Image Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft Teams is a communication platform developed by Microsoft and is part of the Microsoft 365 product family. The platform is primarily used for chat, video calls, file sharing and storage, application integration, and more.
No matter your industry, we all need certain tools to help make collaboration with others simplistic and efficient. This is where Microsoft Teams comes into play.
Users have a choice to use Teams for free or as part of their Microsoft 365 plan. If you already have a 365 plan in place, then Teams is already included.
Microsoft Teams (Free)
Includes online meetings (both calls and video), however, cannot record meetings
Allows a maximum of 300 participants (Originally 100 but Microsoft has extended the limit during COVID)
Maximum number of users: 500K
Includes web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Doesn’t include apps like SharePoint, Stream, Planner, or OneDrive
Doesn’t include single sign-on to all Microsoft 365 apps and services
Includes administration tools for managing users and apps
Microsoft Teams (Premium)
Includes online meetings (both
calls and video). Users can record meetings
Allows a maximum of 300 to 10,000 participants (depending on the chosen plan)
Maximum number of users: 300 – 500K (depending on the chosen plan)
Includes web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and includes other apps like SharePoint, Stream, Planner, or OneDrive
Include single sign-on to all Microsoft 365 apps and services
Includes administration tools for managing users and apps
To view all features available for Microsoft Teams, have a look at them here.
Image Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft Teams is the perfect tool to ensure smooth collaboration between you and your team with instant messaging, video/audio calls, recordings, and more.
With Teams, you can:
With Teams, you can have meetings with 10 people to a thousand. No room is too small as meetings in Teams are held in a virtual space, called Microsoft Teams Rooms.
Features
In meetings, you have some great features including:
Working from home? Microsoft Teams has the features you need to be able to work remotely, as long as you have an internet connection or mobile data (if you’re working with the Teams app on your smartphone).
There’s no need to struggle to find a file sent via email anymore.
With Microsoft Teams, you can easily access and edit files shared within a channel or chat. Files shared within Teams are stored on SharePoint.
You can access the Files tab at the top of each channel.
Other apps include:
With Telkom removing its copper network, Microsoft Teams steps in by offering a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) solution.
According to Telkom, “Telkom’s wireless service is more reliable than its copper-based technology and is less susceptible to interruptions as a result of adverse weather conditions, faults and cable theft.”.
Microsoft Direct Routing
With the Microsoft Direct Routing method, employees are able to make use of existing phone numbers in the Teams Phone System to make and receive phone calls. This method includes a dial tone.
Features included in Teams Phone System:
Microsoft Calling Plans
By adding Microsoft Calling Plans to Teams, employees can easily make and receive calls. The plans come in various sizes, which all depends on the number of minutes your company needs.
More call features include:
Reduce internal emails flooding your inbox by making use of the instant messaging option available in Teams. Features include emojis, @mentions, GIFs, stickers, and likes.
How Do I Share a File in a Channel?
Method 1: By selecting the paperclip icon located within the chat, you can upload files.
Be careful when selecting this option as there will be a duplication of the file, making it difficult to keep track of changes.
Method 2: Move the file from your OneDrive account to Microsoft Teams. This method won’t create duplicates.
With Microsoft Teams, you are able to have conversations in groups or one person at a time, allowing for more privacy for those sensitive topics.
Microsoft SharePoint is a web-based collaboration platform primarily used to create websites or an intranet. The platform has a few benefits including centralised administration, customisation, document management, application integration, enhanced security, etc.
Read our in-depth guide on everything you need to know about Microsoft SharePoint.
The Wiki in Teams is a smart-text editor where teams can share notes in a structured way. Users can store processes here, company rules, and keep the company CI (Corporate Identity) saved here to ensure uniformity across all designs.
Can’t decide what to do for the year-end event? Or need to choose a topic for next week’s company training? Use Polly. The app allows users to take part in a poll right there in the chat.
Trello
Trello is a web-based list-making application created to help you organise and keep track of tasks.
Users can create tasks (called cards) and set due dates, assign members, add comments, checklists, and more.
Image Credit: Business 2 Community
Microsoft Planner
Planner is another project management app developed by Microsoft.
Whatever your choice for project management, both apps are integrated with Teams.
Image Credit: Virtual Innovation
If you haven’t heard, Skype for Business is coming to the end of support in July 2021. Many employees still use Skype as a form of communication within the company or when communicating with clients.
1. When you are away from your computer, set your status to “Away”, “Be Right Back”, or “Busy” to ensure your team knows they cannot reach you at the moment.
2. Create different channels for various purposes like “Software”, “Marketing”, or “Technical”. Just make sure you choose an appropriate title.
3. Record Teams meetings to refer back to the conversation if you forget or your notes aren’t in-depth enough.
4. Need to finalise a project but all the group message notifications make you lose focus? Mute the group or chat. Simply hover over a chat/group, click on the three dots, and select Mute.
5. Pin your most-used apps on the left menu bar to easily find them.
@mentions – Mentioning someone in a chat via this method, will allow the person to receive a notification that their input is needed in the conversation.
Kahoot! – Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform which hosts user-generated multiple choice quizzes for your whole team to take part in.
Microsoft Planner – A task planning application developed by Microsoft.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) – A technology that allows you to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line..
Third-party applications — A software application made by another manufacturer that is not included in the software program.
Microsoft Teams empowers your team with the needed tools to communicate and power through projects. Speak to our Microsoft 365 consultants to learn more about the powerful communication platform.
What is SharePoint? SharePoint empowers your team with the needed tools to power through projects and maintain productivity. Learn more about the platform.
For small to medium businesses, Microsoft 365 Business Voice is a cloud-based VoIP phone system that allows you to make and receive calls via the Teams app.
Would you like to modernise your business meetings and completely transform the way you do business? With Microsoft Teams Rooms you can.
Learn more about maintaining productivity while your team works from home