Launched in 2017, Microsoft Teams embarked on a transformative journey that surged forward in 2020, resulting in an astounding tenfold increase in monthly usage of third-party apps and tailor-made solutions within the Teams ecosystem. Within the span of just one year, the ingenuity of developers, partners, and customers brought forth a doubled number of applications meticulously crafted for Teams.
Conceived as a "digital manifestation of an open-concept office space," as expressed by an official Microsoft representative, Teams embodies the core essence of connection. Whether amidst the realm of remote work or within the comforting embrace of our homes, the seamless ability to connect with colleagues across office spaces resonates as a unifying force that transcends all barriers.
Microsoft Teams: A Catalyst for Collaboration:
Microsoft Teams played a pivotal role in the educational landscape, facilitating live classes across countless universities and schools. Additionally, in the dynamic settings of both academia and corporate boardrooms, presentations unfolded effortlessly as participants seamlessly shared screens during collaborative meetings. While Teams undeniably cemented its position in the market, the repository of unparalleled and distinct features it houses continues to set it apart from its competitors.
July 2023 Update: A Glimpse into the Future:
The July 2023 edition of "What's New in Teams" covers announcements made at Microsoft Inspire conference and other exciting features.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot for Teams Phone (Early Access Program): Teams is incorporating advanced AI capabilities for unscheduled calls, enabling call summaries, capturing action items, and answering user questions to keep them focused and engaged during calls.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot for Teams Chat (Early Access Program): Copilot in Teams chat synthesizes key information from chat threads, helping users get caught up on conversations, organize discussion points, and summarize relevant information.
- Collaborative Notes in Microsoft Teams Meetings (Public Preview): Microsoft Teams Meeting attendees can co-create and collaborate on meeting agendas, notes, and follow-up tasks in real-time, enhancing the effectiveness of online meetings.
- Shared Calling: IT admins can enable groups of users to make and receive PSTN calls using a shared phone number and calling plan, simplifying Teams Phone deployments and saving costs.
- Improved Search in Specific Chat or Channel: An enhanced search experience allows users to find content quickly within specific chats or channels, saving time and providing better context.
- Chat Embedded in Microsoft Edge Browser: When opening a webpage link from Teams chat using Microsoft Edge, the chat window follows users to the browser, allowing them to view content and chat side-by-side without switching between apps.
Embracing the Integration for Empowerment
Businesses are encouraged to embrace the integration of Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM to empower their teams, enhance customer experiences, and achieve greater productivity. This game-changing integration offers vast potential for businesses to thrive in the dynamic market landscape. Below, we will explore how you can take this Microsoft Teams Integration with your Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM to the next level.
Microsoft Viva Sales (Now called Microsoft Sales Copilot) in Teams:
- Empowering Sales Teams with Enhanced Collaboration and Insights: Microsoft Viva Sales now seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Teams, enhancing sales team collaboration and success. This integration offers real-time insights, coaching, notifications, and content creation assistance. Setup involves configuring specific policies in the Microsoft Teams admin center.
- Elevating Sales Dynamics within Microsoft Teams: Viva Sales augments Dynamics 365 within Teams, goes beyond basic Dynamics 365 functionality, enhancing productivity, teamwork, and overall efficiency. Sharing Outlook records within Teams becomes seamless, while the Viva Sales app icon in Teams simplifies searching, sharing, and real-time access to updated information.
- Streamlining Productivity and Insights with Advanced Integration: The Microsoft Viva Sales app in Teams enables efficient filtering, customizable forms, and editable fields, tailoring the experience. It gathers Dynamics 365 CRM data, providing actionable insights within Teams. This empowers sales professionals with comprehensive customer views, personalized strategies, teamwork, and consistent messaging.
So, don’t wait and start with this game-changer integration right away. Want to start? Check out the guide on how you can get started with this integration.
Integration of Microsoft Teams, Dynamics 365 CRM and Maps
Microsoft Teams goes beyond collaboration, integrating with over 600 apps for enhanced efficiency. Among these integrations, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM stands out as a go-to CRM solution for businesses. Updates like direct access to CRM records from Teams, connecting chat with CRM activities, and Co-Pilot capabilities elevate collaboration. Discover how this integration, along with Maps, can be taken to the next level.
- Unleashing Location Intelligence with Maplytics Integration: Around 80% of CRM data contains location-based insights crucial for informed decisions. Maplytics, an ISV solution by Inogic, enhances these insights. Maplytics seamlessly integrates with Dynamics 365 CRM/Dataverse and Bing Maps, empowering users with features such as mapping CRM data, territory management, route optimization, appointment scheduling, heat map visualization, and more making it a boon for Field Sales and Field Service reps. This integration's value lies in enhancing location-based insights and decision-making.
- Synthesis of Microsoft Teams, Dynamics 365 CRM, and Maplytics Integration: The synthesis of these three tools marks a paradigm shift in modern business collaboration and decision-making. Integrating global communication in Teams, comprehensive CRM management in Dynamics 365, and insightful location intelligence from Maplytics, this fusion foster teamwork, customer engagement, and strategic insights. This synthesis empowers businesses to navigate a landscape where collaboration, customer engagement, and data-driven decisions merge into a unified solution.
Conclusion
Microsoft Teams' transformative journey from its inception in 2017 to its remarkable growth in 2023 signifies more than just a platform; it's a digital embodiment of connection and collaboration. As it continues to reshape the way we work, learn, and connect, the July 2023 update introduces an array of game-changing features that empower users, boost productivity, and redefine collaboration standards. With its integration with Dynamics 365 CRM, Microsoft Teams emerges as an irreplaceable asset, propelling businesses toward new heights of success. Embrace this future of work, seize the power of connection, and watch your business thrive in the dynamic landscape, all with the aid of Microsoft Teams.