The modern workplace is constantly changing, and Microsoft’s collaboration platform Yammer is no exception. Today, Yammer is evolving to Microsoft Viva Engage, with exciting new features that will help companies keep their teams connected and productive. Find out what these features are, and why you should start using Viva Engage in your organization.
Introduction to Microsoft Viva Engage
As organizations seek to empower employees and teams to collaborate more effectively, Microsoft Viva Engage provides a compelling solution that builds on the Yammer enterprise social networking platform. Viva Engage is designed to help employees connect with each other and work together more efficiently. The platform offers a variety of features that make it easy for users to find the people and information they need, participate in conversations, and stay up-to-date on what’s happening in their organization. In addition, Viva Engage integrates with other Microsoft 365 applications, such as SharePoint and OneDrive, to provide a seamless experience for users.
What the New Features are and How They Work
Since its acquisition by Microsoft in 2012, Yammer has been slowly integrated into the Office 365 ecosystem. The goal has always been to make Yammer the go-to social networking and collaboration tool for enterprises. With the launch of Microsoft Viva Engage, that goal is one step closer to reality.
So what are the new features in Viva Engage? And how do they work?
The first new feature is called Topics. Topics allows users to follow specific topics of interest, similar to how you would follow a hashtag on Twitter. This makes it easy to keep up with conversations about topics that matter to you, without having to wade through all the noise.
To use Topics, simply click on the “Topics” tab in Yammer and start following any topics that interest you. You can also search for specific topics using the search bar. When someone mentions a topic you’re following in a conversation, you’ll get a notification so you can jump in and join the discussion.
Another new feature in Viva Engage is Groups. Groups allows users to create private groups for smaller teams or specific projects. This is perfect for situations where you need more control over who sees your conversations (e.g., if you’re working on a sensitive project).
To create a Group, click on the “Groups” tab in Yammer and then select “Create a group.” Give your group a name and description, invite members, and choose whether you
Benefits of Using Microsoft Viva Engage
Microsoft Viva Engage is a cloud-based social networking and collaboration platform that helps organizations improve communication and collaboration among employees. The platform offers several benefits for organizations, including:
-Improved communication and collaboration: Viva Engage provides a variety of tools and features that help employees communicate and collaborate more effectively. These tools include group chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and more.
-Increased employee engagement: Viva Engage helps organizations increase employee engagement by providing a platform for employees to connect with each other and share information. The platform also makes it easy for employees to find and connect with experts within the organization.
-Improved workflows: Viva Engage helps organizations improve workflows by providing tools that streamline communication and collaboration. For example, the platform’s group chat feature can be used to discuss projects and tasks, while the video conferencing feature can be used to hold team meetings.
-Reduced costs: Viva Engage can help organizations reduce costs by reducing the need for travel and workplace resources. For example, the platform’s video conferencing feature eliminates the need for employees to travel to meet in person.
Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Microsoft Viva Engage
Since its launch in March 2020, Microsoft Viva has been working to redefine the workplace experience by integrating multiple productivity tools into a single platform. Viva Engage is one of the latest additions to the Viva portfolio and aims to improve communication and collaboration within organizations. With its new features and capabilities, Viva Engage is well-positioned to become the go-to tool for enterprise communication and collaboration.
Here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of Microsoft Viva Engage:
- Use @Mentions to Get Someone’s Attention: One of the most useful features of Viva Engage is @Mentions. By tagging someone in a post or comment, you can be sure that they will get a notification about your message. This is a great way to get someone’s attention, especially if they are not active on Yammer.
- Use hashtags to Organize Conversations: Hashtags are another great way to organize conversations on Viva Engage. You can use hashtags to categorize topics or create virtual discussion rooms. This makes it easy for others to find relevant conversations and join in on the discussion.
- Leverage Polls and Surveys: Polls and surveys are a great way to gather feedback from employees or gauge opinion on various topics. With Viva Engage, you can easily create polls and surveys using the built-in tools. This makes it easy to get quick feedback
Alternatives to Microsoft Viva Engage
When it comes to alternatives to Microsoft Viva Engage, there are a few options out there that provide similar features and functionality. Some of the more popular alternatives include Yammer, Chatter, and Convo.
Yammer is a popular enterprise social networking platform that has been around for several years. It offers a variety of features and integrations that make it a powerful tool for businesses.
Chatter is another popular enterprise social networking platform that offers many of the same features as Yammer. However, it also includes some unique features, such as video calling and file sharing.
Convo is an up-and-coming enterprise social networking platform that offers a variety of features similar to those found on Yammer and Chatter. However, one of the unique selling points of Convo is its focus on threaded conversations, which can be helpful for keeping track of discussions.
Conclusion
Microsoft Viva Engage is an innovative way to bring the Yammer experience into a modern workplace. Its new features, such as integrated scheduling and advanced analytics, make it one of the best tools for managing collaboration across teams at work. It also offers integration with other popular collaborative tools like Teams and SharePoint, allowing users to create an even more comprehensive platform for team productivity and communication. With Microsoft Viva Engage taking center stage, businesses have access to a robust solution that will help them move their work forward in 2021 and beyond.
