recorded sessions are automatically captured and shared within the organisation, ensuring no one misses out on crucial information. 

Additionally, Stream supports an approval workflow, allowing designated users to review and approve video content before it's made available to the broader audience, ensuring quality control and compliance.

2. Microsoft Bookings

Microsoft Bookings is a nifty scheduling tool that takes the hassle out of appointment booking for businesses and organisations.

With Bookings, you can easily create custom booking pages, share scheduling links, and let customers book appointments directly into your team's calendar. This streamlined approach to scheduling eliminates the back-and-forth of email chains and a seamless experience for your staff and clients.

Improving Task and Project Management:

Bookings offers a powerful integration with Microsoft 365, making it an invaluable asset for task and project management.

By connecting Bookings to applications like Teams, Outlook, and Planner, teams can effortlessly schedule meetings, allocate resources, and track project timelines with precision. This level of scheduling transparency empowers project managers to optimise resource utilisation and ensure deadlines are met without a hitch.

Benefits for Team Members and Customers: 

For team members, Bookings simplifies the often-tedious process of scheduling appointments and meetings. With customisable booking pages and automated reminders, they can focus on delivering exceptional service instead of juggling scheduling conflicts. 

Customers, on the other hand, appreciate the convenience of self-service booking, allowing them to schedule appointments at their preferred time slot without the need for back-and-forth communication.

Moreover, Bookings supports personalised booking experiences by enabling you to share specific staff bios, office locations, and service descriptions. This level of transparency builds trust and credibility with clients, ensuring they know exactly what to expect during their scheduled appointments. By streamlining the booking process, teams can improve their overall service delivery and enhance customer satisfaction.

3. Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Forms is a versatile tool that allows you to create surveys, quizzes, polls, and other data-gathering instruments with ease.

Part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Forms seamlessly integrates with apps like Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook, ensuring a consistent user experience across platforms. Whether you need to collect feedback, gauge opinions, or test knowledge, Forms provides a user-friendly interface for crafting custom forms tailored to your specific needs.

Microsoft Forms Benefits 

The true power of Forms lies in its ability to streamline data collection and analysis processes within organisations. Teams can leverage Forms to conduct employee engagement surveys, gather feedback on products or services, or even prioritise project tasks by crowdsourcing input from stakeholders. By centralising data collection through Forms, businesses can gain valuable insights that inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.

This versatile tool can also be used for event registrations, customer satisfaction surveys, and much more, making it a multi-purpose asset for any organisation seeking to gather structured data efficiently.

One of the standout features of Microsoft Forms is its real-time data collection and analysis capabilities. As responses pour in, Forms automatically generates visual reports and charts, giving you instant access to actionable insights. This real-time visibility enables teams to make data-driven decisions quickly, without the need for tedious manual data compilation.

Additionally, Forms supports approval workflows, allowing designated individuals to review and approve form content before it's distributed. This quality control measure ensures that surveys, quizzes, and polls adhere to organisational standards and compliance requirements.

4. Microsoft Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard is a digital canvas designed to foster seamless collaboration and ideation among teams. This innovative tool allows multiple users to join a shared digital whiteboard space, where they can brainstorm, sketch ideas, and annotate content in real-time. Whether you're co-located or working remotely, Whiteboard provides a dynamic virtual environment that encourages creativity and active participation.

Enhancing Team Collaboration

Whiteboard is a great tool for team meetings and remote working sessions. With its intuitive interface and rich set of inking tools, team members can effortlessly visualise concepts, map out processes, and collaborate on diagrams or flowcharts. The ability to share files directly onto the Whiteboard canvas promotes active discussion and facilitates a deeper understanding of complex ideas.

During project planning sessions, teams can leverage Whiteboard to outline tasks, assign responsibilities, and track progress in a visually engaging manner. The real-time collaboration capabilities ensure that everyone remains on the same page, fostering better alignment and shared understanding within the team.

Integration with Microsoft Teams

Whiteboard seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Teams, amplifying the potential for interactive and productive meetings. With a single click, team members can launch a Whiteboard session directly within a Teams meeting, eliminating the need to switch between multiple applications. This streamlined experience encourages spontaneous collaboration, as participants can instantly capture ideas, annotate shared content, and engage in dynamic discussions.

Furthermore, Whiteboard sessions can be recorded and shared with team members who were unable to attend, ensuring that no one misses out on valuable insights or decisions. This level of transparency and accessibility fosters a culture of open communication and knowledge sharing, regardless of their physical location.

5. Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do is a sleek and intuitive task management app designed to help individuals and teams stay organised and focused. With its clean interface and user-friendly features, To Do simplifies the process of capturing, prioritising, and tracking tasks and to-do lists. Whether you're managing personal projects or collaborating with a team, this powerful tool ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

Task Management and Microsoft Planner Integration: 

At its core, To Do excels in personal task management, allowing users to create comprehensive lists, set due dates, and assign priorities with ease. But its true power lies in its seamless integration with Microsoft Planner, unlocking a comprehensive project management solution within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

By connecting To Do with Planner, team members can access and manage project tasks directly from the familiar To Do interface. This integration streamlines workflows, providing a centralised location to view and update tasks, track progress, and ensure deadlines are met without missing a beat.

Collaboration and Sharing Files: 

With the ability to create shared task lists, team members can assign tasks, set reminders, and track progress collectively. This level of transparency fosters accountability and ensures everyone is aligned with project goals and deliverables.

Moreover, To Do seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft 365 applications, allowing users to attach relevant files, documents, or notes directly to their tasks. This feature simplifies the process of sharing critical information and resources among team members, promoting better collaboration and knowledge sharing within the organisation.

Conclusion

The suite of Microsoft 365 tools offers unparalleled opportunities to enhance how we work individually and together. By exploring and integrating these lesser-known tools into your daily operations, you can unlock new levels of efficiency, collaboration, and satisfaction within your teams.

As Microsoft partners, SpiderGroup is here to guide you through discovering and leveraging these powerful tools. Our expertise in Microsoft 365 can help you tailor solutions that fit your business needs, ensuring you make the most of what Microsoft 365 has to offer.

Ready to Transform Your Business with Microsoft 365? Contact SpiderGroup Today.