Your office may feel a little quieter as your team soaks up the last few weeks of Summer. Heck, maybe you are catching this blog from a beach chair or airport lounge. But business doesn’t hit pause, and neither do your Microsoft 365 apps. Beyond the usual tools like Outlook, Word, and Excel, there are some other apps that can help you keep things running smoothly, even when your team is out of office.
Microsoft Loop: Empower Real-Time Collaboration Across Apps
Loop is collaborative workspace app designed for teams to co-create and organize content. Particularly beneficial for remote and hybrid teams – or in the summer when employees are working from the beach. For example, Loop provides a flexible canvas where users can work together in real-time. Pages you create in Loop can contain tasks, notes, tables, lists, and documents. These pages can then be shared across Teams, Outlook, and other Microsoft 365 apps as links or embedded Loop components. The components are dynamic so you can stay up to date, even when you are away.
Copilot in Excel: Data Analysis for Anyone
Most companies have that go-to Excel whiz, usually buried in spreadsheets or crunching numbers in Finance. But what happens when they’re off-grid in the South American rainforest with zero signal and you have an urgent need for data analysis? No stress! Copilot in Excel1 can help you perform the analysis yourself.
Copilot in Excel offers several benefits for small and medium-sized businesses:
- Quick Data Analysis: Copilot can analyze your company's data, uncover trends, and deliver actionable insights so you can make informed decisions quickly and efficiently.
- Formula Suggestions: Copilot can suggest formulas based on the data you are working with, making it easier to perform complex calculations without needing advanced Excel knowledge.
- Real-Time Support: Copilot provides real-time support by explaining concepts and offering guidance as you work on your spreadsheets.
- Enhanced Productivity: By automating repetitive tasks and providing real-time insights, Copilot helps SMBs save time and focus on more strategic activities.
- Resource Optimization: Copilot can help businesses optimize their resources by providing insights into spending trends and budget management, ensuring that resources are used effectively.
So now you see, even when your Excel whiz is on summer vacation, you can use Copilot in Excel to get things done.
Microsoft OneNote: Streamline Task Management
OneNote is a digital note-taking app that your employees can access easily from their tablet, phone, or laptop. OneNote provides a single place for creating, keeping, and sharing all your digital notes. You can input text, pictures, tables, drawings, and web clippings. Type, handwrite, or draw. Unlike a word processor, OneNote pages can expand infinitely, both downwards and to the right to accommodate new content without size constraints. Click anywhere on the page to jot down ideas, create to-do lists, or think through problems.
Quick Rollout Tips for SMB IT Admins
Support matters. Even the most intuitive tools need a little guidance. Point your team to https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/ -- a free resource packed with tutorials, walkthroughs, and training paths for both IT admins and everyday users.
Bonus Tip: If you're exploring tools like Copilot or Loop, consider creating short internal demos or lunch-and-learn sessions. Many teams thrive on tight-knit collaboration, and a little hands-on exposure can go a long way.
Try These New Features in Microsoft 365 Today
Microsoft 365 offers a wealth of features and tools that can significantly enhance the productivity and efficiency of small and medium-sized businesses -- even when people are away on summer vacation.
Ready to supercharge your business with Microsoft 365? Don't wait any longer! Check out the full line of pricing plans on our homepage. For more tips, insights, and success stories, subscribe to our Supercharge Your Business blog series and learn what Microsoft 365 can do for your company.
1 Microsoft Copilot is available as a separate subscription to add-on to Microsoft 365.
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