As a hub for productivity and collaboration, Microsoft Teams plays host to a number of integrated apps, built by Microsoft and designed to enhance Teams workflows.
The communication and collaboration platform from Microsoft has enjoyed huge boost in popularity and adoption ever since the start of the COVID-19. When the general public (including businesses) suddenly realised that they need a means of face-to-face communication that could be maintained remotely, Microsoft Teams was already there to save the day.
Teams is a lot more than just a video calling app, however. It is described by its creator a collaboration platform, designed to bring colleagues together on a platform that facilitates co-authoring, brainstorming, and more. We discussed this with TechQuarters, a London-based company that has been using Teams since its initial launch – in fact, they have been a dedicated Office 365 consulting specialised since the productivity suite was launched in 2010. According to them, one of the reasons Teams is so successful as a collaborative platform is not just down to its inbuilt features, but also because of the range of apps that can be accessed directly within it.
Why is Microsoft Teams a Hub for Other Apps?
While Microsoft 365 – the plan that Teams is included in – may offer a range of capabilities that covers most of the basic business needs, it does not cover all of the needs of an organisation. Microsoft has a wide array of product families geared towards different applications and processes in business. However, as Teams is designed to be a central platform for employees to use, it does support add-on apps and functions to ensure that users as much of what they need for work all in one place. For example, the Shifts app in Teams allows orgnaisations to manage workers for a range of different industries (TechQuarters has recommended such apps when providing IT support for Construction firms). So, what Microsoft apps can users access from within Microsoft Teams? Below are three examples…
1. Yammer Communities
In Microsoft Teams, there is an app called ‘Communities’. This is the extension of a feature in Yammer that users can access through Teams. Yammer Communities act as a means to share knowledge and forge connections within an organisation. This app has many different capabilities – for example, it can enable employees to engage with leaders in the business; it is a way to share live events with an organisation, or ask questions, or simply to stay up to date with the latest company news.
2. Microsoft Lists
Microsoft has a large range of products dedicated to task management and general productivity – the Lists app is no different. This is a feature that originally started out in Microsoft SharePoint, and was a simple way for employees to create lists of information to share with their colleagues – whether it be an informal inventory, a meeting agenda, or a shared task list. In Microsoft Teams, users have access to the same diverse capabilities that the Microsoft List app offers.
3. Power Automate
Among the different Microsoft product families and platforms, the Power Platform is one of products with the most potential to empower businesses to transform their operations and services. It includes a collection of apps and services that simplify the process of app development, automation, and more. Power Automate (one of the products in the Power Platform) can be accessed and used from within Teams – it allows businesses to automate various tasks and processes across their Microsoft 365 environment. As an experienced Microsoft 365 consultant, TechQuarters confirmed that Power Automate has impress potential to enable businesses to streamline their everyday processes and workflows.