It is estimated that UK employees are only productive for 73% of their working day. The remaining 27% could be wasted on:
By using the Microsoft 365 Planner set to come out this year, you can better streamline your tasks. This can enable your colleagues to see when you are free, to avoid those pesky interruptions which can delay your work. While some wasted time may be unavoidable, such as traffic or transport issues, you don’t need to let your team down through poor, outdated tech.
Microsoft has been a trusted business tool since it was first announced in 1988. Whether you want to create professional documents or store data in spreadsheets, Microsoft has been tried and tested by experts to help complete these tasks.
The products offered by Microsoft have continued to adapt and grow based on technological advancements and the needs of clients. Office transformed into Microsoft 365 in November 2022, but the latest changes will see a merge between Microsoft Planner and To Do to help you better streamline your day.
Microsoft Planner will combine existing planning and Microsoft To Do elements into one new app. This will be launched within Microsoft Teams in Spring 2024, although no exact date has been given yet.
The web browser version should be released shortly after, enabling you to utilise Planner regardless of your preferred working methodology. Some of your employees may prefer using desktop apps, while others may want to work within their browser. This level of flexibility means that your team can make the most of this great tool and still work the way they choose.
In addition to this, Microsoft 365 Planner will also include AI tool Copilot, helping you delegate work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Taking the time to plan your day can help your team to maximise their time. Taking the 1930s adage of ‘work smarter, not harder’, each individual will be able to generate a list of tasks that need to be completed, as well as assign work to others. This can ensure that those lengthy, time-consuming jobs have enough time allocated to them, as well as preventing smaller tasks from being left unattended.
This will also allow management to see how much work has been completed, and whether more support may be required to meet deadlines. Microsoft 365 Planner will also be scalable depending on your individual business needs.
Until Microsoft Planner has been rolled out, you will still be able to use the current To Do and Planner services. However, once the new Microsoft Planner is live, the old services will no longer be available.
It can be important to train your team on the new Planner tool and implement it across your business. Microsoft often creates training videos and presentations, which you could ask employees to view before the new Planner is live, to ensure you do not suffer from downtime following this release.
If your business already makes the most of professional Microsoft 365 packages, then you will automatically gain access to Microsoft Planner when it is released. This is why updating your software regularly is so important. Without those updates, you could see yourself using older versions of software that don’t contain both the latest advancements and security protocols which protect you from cyber threats.
Every successful business needs a planning tool and document creation process that is both efficient and secure. Due to this, many businesses already make the most of Microsoft 365. As Microsoft Planner becomes available, you can add this into your business toolkit to eliminate wasted time and unaccomplished tasks.
If you want to start prioritising productivity in your working day, or learn more about how to utilise these great software tools, then speak to one of the Syn-Star experts today.
Verity Armstrong
Verity is our resident wordsmith. She spent time honing her skills as a freelance writer for a number of different industries from 2020 to 2023. Now, Verity writes about IT support and cyber security for Syn-Star. Outside of this, she curates content for Mindful Me, a blog about well-being and leading a more positive lifestyle.
Qualifications: BA (hons) Psychology, MA (Merit) Youth Justice, Community Safety & Applied Criminology
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, SEO 2, Digital Marketing
Favourite movie: Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings
Favourite band: Hollowstar
Favourite food: Pad Thai or enchiladas
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Verity Armstrong
Verity is our resident wordsmith. She spent time honing her skills as a freelance writer for a number of different industries from 2020 to 2023. Now, Verity writes about IT support and cyber security for Syn-Star. Outside of this, she curates content for Mindful Me, a blog about well-being and leading a more positive lifestyle.
Qualifications: BA (hons) Psychology, MA (Merit) Youth Justice, Community Safety & Applied Criminology
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, SEO 2, Digital Marketing
Favourite movie: Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings
Favourite band: Hollowstar
Favourite food: Pad Thai or enchiladas
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