What is Microsoft Teams?
You’ve most likely already had many conversations in business regarding the best new collaboration tool out there. There are plenty to choose from, but one stands out above the rest: Microsoft Teams.
Firstly, it comes free with Microsoft 365 (Business Basic subscription, or above).
There are so many uses for Teams that really you won’t know what it is until you start using it. The various features are:
Teams and channels
Teams are made up of channels, which are conversation boards between teammates.
Conversations within channels and teams
All team members can view and add to different conversations in the General channel and can use an @ function to invite other members to different conversations, not unlike Slack.
Chat
The basic chat function is commonly found within most collaboration apps and can take place between teams, groups, and individuals.
Document storage in SharePoint
Every team who uses Microsoft Teams will have a site in SharePoint Online, which will contain a default document library folder. All files shared across all conversations will automatically save to this folder. Permissions and security options can also be customised for sensitive information.
Online video calling and screen sharing
Enjoy seamless and fast video calls to employees within your business or clients outside your business. A good video call feature is great to have on a collaboration platform. One can also enjoy simple and fast desktop sharing for technical assistance and multi-user real-time collaboration.
Online meetings
This feature can help enhance your communications, company-wide meetings, and even training with an online meetings function that can host up to 10,000 users. Online meetings can include anyone outside or inside a business. This feature also includes a scheduling aid, a note-taking app, file uploading, and in-meeting chat messaging.
Audio conferencing
This is a feature you won’t find in many collaboration platforms. With audio conferencing, anyone can join an online meeting via phone. With a dial-in number that spans hundreds of cities, even users that are on the go can participate with no internet required. Note this requires additional licensing.