Adopt 365 Podcast

In this episode, we're unraveling the mysteries of the latest Microsoft 365: Loop. Join us as we equip you with all the essential details to transform from a Loop novice to a Loop legend. From decoding its core components - Loop, Pages, Tables, and Components - to exploring its seamless integration within the M365 suite, we've got you covered.

Prepare to dive deep into how Microsoft Loop revolutionises collaboration, elevates productivity, and ignites team synergy. Unlock insider tips for maximising its sharing features, turbocharging your search capabilities, and seamlessly integrating it into your daily workflow.

Join us as we explore the innovative world of Copilot, diving into its various versions, standout features, and the benefits they bring. Consider this episode your guide to integrating Copilot seamlessly into your organisation, equipped with essential tips on data governance and organisation-wide templates.

Learn how to interact with Copilot effectively, steering clear of common mistakes, and uncover its potential across applications like Teams, Loop, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. We're here to provide practical insights and examples to help you and your team get the most out of Copilot.

As we journey through Copilot's capabilities, we'll share real success stories that highlight how it can boost your productivity and creativity. And because every adventure has its challenges, we'll tackle the hurdles and limitations of Copilot head-on, offering thoughtful suggestions for navigating these and looking ahead at future improvements.

Whether you're just starting with Copilot or looking to deepen your expertise, this episode promises a candid and informative discussion on making the most of Copilot's innovative features.

In today's digital age, security has become even more important, especially with the wealth of data residing in Microsoft 365. In this episode of the Adopt 365 podcast, we're immersing ourselves in the dynamic realm of Microsoft 365 security. Join Barry, Anthony, and Megan as they unravel the critical pillars of security and discuss:

• Authentication: Learn the ins and outs of building a robust authentication system.
• Document Security: Learn how to fortify your files and keep your documents safe from prying eyes.
• Email Security: Uncover the secrets of safeguarding your inbox against the ever-evolving threats in cyberspace.
• User Training: Equip your team with the knowledge they need to be your first line of defence.
• Device Security: Discover the art of keeping your endpoints secure in the age of remote work.
• Audit and Review: Get the lowdown on best practices for maintaining a vigilant watch over your security infrastructure.

Our experts will walk you through the considerations, processes, and their top recommendations for each of these critical security areas. Tune in and bolster your defences in the ever-evolving digital landscape!

Let's talk about the elephant in the modern working room - meetings! We totally get it; the struggle is real. From the endless email threads to find a suitable time, to the dreaded lack of agendas, and the constant hunt for long-lost meeting minutes. Ugh, it can be exhausting!

But hold on, don't lose hope just yet. We've got some exciting news to share! There are incredible features, best practices, and nifty applications that can transform the way you handle meetings. In our latest episode of the Adopt 365 podcast, we're diving deep into the secrets of simplifying meeting management and ensuring every meeting is a productive powerhouse from start to finish.

Tired of unproductive meetings? Ready to reignite your enthusiasm for them? Tune in today and discover the magic that'll make your meetings a breeze!

Get ready to dive into the dynamic world of successful hybrid working strategies with hosts Barry and Megan on the latest episode of the Adopt 365 podcast. In this engaging conversation, they are joined by special guests Sam and Reuben from the Institute of Physics Publishing, who bring their expertise and insights to the table. Together, they explore the concept of the modern workplace and delve into the key aspects that drive effective modern working. From leveraging technology to fostering collaboration and ensuring employee engagement, they share practical tips and valuable advice to help organisations navigate the hybrid work landscape. In addition, Sam and Ben share their own experiences and lessons learned from their recent modern working journey. Their real-world examples provide valuable insights and inspiration for listeners who are embarking on their own modern working transformation.

Tune in to this enlightening episode and gain valuable knowledge and strategies to unlock the full potential of hybrid working in your organisation.

Is your Teams environment becoming overwhelming and chaotic? Don't worry, we've got you covered. In this episode of Adopt 365, hosted by Barry, Anthony, and Megan, we delve into organising your Microsoft Teams environment. 

We cover a range of topics to help you streamline your Teams environment and keep it organised, including naming conventions, managing permissions, using tags, communication habits, and keeping files organised.

We also discuss the importance of providing training and support to your team members and encouraging consistent use of features to avoid creating duplicate or redundant content. As if that's not enough, we also explore how automation tools, like Power Automate, can help streamline workflows and reduce the risk of errors and confusion.

Tune in to our podcast to learn our top tips for improving your Microsoft Teams environment and making it work for you and your organisation.

Copilot is set to be the latest addition to Microsoft 365. This AI-powered tool will unlock your creativity, increase productivity and elevate your skills to the next level. 

It really is something to talk about, so join us for the latest episode of the Adopt 365 podcast. We explore the benefits of Copilot, any reservations we may have, and also provide tips on how to prepare for this exciting new technology. 

Tune in to learn more about how Copilot can help you and your organisation achieve greater success.

2022 has been a big year for new Microsoft 365 features. In fact, it’s even hard to remember everything that’s been introduced.

So it’s time for ComputerWorld’s Barry, Anthony and Megan to review the last 12 months. They’re going to recap their favourite and best features from the past year, tell you how they’ve helped and why you should use them.

Microsoft's latest Workplace Index states that, 'now more than ever, positive business outcomes depend on positive people outcomes'. So what does this mean for the future of hybrid working – and your organisation?

In this latest Adopt 365 podcast, ComputerWorld’s Barry and Jen review the top five trends from Microsoft's Workplace Index Report 2022 and explore what businesses can do to balance employee expectations with business success.

It helps you get to grips with these trends in the new hybrid working environment:

1. Employees and their new, ‘Is it worth it?’ equation
2. Managers who feel wedged between leadership and employee expectations
3. How leaders have to make the office worth the commute
4. Why flexible work doesn’t have to mean, ‘Always on, always available’
5. Why rebuilding social capital looks different in the hybrid world

‘Do more, with less’. This was the key message from Microsoft Ignite 2022 that came with announcements of new features, applications and updates. It’s a good message, isn’t it? That’s what we’re all trying to do. 

In this episode, Barry, Anthony and Megan round up the biggest announcements from the event. They chat about how this message can be put into action using Microsoft’s latest tech.

Tune in to see if there are any gems you can take back to your team.

With so many applications included within the Microsoft 365 suite, it can be difficult to know what each application does and when to use it. In this episode of the Adopt 365 podcast we discuss the top five applications within Microsoft 365 that are often underutilized and overlooked. We discuss what each application is, why we recommend you explore it and some example use cases of how it can be used. 

The applications discussed are: 

• Bookings
• Visio
• Delve 
• Lists 
• Forms 

Microsoft Inspire is Microsoft’s annual partner event where Microsoft announce new features, applications and updates. The key message from this year's event was 'do more, with less' and throughout the event, the sessions demonstrated and explained how Microsoft can make this possible. 

In this episode of the Adopt 365 podcast, Barry and Megan are joined by Daniel and James from Arrow to discuss the biggest workspace announcements from Microsoft Inspire 2022. Throughout the episode, the panel summarise the announcements and discuss the impact this will have on businesses today and in the future as the way we work continues to evolve. 

Throughout the episode we discuss: 

• Excel Live
• Teams Connect with Shared Channels
• Collaborative Annotation 
• Video Clip 
• Viva Engage
• Viva Goals
• Viva Sales
• Mesh 
• Microsoft Teams Rooms 

There are many different options within Microsoft 365 when it comes to file management. This often causes confusion regarding where to save and find files. This episode of the Adopt 365 podcast will demystify the options and will give you recommendations and considerations for storing, managing and finding your files within Microsoft 365.

During the episode, we discuss:

• OneDrive - what OneDrive is, when to use OneDrive to save files, when to use OneDrive to share files and how OneDrive integrates with Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Teams - How files within Microsoft Teams Channels should be used, the relationship between Teams and SharePoint, collaborating on files using Microsoft Teams and synchronising your Teams files to your device
• SharePoint - How files within different SharePoint sites work, how to use document libraries within SharePoint, using Meta Data and recommendations regarding file length & folder structure
• What NOT to do when saving & sharing files within Microsoft 365

This episode of the Adopt 365 podcast focuses on the future of the Metaverse. Together, Barry, Anthony and Megan discuss their opinions on what opportunities the Metaverse can bring to everyday work now and in the future. From completely immersing yourself in Virtual Reality through Microsoft Mesh or simply using devices for assisted reality, it seems the possibilities are endless; however, the question we are all asking is 'how will this shape the future of work?' 

Technologies discussed in this podcast include: 

• Microsoft Mesh 
• Facebook Horizon 
• Facebook Workrooms 
• HoloLens 
• Oculus 

Listen to find out more. 

On this episode of the Adopt 365 Podcast, we cover the often-overlooked features of Microsoft 365, that will help you and your colleagues be more productive.

Discussion Topics Include:

• Communication within Microsoft 365 – Supercharge your communication in Microsoft 365 by using our Teams communication top tips. We discuss the most common pitfalls and how to overcome these.
• Meeting basics – Understand how the most overlooked features within Teams meetings are the features that make the biggest difference
• Office.com – One of the most significant applications within Microsoft 365 that many overlook. Learn how the Office application can help you find your documents, search across Microsoft 365 and more.
• Managing your time –  Learn how you can avoid wasting time undertaking simple tasks. Use applications from Microsoft to utilise the time you have to actually get work done
• Collaboration - Understand the key features within Microsoft 365 that allow you to work in true collaboration, no matter what the task.

In this podcast episode, the Microsoft experts at ComputerWorld are joined by Michel Bouman from Microsoft. During the discussion, the panel discuss a range of topics regarding Microsoft 365 including key trends, strategies, and technologies regarding Microsoft 365.

The topics covered in this podcast include:

• What are the panellists top tips for organisations battling the hybrid working battle?
• How can organisations bring together a group of champions to drive Microsoft 365 adoption?
• What areas of 365 do the panellists recommend organisations look at?
• What areas of Microsoft Ignite stood out to the panellists?

Last week, Microsoft hosted their annual conference, Microsoft Ignite which gives attendees great opportunities to learn about the new features, functionality, applications and announcements coming to every aspect of Microsoft technologies, including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365 and more.

In this episode of the Adopt 365 podcast, your usual hosts, Barry, Anthony and Megan are joined by a few individuals from the Adopt 365 Champions Community. The announcements and topics discussed in this podcast include:

• Teams Connect - The ability to share channels with individuals both internal and external to your organisation. The panellists discuss the benefits this will bring to users and how this experience will make it easier to move between teams hosted across separate organisations.
• Microsoft Loop - The panellists discuss their thoughts on live components within Microsoft 365 and the announcement of a new application called Microsoft Loop. During the conversation, the panellists discuss how they see Loop evolving, how it will work in conjunction with Teams to add another level of collaboration and communication within Microsoft 365.
• Mesh - At Ignite, Microsoft demonstrated how they are bringing the virtual world into Microsoft Teams meetings. During this podcast, the panellists discuss their thoughts on this new technology, the potential benefits they see Mesh bringing to organisations and how this unlocks a new method of collaboration.
• The new features in Office.com - Microsoft announced a number of new features that are being introduced to Office.com and the Office application. The panel discuss what new features were announced, how these will improve the user experience with Microsoft 365 and will quickly become the go-to place to find content within 365 for users. 
• New features within Chat and Meetings in Microsoft Teams - As some of the biggest areas within Microsoft Teams, Microsoft has developed a number of new features within chat and meetings. In this podcast, the panel discuss the new features that were announced and how these will further enhance the user experience to improve communication.

Within Microsoft 365 there are many file storage options, including SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams. Each of these options serves a purpose, but sometimes it can be unclear which location you should be using and when. 

In this episode of the Adopt 365 podcast, your hosts Barry, Anthony and Megan discuss the file storage options within Microsoft 365. The podcast covers:

• An overview of OneDrive, our recommended use cases and top tips to make the most out of using it 
• How to use Microsoft Teams and SharePoint within your organisation for departments and group collaboration 
• Best practices when creating a storage strategy 
• What you should consider around document security within Microsoft 365 

In this episode, we also cover the new features recently announced by Microsoft, including; categorising calendars within Microsoft Teams and the gallery button within Teams meetings, making it easier to switch your meeting view.

Whether you have a business process that needs automating, update a list without human intervention or want to connect applications to automate the data shared between them, Microsoft's Power Automate can help make all this easier. 

In this episode of the Adopt 365 podcast, your hosts Anthony, Barry and Megan discuss what Power Automate is and how to use it. 

This episode covers:

• The new features that have recently been announced by Microsoft, including: 
• The new and improved Whiteboard experience within Microsoft Teams meetings, 
• The ability to use standout presenter mode when using PowerPoint live within Teams meetings 
• The ability to reply directly to a specific chat message in the desktop application of Teams 

The main subject within this episode covers: 

• What Microsoft Power Automate is 
• How to set up your first workflow in Power Automate 
• Our top tips to using Power Automate 
• Using Power Automate to connect third-party applications 
• How to get the most out of the application 

With so many ways to manage your time, tasks and projects in Microsoft 365 it can often lead to more confusion rather than more clarity.   

In this Adopt 365 podcast we are going to give our tips and recommendations surrounding personal and team productivity and how to make the most out of the planning and task management tools in Microsoft 365.

This episode covers: 

The new features that have recently been announced by Microsoft, including:

• The new and improved Whiteboard 
• Fluid components 
• Enhancements with Microsoft Viva and integration with headspace

The main subject within this episode covers: 

• Team based project planning using Microsoft Planner
• Booking Team meetings regarding a project within the relevant Teams channel 
• How to use whiteboard to help plan a project within Teams 
• Planning your own task list using Microsoft To Do 
• Using swipe gestures on Outlook mobile to flag emails quickly 
• When Microsoft Project is right to be used 

Our hosts also give you their own productivity tips. 

In today's podcast, we are joined by a special guest, Michel Bouman of Microsoft.

Together, we discuss the future of work, hybrid working, including how organisations and technology can help deliver flexibility to the users whilst helping maintain and grow a sense of community and culture within organisations.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The technological changes that need to happen to make hybrid working possible
• How to build community and culture in the digital work
• Wellbeing and productivity
• The importance of the right technology for meeting rooms, user devices and home setups

Technologies discussed in this episode:

• Microsoft Viva
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Yammer
• Microsoft SharePoint 
• Microsoft Teams Rooms
  and much more

Over the last 12 months, technology has helped us fundamentally how we have lived and work, and undoubtedly Microsoft cloud technologies have been at the forefront of this.    

On today's podcast, we will discuss our thoughts following Ignite and particularly the latest announcements and features coming to Microsoft Teams.

If you would prefer to watch the podcast the recording can be found on our YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/Y0ccFzaLx34

Discussed today

1. What Technology within Microsoft 365 has undergone the biggest change or had the biggest impact during the last 12 months?
2. Microsoft Ignite 

• Sources for learning more
• Keynote including Microsoft Mesh, What are our thoughts? How do we see this being adopted?
• Teams Meeting Improvement - Presenter Mode, Dynamic View, Live Transcriptions and Attendees Reports, Intelligent Speakers
• Microsoft Teams Webinars inc sign-up, meeting controls and attendees reports, Microsoft Dynamic integration
• Microsoft Whiteboard
• Teams Connect
• Microsoft Viva
• Security at Ignite - A reflection on Microsoft as a security provider
• End to end encryption for Teams 1:1 Calls
• 
  
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In this special episode of the Adopt 365 podcast Barry is joined by Murtuza Viramgamwala of Poly to discuss everything surrounding employee experience. Covered in this episode is the Poly Studio P Series range of personal audio and visual devices recently announced by Poly as well as a discussion around Microsoft Viva and what employee experience really means in the digital world.

Over the last 12 months we have seen organisations turn to the tools in Microsoft 365 to enable remote and flexible working. But with increased usage and introduction of new features there is an increasing challenge to how you can drive adoption across the team with clarity and a common direction.

On today's podcast we will be speaking about our Top 6 Tips to succesfully drive adoption of Microsoft 365 in your business.

In this inaugural episode of the Adopt 365 podcast Barry, Megan and Anthony discuss what's new in Microsoft 365 and dig deep into their favourite tools and tips to help you improve your productivity whilst looking after your well-being.

In this session, we cover the following:

• An introduction into the podcast and your hosts
• A review of our favourite new features within the Microsoft 365 suite including the Microsoft Lists IOS application, Teams Breakout rooms and Status duration.
• A discussion about the M365 features that we find most useful to help us maintain productivity while looking after our own and our colleagues' well-being.