The business turned to video conferencing software as a method to remain related whereas working from house throughout the pandemic and as we put together for the approaching yr, this trend will doubtless proceed now that Zoom has grow to be a household name.
Nevertheless, whereas Zoom emerged as the popular video conferencing platform for customers due to its ease of use and recognition, Microsoft has made tremendous strides in getting organizations to undertake its personal collaboration resolution, Teams.
Again in March as an example, Microsoft Teams saw its variety of every day energetic customers (DAU) improve by 12m over an interval of simply seven days to succeed in 44m. By October although, this quantity grew to 115m because the software large continued so as to add new options to its collaboration software.
Engagement additionally elevated as customers started turning on video in Groups conferences two instances greater than that they had earlier than the pandemic started.
New features galore
As 2020 progressed, Microsoft frequently up to date Groups with new features and capabilities to grow the software’s user base while making video conferencing extra accessible and engaging.
One of many largest changes the corporate made was introducing Together Mode to permit a number of customers to share the identical digital house whereas on a video name. As an alternative of seeing individuals in a grid, this new characteristic allowed everybody to be collectively on the identical time in a convention room, auditorium or perhaps a espresso store. Extra lately Microsoft even added new winter wonderland scenes forward of the vacations.
One other fascinating feature to come back to Groups this yr was the introduction of Coordinated Conferences. Organizations with a number of Microsoft Groups Rooms units in addition to a Floor Hub of their assembly room can now use Coordinated Conferences to sync all of those units collectively for extra display actual property throughout video calls.
Microsoft Teams Panels had been additionally launched so that staff in a workplace might see whether or not or not a gathering house was reserved for an upcoming video name. Using these panels, employees can view assembly particulars, reserve an area, view upcoming reservations and even e book one other room utilizing the “Close by Rooms” characteristic.
Hopefully Microsoft continues to replace Teams on the same tempo subsequent year because the service is rapidly turning into a one-stop store for each working remotely and in a workplace setting.