
Get More Out of Microsoft 365: Surprising Tools You Already Have
19 Jun 2024
Published in: Member News
Discover the hidden features within your Microsoft 365 subscription that can revolutionise your productivity and make your daily tasks easier than ever!
When you subscribe to Microsoft 365, you're not just getting access to familiar tools like Word, Excel, and Outlook. The suite is packed with a plethora of features that many users are completely unaware of, yet are paying for. Let's delve into some of the hidden gems within your Microsoft 365 subscription that can boost your productivity, enhance collaboration, and streamline your workflow.
1. Microsoft Teams: More Than Just Chat
Most of us know Microsoft Teams as a robust communication platform, but its capabilities extend far beyond chat and video calls. Did you know that Teams can serve as a central hub for all your teamwork?
Here are some standout features:
Integrated Apps: You can integrate a variety of apps directly into Teams. From project management tools like Trello and Asana to productivity boosters like OneNote and Power BI, these integrations can make your work seamless.
Collaboration on Documents: Real-time co-authoring is available for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents within Teams. No more emailing versions back and forth – collaborate live and see changes as they happen.
Custom Tabs and Bots: Customise your Teams experience with tabs that link to frequently used files or websites, and bots that can automate tasks and provide reminders.
2. OneDrive: Your Personal Cloud
OneDrive isn't just a cloud storage solution; it's a powerful tool for managing your files and ensuring you can access them from anywhere:
Version History: Accidentally deleted an important section from a document? OneDrive's version history feature allows you to recover previous versions of files.
Personal Vault: For added security, OneDrive’s Personal Vault offers an extra layer of protection for your most sensitive files, with strong authentication methods.
File Sharing: Share files and folders with anyone, even if they don't have a Microsoft 365 account. You can also set permissions to control who can view or edit your content.
3. Power Automate: Automate Routine Tasks
Formerly known as Microsoft Flow, Power Automate is a game-changer for those looking to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows:
Automated Workflows: Create workflows that connect your apps and services to automate tasks such as sending notifications, moving files, and collecting data.
Templates: Get started quickly with a variety of pre-built templates for common automation scenarios.
Integration: Power Automate integrates with hundreds of apps, making it easier to create a cohesive workflow across different platforms.
4. Microsoft Forms: Easy Surveys and Quizzes
Microsoft Forms is an intuitive tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and polls. It's ideal for gathering feedback, conducting research, or even creating interactive quizzes:
Real-time Responses: View and analyse responses in real-time. You can also export the data to Excel for further analysis.
Customisation: Customise your forms with themes, images, and branching logic to create a tailored experience for respondents.
Integration: Integrate with other Microsoft 365 tools like Excel and SharePoint for seamless data collection and analysis.
5. Planner: Simplify Your Task Management
Microsoft Planner is an effective tool for managing tasks and projects within your team:
Visual Task Management: Organise tasks into buckets and track progress using a visual board. Each task can have details, due dates, and attachments.
Collaboration: Assign tasks to team members and track their progress. Use comments to communicate and collaborate directly within Planner.
Integration with Teams: Add Planner tabs to your Teams channels for easy access to project plans and tasks.
6. Sway: Create Stunning Presentations
Sway is a lesser-known tool within the Microsoft 365 suite, but it’s perfect for creating visually appealing presentations and reports:
Design Automation: Sway’s design engine takes care of the formatting, allowing you to focus on the content. Simply add your text, images, and other media, and Sway will do the rest.
Interactive Content: Embed videos, audio clips, and interactive charts to create engaging and dynamic presentations.
Sharing: Share your Sway presentations easily via a link, and they’ll look great on any device.
7. Delve: Discover Insights and Information
Microsoft Delve is your personalised work assistant, helping you discover and organise the information that’s most relevant to you:
Content Discovery: Delve uses machine learning to highlight documents and information that are most relevant to your work.
Profile Pages: View and update your profile, and discover information about colleagues and projects through their profile pages.
Boards: Create boards to organise and group related documents, making it easier to manage your work.
Your Microsoft 365 subscription is brimming with powerful tools and features designed to make your work life easier and more productive. By exploring these often-overlooked gems, you can fully leverage the suite’s potential and ensure you’re getting the most value for your investment.
Ready to unlock the full power of Microsoft 365? Dive into these tools and see how they can transform the way you work. After all, you’re already paying for it – why not make the most of it?
Need help leveraging the full potential of Microsoft 365 in your business?
Lets have a chat! hello@vantage365.com +44 1384 593720
Comments
Post A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment. Please click here to login.