Issue No. 113January 2022
Microsoft Loop: An App for the Hybrid Workforce
Microsoft recently announced their newest app designed with the pandemic driven hybrid workforce in mind. Microsoft Loop combines a powerful and flexible canvas with portable components that move freely and stay in sync across apps—enabling teams to think, plan, and create together.
Microsoft Loop consists of three elements: Loop components, Loop pages, and Loop workspaces.
Loop components: These units of productivity help you collaborate and get your work done without breaking your flow—in a chat, email, meeting, document, or Loop page. Loop components can be as simple as lists, tables, notes, tasks, or as sophisticated as a customer sales opportunity from Microsoft Dynamics 365. Because components stay in sync, no matter how many places they live in, you and your team always work with the latest information.
Microsoft has introduced two new components for collaboration:
- A voting table that makes it easy for teams to ideate, drive consensus, and finalize decisions together.
- A status tracker which will help you gather information from your team, track progress towards all aspects of your project, and always maintain an up-to-date status across your team.
Loop pages are flexible canvases where you can organize your components and pull in other useful elements like files, links, or data to help teams think, connect, and collaborate. Pages are optimized for thinking together and getting work done. They can start small and continue to grow to match the size of your ideas and projects.
Loop workspaces are shared spaces that allow you and your team to see and group everything important to your project. Workspaces make it easy for you to catch up on what everyone is working on, react to others’ ideas, or track progress toward shared goals. Teams can collaborate synchronously or asynchronously whenever inspiration strikes.
Microsoft Loop brings everything together, keeping you and your team more productive, on track, and connected than ever before. Microsoft Loop components across Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, Outlook, and OneNote are in the process of being rolled out, while the Microsoft Loop app is expected to be available early this year.