What are the big updates to Microsoft 365 this year? What are the most notable changes in Microsoft 365 this year? In this article, we’ll explore the key advancements that will transform Microsoft 365 in 2024. We’ll explore the important role of AI, specifically the evolution of Copilot and its integration across all apps.
How AI is improving the user experience with intelligent assistance in tasks ranging from content creation to data analysis. Finally, we’ll discuss the improved security and compatibility of Teams, which is the foundation of modern teamwork.
2024 was a year of evolution for Microsoft 365. From the rise of artificial intelligence to the demise of popular apps, the productivity suite has seen a lot of changes in the past twelve months. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest changes for Microsoft 365’s 400 million paid users.
2024 Microsoft 365: Major AI and User-Focused Changes
2024 was a transformative year for Microsoft 365 as the platform adapted to the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and responded to changing user needs and technology trends. Below is a breakdown of the biggest changes affecting Microsoft 365’s 400 million paid users:
Integrating AI into apps
The most notable change in Microsoft 365 in 2024 is the deep integration of AI into core apps.
- Copilot Assistant: Microsoft’s AI-powered Assistant extends the entire Microsoft 365 suite, bringing AI-powered features to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Copilot helps users create text, automate workflows, summarize documents, and analyze data in a new, more intuitive way. This represents a major leap forward in the suite’s productivity and automation capabilities.
- Improved AI in Excel and PowerPoint: AI-powered features like data insights in Excel and auto-layout in PowerPoint have been significantly improved, giving users smart suggestions for data visualization, presentation design, and content creation.
- AI-powered email and calendars in Outlook: With smart categories, auto-replies, and even personalized schedules, Microsoft has used AI to reduce the time users spend managing their inboxes and calendars.
Popular apps are gone
Some popular legacy apps and features in the Microsoft 365 suite are ending in 2024 as Microsoft shifts its focus to a newer, more integrated experience.
- Microsoft Teamroom: As Teams grows, some hardware and virtual meeting tools are being introduced or integrated with other platforms.
- Phasing out classic Skype for Business: While the transition to Skype for Business continues, Microsoft is encouraging users to fully use Teams for communication and collaboration in 2024.
- Changes to OneDrive for Business: OneDrive’s architecture has been revamped, and some standalone features have been integrated into SharePoint or Teams, creating a more cohesive document management experience under the Microsoft cloud umbrella.
Refreshed user interface
Several apps have received a visual refresh with a cleaner interface and improved functionality. For example:
- Redesign of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint: A more comprehensive implementation of the “Fluid Design” system has improved the readability, accessibility, and responsiveness of the suite’s web and desktop apps.
- SharePoint and Teams: SharePoint integrates more tightly with Teams and other collaboration tools, making it easier for users to manage and share content.
Security Enhancements
As cyber threats continue to rise, Microsoft 365 will be putting a focus on security in 2024.
- Microsoft Defender Integration: Microsoft Defender is more tightly integrated with Office applications and provides real-time protection against malicious links and files in Word, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 products.
- Advanced Threat Protection: Features like Microsoft Defender for Office 365 now have new tools to better identify phishing attempts, ransomware, and other threats.
- Trustless Identity Security: Microsoft has strengthened its identity security framework by improving multi-factor authentication (MFA) and focusing on a trustless security model for enterprise customers.
A shift in focus to hybrid and remote work tools
Microsoft 365 remains a key player in the hybrid work ecosystem with new features designed to improve remote collaboration:
- Microsoft Teams: Enhance the remote collaboration experience with new features like Teams Premium and more advanced virtual meeting tools (including AI-powered meeting summaries, real-time translation, and automatic commenting).
- Loop: Designed to provide flexible, real-time collaboration on documents, the Loop app has gained traction and increased integration with Teams and other parts of Microsoft 365.
- Viva and employee well-being: With a focus on employee engagement and well-being, Microsoft Viva introduces new features for mixed work environments, including enhanced analytics for managers, training resources, and mental health support tools.
Evolution of the order model
In 2024, Microsoft improved its pricing and subscription levels, simplified its service offering, and made some features more accessible.
- Expanded business and commercial plans: New subscription levels with AI-powered tools and more premium features, providing more flexible plans for businesses large and small.
- Licensing for Copilot: The introduction of Copilot to the Microsoft 365 suite was part of a new model that offered AI capabilities as an add-on to premium licenses, allowing businesses to scale AI capabilities based on their needs.
Sustainability and environmental impact
Microsoft continues to align its 365 suite with environmental sustainability goals.
- Carbon footprint tools: Tools built into Microsoft 365 now enable businesses to measure and manage their carbon footprints and encourage greener workplace practices.
- Energy-efficient cloud infrastructure: By improving the back-end infrastructure of Microsoft 365, we further reduce the environmental impact of cloud computing by using more efficient data centers powered by renewable energy.
Progress in collaboration and productivity
- Real-time co-authoring: Improved co-authoring experience in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing users to work on documents simultaneously with fewer delays and interruptions.
- Fluid Framework: Microsoft introduced additional improvements to its Fluid Framework, allowing for more dynamic and flexible collaboration between different types of documents and tasks within Microsoft 365.
- Team chat and task management: Team chat features and task management tools have received updates, including a unified task list, shared task board, and improved project controls for more fluid team management.
Greater integration with other Microsoft tools
Microsoft has made its ecosystem even more connected in 2024. Teams, SharePoint, and other tools are now tightly integrated with Azure, Power Platform, and even GitHub for developers, making it easier to automate workflows and collaborate across platforms, from IT to sales.
2024 was a year of significant change for Microsoft 365 with a focus on artificial intelligence, seamless collaboration tools, robust security features, and a more personalized subscription model. These advancements reflect Microsoft’s strategy to transform productivity needs in an increasingly digital, hybrid, and AI-driven world.
What Are the Most Noteworthy Changes in Microsoft 365 This Year?
2024 was a year of significant change for Microsoft 365, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Here are some of the key developments:
- Rise of AI: Microsoft is integrating AI into its core apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. These include features like Copilot, which helps users create content, analyze data, and improve productivity.
- New licensing changes: Microsoft is changing its licensing model to differentiate Teams from other Microsoft 365 offerings and allow organizations to choose the specific tools they need.
- End of Skype for Business Online: Microsoft is officially ending support for Skype for Business Online, urging users to move to Teams for their communication and collaboration needs.
- Focus on security and compliance: As we increasingly rely on cloud-based services, Microsoft is improving the security and compliance features of Microsoft 365 to protect sensitive information.
- New features and improvements: Throughout the year, Microsoft continued to introduce new features and improvements to its apps, including collaboration tools, accessibility features, and integration with other Microsoft services.
These changes demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to evolving Microsoft 365 to meet the changing needs of its users and the evolving technology landscape.
Conclusion
The year 2024 saw the remarkable evolution of Microsoft 365, leading the way with the transformative power of AI. Copilot has matured significantly and has become an integral part of the daily workflow of applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
AI-powered experiences are now seamlessly integrated and provide intelligent assistance in content creation, data analysis, communication, and collaboration. Security and compliance are further strengthened with advanced threat protection and data loss prevention measures.
As a hub for teamwork, Teams has improved the chat and meeting experience and fostered more seamless and engaging collaboration. These advancements position Microsoft 365 as the leading platform for the modern workplace, enabling people and organizations to achieve greater success through the power of intelligent technology.