In today’s fast-paced work environment, productivity is key. As we strive to achieve more in less time, it’s crucial to fully leverage the tools at our disposal. 

Enter Microsoft 365, a suite of applications designed to enhance collaboration, streamline communication, and boost overall efficiency. 

Let’s take a look at seven often-overlooked features within Microsoft 365 that have the potential to change the way you work.

1. Focused Inbox for Outlook

Are you drowning in a sea of emails, struggling to identify the important ones amidst the clutter? Enter Focused Inbox, a smart feature in Outlook that utilises machine learning to prioritise your emails. (Focused Inbox is available only for Microsoft 365, Exchange, and Outlook.com accounts)

Focused Inbox can be turned on in the View tab. By learning from your behaviour, Focused Inbox directs essential messages to a separate tab, allowing you to focus on what matters most. Say goodbye to email overload and hello to a more organised and focused workday.

2. Teams Integration for Collaboration

Microsoft Teams has evolved beyond a simple chat and video conferencing tool. It serves as a central hub for collaboration within Microsoft 365, bringing together chat, file sharing, and real-time collaboration on documents and projects. You can now share files, co-author and edit content simultaneously, automatically save everyone’s changes, communicate in real-time, ideate in the Whiteboard app, work together in channels, and more. The seamless integration with other Microsoft 365 apps ensures a cohesive and efficient workflow.

One feature of Teams that you may not be aware of is the ability to chat with yourself. You can leave yourself reminders, compose messages, save files, images and screenshots, and even take minutes during a meeting by opening up a chat with yourself.

3. Enhanced Note-Taking

If you’re still using traditional note-taking methods, you might be missing out on the versatility of Quick Note. This often-overlooked gem allows you to capture and organise your thoughts in a variety of formats, from text to images and even audio recordings. 

Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, managing projects, or attending a meeting, Quick Note adapts to your needs, providing a dynamic and collaborative note-taking experience.

4. Power Automate for Workflow Automation

Repetitive tasks can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Enter Power Automate, a powerful tool for workflow automation within Microsoft 365. 

By creating automated flows that connect your favourite apps and services, you can streamline processes, saving time and reducing the risk of manual errors. Power Automate empowers you to focus on high-value tasks while it handles the routine ones. It is an easy-to-use, low-code solution for streamlining all types of manual, repetitive workflows.

5. Advanced Excel Functions for Data Analysis

Excel is a familiar tool, but are you unlocking its full potential for data analysis? Features like Power Pivot, Power Query, and advanced charting options can transform Excel into a robust data analysis tool. 

Break free from the limitations of basic spreadsheets and harness the power of Excel to turn raw data into actionable insights, making informed decisions a breeze.

6. Presenter Mode in PowerPoint

Transform your mouse into a dynamic laser pointer to improve your PowerPoint presentations. To use this feature, go into Presenter Mode and look for a laser pointer and drawing tools beneath the presently shared slide. Keep in mind that the only person who can point and draw on the slides is the presenter.

7. Microsoft 365’s Data Lifecycle Management

Ensuring your organisation complies with information governance is very important and can be pretty admin intensive. With Microsoft 365 features such as Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management you can manage data security and compliance needs seamlessly. 

You can set retention policies so that content for specific services is kept indefinitely or for a set length of time if users alter or remove it. Alternatively, you can create the policy to delete the item permanently after a certain period if it hasn’t already been destroyed. This can be managed with retention labels, which you can publish to apps for users to apply or automatically apply by inspecting the content.

Closing Note

It’s evident that unlocking Microsoft 365 can significantly impact your productivity. Whether it’s decluttering your inbox, fostering collaboration, enhancing note-taking, automating workflows, or mastering data analysis, Microsoft 365 offers a plethora of tools to supercharge your workday.

Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, dive into Microsoft 365 and discover how these features can reshape the way you work. If you are interested in learning more about Microsoft 365, please feel free to engage in a conversation with us – [email protected].