Ability to hide the "General" channel, easier team creation, Microsoft Copilot mobile app, new visualizations—these are just a few of the new features that appeared in the Redmond giant's tools last month. In the next entry of our series "What's New in Microsoft Business Applications", we focus on updates in Microsoft Teams, Copilot for Microsoft 365, and Power BI, which were announced or made available to users in April 2024.
Microsoft Teams – April updates summary
Microsoft is continuously developing Teams to make it a tool that users don't need to leave. Every month new features or minor changes are introduced to streamline everyday work. One such feature is the ability to hide the default "General" channel that is automatically created with each new team. This allows us to focus only on key channels we work in. Often, the "General" channel is not used for specific activities, so it's a minor thing, but a welcome one.
Another new feature — also a minor one — is the ability to set a picture (avatar) for group chats. While it may seem trivial, when we frequently use this type of communication, it can be easy to lose track among the plethora of available chats. It's helpful to set a dedicated image, which makes it easier to find a specific chat with others.
Another improvement also concerns chat. If we want to attach a specific document by selecting the "Attach file" option, Teams will suggest five files from our OneDrive or SharePoint that best fit the context of the conversation. This saves time searching for specific files and allows us to quickly add them to the chat.
The next update makes it easier to create teams and channels. For the former, the new default option will be "Create a team from scratch," which allows us to name the team, determine its type, and then add members. However, if you want to create a team based on an available template or existing group, you can use the "More options for creating a team."
From the same level, it is possible to create a new channel—not every new thread of conversation needs a new team.
While notifications are generally useful, sometimes we might prefer not to receive them. This applies to calendar notifications in Teams. They were and are there, but now we have the ability to manage them. They are available in the same place as notifications for chats or meetings. For calendar events, we can turn off notifications entirely, display them in Activities, or set them to show in Activities and as a banner.
Another change allows users to log into Teams using multiple accounts. This eliminates the need to switch between them—we will receive notifications from various places in one place.
Polish language and more – changes in Copilot for Microsoft 365
Artificial Intelligence is another area—after Teams and security—where Microsoft invests significant resources. It's no surprise that information about new features in Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, often appears overnight. A key change in Copilot for Microsoft 365 is the availability of the Polish language. This allows us to ask questions to Copilot (write prompts) in our native language, and it will respond in the same. However, it is important to note that while Polish is now available, its use requires—at least for now—that the Microsoft 365 application interface be in English.
Another new feature, announced in April and set to go live in May, is the availability of chat with Copilot from within Outlook.
Interestingly, for Copilot to provide answers based on data from files in our organization, those files must be located in the cloud—in OneDrive or SharePoint. However, this is expected to change, as in May, there will be the ability to prompt within files stored locally on the computer.
Quite a few improvements have been made to Copilot within the Microsoft Word application. For example, the Rewrite function can now be used to change and format a specific section of the document, rather than the entire content.
The same applies to summaries. Copilot performs well with them, but now we can use it to summarize a specific section of the document. Just select it and enter a prompt. However, currently, this function is available in Word Online (browser version).
Additionally, Microsoft introduced improvements in the "Draft with Copilot" function. Currently, to create a document based on a specific file, you have to search for it in the context menu. From May, this will change—similar to Copilot in PowerPoint—you will be able to paste a link to a specific file. What's more, if we create a document based on a file that has a confidentiality label, this label will automatically be assigned to the draft version of the document.
What's new in Power BI?
Microsoft has also been active in the Power Platform family of solutions. New features have appeared in Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI. It's worth pausing to look at the latter, as it received the most updates last month. One of the changes is improvements in the area of line charts, which allow for adjustments to the color and transparency of the line. And—as Microsoft promises—this is just the beginning.
The new "100% Stacked Area Chart" looks interesting. It will definitely find its application in showing the share of a particular area or parameter in the whole, as by definition, the sum within this visualization always equals 100%
We can't forget about the presence of Copilot within Power BI. This time, however, the novelty is that some of its functions are available in Power BI Desktop (preview). Copilot must be enabled by an administrator, and you must have at least a Microsoft Fabric F64 license or Power BI Premium P1 to use it. What can it do?
- create a report page based on a description and specific data available:
- summarize the data model:
- suggest a topic and content for the report:
See how the changes and new features that Microsoft introduces in its cloud services can impact the operation of your business and improve user work convenience—fill out the form at the bottom of the page and schedule a free consultation with our advisor!
