5 Exciting Ways to Improve Hybrid Work with Microsoft 365

"Hybrid work" is the new buzzword you'll hear in corporate discussions. It's the combination of having employees working remotely as well as in the office. It's now more than just a buzzword; it's the reality for many businesses.

A survey of employees who were able to work remotely was conducted. The survey revealed that as of February 2022, 42% of them were working a hybrid schedule, while 39% were working remotely full-time.

The global pandemic has led to a shift to hybrid work. In Montreal, as elsewhere, this has forced businesses to operate with teams that can no longer safely travel to the office. During this time, both employers and employees have experienced the benefits of hybrid work firsthand.

The benefits of these remote teams included cost savings for both workers and employers. It also allowed businesses to operate more flexibly. Another benefit was improved worker morale.  

One fact that surprised many employers who feared that telework would reduce productivity was that remote work actually increased worker productivity in many circumstances.

63% of high-growth companies use a “productivity everywhere” hybrid work approach.

For hybrid teams to be productive, they need to have the right tools at their disposal.

One of the leaders in this field has been Microsoft. The company plans to add several exciting updates this year. These will provide more tools for businesses in Quebec and around the world to help their hybrid teams optimize their performance.  

Here are some of the ways we're leveraging Microsoft 365 at Nexxo to maximize productivity in hybrid work environments. Note that some of these features are already available, and others are expected to be released later this year.  

Microsoft Teams and extended features

Microsoft Teams is much more than a team messaging app. It combines the best features of virtual video meetings and messaging channels. It brings them together in a secure platform designed to be an online work hub.

MS Teams has been evolving for the past 5 years. The company continues to add more features for remote work. Some of the recent feature updates include:

• The ability to register for a webinar
• “Presenter” modes that provide a more professional virtual presence
• Increased security with features like smart links and smart attachments
• A complete add-on for the business VoIP phone system
• The addition of a “Metaverse” component, called Mesh for Teams

New meeting options for RSVP in Outlook

One of the challenges when everyone isn't working in the same location is knowing when to "clock in" and "clock out," as well as letting your colleagues know when you're working remotely or in the office.

To help hybrid work teams better coordinate, Outlook is being updated. It will allow users to use RSVP for meetings. This will let team members know who will be attending virtually or in person.  

Better framing for more engaging meetings

One thing that can be distracting during a meeting is the background image of someone at home. Camera positioning can also be problematic. One person's face might take up 80% of the video screen, while another might only take up 20% because they're sitting further away from their computer's camera.  

A new smart camera on the Surface Hub 2S will allow for better face framing. This will have an impact when people meet virtually in Microsoft Teams. Features include adjusting the room view so people's faces are clearer, as well as having more consistent sizing.  

The video display will also automatically adjust when people join or leave a physical room.

Get more control over your video by using PowerPoint to present

People often share a screen during a video call and also share PowerPoint presentations. It can be difficult to keep everyone as engaged as when you're presenting in person.

For example, in person, you can maintain eye contact. People can clearly see your facial expressions as you emphasize various things. This isn't always the case during a virtual presentation. The app can also push your video feed into a small box.

There's a new feature coming to Teams called "Cameo." It will allow you to seamlessly integrate PowerPoint with MS Teams. You can decide exactly how you want your video feed to appear in relation to your presentation.

There's another addition called "Recording Studio." This new PowerPoint feature lets you record professional-quality videos on demand. You can do this directly within the app.

Get help with your presentation skills

Microsoft has added many AI capabilities to Microsoft 365 over the past few years. One that will soon help you deliver better virtual presentations is Speaker Coach .

This is a personalized coach. This coach can help you perfect your presentation skills. It will help you adapt to the difference between presenting in person and virtually.

Some of the feedback it can provide includes:

• Use of repetitive language
• Use of filler words
• Rhythm of speech
• Pause for input
• Intonation
• Sound tone
• And more

Ask us how to improve your hybrid work capabilities with Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 has a ton of useful features. At Nexxo, we believe it's still helpful to have an expert guide to help you navigate these capabilities. Contact us today to discuss how Microsoft 365 can help your business grow.

About Nexxo

Nexxo Solutions informatique is a company specializing in providing IT and technology services to Quebec businesses. Its mission is to offer Quebec companies IT services tailored to their needs. Acting as an external IT department, it handles all of a company's IT tasks, allowing it to focus on its business activities. It achieves this by collaborating closely with its clients and putting their interests at the center of its concerns.