4 game-changing Microsoft apps you didn’t know existed

Everyone’s heard of Microsoft Office – in fact, Office 365 now has 120 million monthly commercial active users, according to the company’s website. While you’ll already know about the more common applications (such as Excel and Word) you might not have realised just how broad 365’s offering is. Here are four of the best Microsoft Office 365 apps that you might not be aware of.

1. Microsoft Teams 

Flexible working arrangements such as work from home are no longer just nice to have. They are now expected by employees across almost all industries. This is particularly the case now millennials make up such a large part of the workforce, with an Intelligence Group study reporting that 74 per cent of young people want flexible work opportunities.

The proliferation of such arrangements makes collaboration and communication technology essential – Microsoft Teams combines both. Its teamwork hub allows for private or group chat, including the ability to file share and co-author content. The app also enables team meetings, live streaming and conference calls which can either be made on desktop, mobile or in a Skype room system via HD video.

Other Microsoft apps such as Excel can be integrated into Teams. The app also features a number of security features, including end-to-end encryption and multi-factor authentication.

Teams allows for seamless collaboration, no matter where people are located. It has the potential to revolutionise business communication in a big way, and we expect it to only get more popular in the coming year.

2. PowerApps

Apps abound across desktop and mobile, in our business and our personal lives. Microsoft is empowering more people than ever to make them with its PowerApps – which gives nontechnical users the ability to create applications without having to use code.

What’s great about PowerApps is how intuitive it is – it has drag and drop functionality, and users can build apps from pre-made templates or start from scratch. They can also connect to other Microsoft services as well as select partners such as Salesforce. The software allows users to publish apps quickly and easily, and is compatible with iOS, Android or Windows devices.

3. Microsoft Flow

The new Flow application is designed to make work processes as efficient as possible. A cloud-based technology, it connects to hundreds of different apps, allowing users to create automated workflows at the click of a button.

It notifies users when their boss emails them or when a work item is updated. The app also allows employees to record their work hours, automatically download email attachments to cloud storage, capture, track and follow up on sales leads, and connect to customer relationship management platforms.

Microsoft’s StaffHub application is aimed at industries where shift work is common, such as hospitality, retail and manufacturing. It brings old shift work practices into the modern day, eliminating the need for paper schedules, bulletin boards and last minute phone calls to notify managers of shift changes.

Instead, managers can create schedules online, and staff can easily view their calendars or any changes that have been made. It’s mobile compatible, has group and private chat facilities, and automates shift change or leave requests, notifying a manager immediately when such requests are made.

Revolutionising business

These Microsoft apps might not be mainstream, but here at LOOKUP, we believe they’re going to revolutionise the way people conduct business. Microsoft 365 is helping Australian organisations flourish, and we’re proud to support this with our Microsoft managed services. We perform integration as well as help you iron out any problems along the way. Contact us today for more information.