According to surveys, hybrid working is currently the best way for most employees to engage. But to reap its full benefits, it requires careful planning. A new tool that makes it easier to know where everyone is is Microsoft Places.
After the telecommuting boom came a compromise: hybrid working, partly from home but some days from the office. The advantage is clear. People save time otherwise spent moving from place to place, can focus on their tasks, but at the same time maintain personal relationships with colleagues and the ability to communicate with them face-to-face.
But this arrangement brings different organisational challenges: how to ensure that people actually meet at work. But at the same time, so that they don’t all crowd each other at the same time, for example in the meeting room mentioned in the headline. This is particularly acute in offices where shared desks have been introduced to save money.
Microsoft has addressed the topics of modern workplace and remote working extensively, after all one of their flagship offerings is the Microsoft 365 office suite. That’s why in the first half of this year they revived the idea of an app for planning who will work where. He first came up with it back in 2022 and now the app is here, available in preview.
What is Microsoft Places
Microsoft Places is an application that, in the words of the manufacturer, fundamentally changes the idea of flexible working. Its main purpose is to make it easier to coordinate your time in the office – it connects places, people and times so you can plan and use your time in the office as efficiently as possible.
Now everyone can easily find out who’s going to be at the office when, or even when the most colleagues they need to meet in person are there. It will also help to discover the most suitable free spaces in the required size, equipped with the required technologies. Places gets the information by integrating with Outlook or Teams.
And of course Copilot is not to be missed. For example, the intelligent assistant will summarise where individual team members will be at the required time or recommend when you should meet. Connection with Copilot is expected in the second half of 2024.
Another benefit that will be appreciated especially by management and the finance department is the overview of space usage and occupancy, which can be used to save energy and optimise the overall office operation.
What Places can do
The basic information is the aforementioned information about where a colleague will be located. But there are other possibilities.
Location schedules. Others will see your plans. You don’t have to make changes directly in the app, just in your Outlook or Teams calendar.
Smart Suggestions. And if you decide to change your original schedule based on the suggestion, Copilot will make the changes upon request.
Team management. You’re supposed to be at work, but you can’t remember exactly where, such as which branch or office? The guidance card will help you. You will also see there the set team priorities that need to be resolved that day. As part of this feature, team leaders will also be able to set optimal work patterns and pace for the most efficient process.
Search and reserve seats. If you need to reserve a table or meeting room, Places will allow you to do so. They can help you find and suggest the best solution for your requirements, they can even offer room previews and descriptions of the technology the offices have. People in large buildings will also appreciate a map of the building. Alternatively, the app will plan your room schedule for the next period.
Nearby colleagues. Microsoft goes even further in supporting personal contacts. In the list of people who opt-in, you’ll see who’s in your vicinity. This so you don’t have to write, but simply exchange those few quick sentences in person. Or arrange to have lunch together.
Smart and connected app coming soon
Microsoft Places is available in preview version for now, so you should expect that not all features may be activated yet, may have gaps or may switch to another pricing plan later. For now Copilot is not connected, it will be added in the second half of the year.
In live operation, then, Places will not be one of the Microsoft 365 apps, as one might expect, but part of Microsoft Teams Premium.
However, they will also offer connectivity to partner apps and services, such as tools for IT requests, food ordering and the like.
Say yes to the modern office with apps like Microsoft 365 and Places and boost your business. Our experts will present you with the best options just for your needs and provide the tools of your choice. Let us know.
